Technical file mistakes
Reject the file before submission if it is not exactly 600×600, is not a real JPEG, exceeds 240 KB, has the wrong aspect ratio or has visible compression damage. Renaming a PNG or HEIC extension to .jpg does not convert the file. A technically small file can still be poor if excessive compression destroys eyes, hair and skin detail.
Composition mistakes
Common problems are head size outside 50–69%, eye line outside 56–69%, tilted head, face turned away from camera, cropped hair/top of head, or a close selfie that distorts facial proportions. The face should be centered and the full head visible.
Appearance and recency mistakes
Do not submit a photo older than six months or the same photograph used for a prior-year DV entry. Avoid glasses, broad expression, closed eyes, headphones, uniforms, non-religious hats and anything obscuring the face. Make sure the photo still reflects your current appearance.
Background and editing mistakes
Patterned walls, shadows, colored backgrounds and uneven lighting are risky. Do not solve them with beauty filters or generative edits that alter the applicant. For DV, capture a correct background rather than reconstructing it around the hair.
Family-file mistakes
When a spouse or children need to be included, prepare a separate photo for each person and label the local files before entering the form. A perfect image attached to the wrong family member is still a serious submission error. Review the current DV instructions for exactly which family members must be listed.
20-point pre-upload checklist
- New photo taken within six months
- Not the same image used in a prior DV entry
- Real JPEG file
- Exactly 600×600 pixels
- Square 1:1
- ≤240 KB
- 24-bit natural color / sRGB
- Sharp and in focus
- Head 50–69%
- Eye line 56–69% from bottom
- Head level and centered
- Direct camera gaze
- Both eyes open
- Neutral expression
- No glasses
- No headphones
- Plain white/off-white background
- No face/background shadows
- No identity-changing retouch
- Correct applicant file selected