Compress JPEG to 20 KB
For passport photos, visa applications, and government ID portals.
Government and ID portals often cap photo uploads at 20 kilobytes. The 20 KB preset shrinks your photo to fit while keeping faces clear enough for the form to accept.
When You Need to Compress JPEG to 20 KB
The 20 KB preset is the right choice for these common scenarios:
- US passport applications and renewals
- DS-160 nonimmigrant visa photo uploads
- USCIS and immigration forms
- State DMV driver license portals
- Federal and state job applications (USAJOBS)
- School district enrollment forms
How to Compress JPEG to 20 KB in 4 Steps
- Click the 20 KB preset button on the homepage
- Drop your photo into the upload area
- Wait less than a second for the optimized file
- Download the compressed JPG, ready to upload anywhere
Pro Tips
For best results with US passport and visa photos, start with a properly cropped 2×2 inch headshot on a plain white background, as required by the State Department. Our adaptive quality algorithm preserves facial features even at extreme compression levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do US passport portals require photos under 20KB?
US government servers limit upload sizes to keep their databases manageable and processing fast across millions of citizen submissions. 20KB is small enough to handle bulk uploads yet large enough to clearly show a face.
Will my face still be recognizable at 20KB?
Yes. Our binary-search algorithm finds the highest possible JPEG quality that still fits within 20KB, so faces stay sharp and clearly identifiable for biometric verification.
Does this work for DS-160, USCIS, and DMV portals?
Absolutely. TheCompressJPEG works for any US federal or state portal that accepts JPG files under 20KB, including DS-160, DS-260, USCIS forms, and DMV photo uploads.
Is there a size limit for the original photo?
You can upload JPG or PNG files up to 20MB. We will compress them down to your 20KB target.
Try Other Sizes
Need a different target? Try one of our other dedicated tools: