Getting your passport photo right is a critical step for your DV Lottery entry.
Open your passport. You will need to take one photo of the inside pages. Your photo must show both the Biographic Page (the page with your photo and personal information) and the page next to it (the Signature Page). Do not photograph the front cover.
Passport Condition: Your passport must be clean and not damaged, especially the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ). The MRZ is the two lines of text and symbols (<<<) at the bottom of the page.
Background: Place your passport flat, on a plain, dark background.
Camera Settings: Turn off your camera's flash. Also turn off any moving picture features (like "Live Photos").
Lighting: Use bright, even light. Light from a window is good, but avoid direct, strong sunlight.
Avoid Glares and Shadows: Check for bright spots (glares) or dark areas (shadows) on the passport pages. Move the passport or the light until the pages are clear and easy to read.
Hold Steady: Hold your phone very still. It's best to hold it with both hands. For extra support, you can lean against a wall or place your phone on a steady surface like a table.
Framing: Make sure the open pages are fully in the photo and no edges are cut off. Try to leave a small amount of the dark background visible on all four sides of the passport.
Save and Upload: Before you upload check that the photo is an appropriate file format and is smaller than the maximum file size (click here to see all passport photo specifications and requirements).
