iPhone HEIC to JPG for US visa and passport photos
iPhones save photos as HEIC by default, but a US visa photo must be a JPEG file.
Why this matters
For DS-160, DS-260 and the DV lottery, the photo must be a JPEG. HEIC files are not accepted. (For online passport renewal, HEIC is accepted, but many people still run into problems with it.)
Option 1: let our tool convert it
You can upload an iPhone HEIC photo directly to the photo maker. If your browser cannot open HEIC (Chrome, Edge and Firefox usually cannot), the tool converts it to JPEG on your device. The photo is still not uploaded anywhere.
Option 2: change the iPhone camera setting
- Open Settings > Camera > Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPEG.
- Retake the photo.
Option 3: export a JPG from an existing photo
In the Photos app, open the picture, tap Share, then Save to Files. Or email it to yourself and choose Actual Size when prompted; the iPhone will often send a JPEG.
Keep the original size
Do not send the photo through a messaging app before you upload it. Those apps shrink and compress photos, which lowers quality. Use the original file.
Sources: U.S. Department of State: visa photos and passport photos. Always confirm on the official site before you submit.