# Photo Submission Checker for ERAS and Applications Check an original photo's format, bytes and pixel dimensions, then manually crop and compress a JPEG for your selected application route. **Key facts:** Free - Local photo processing - Route-specific byte limits - Manual crop - JPEG download Updated November 2026 Your photo is processed in your browser and is not uploaded. Closing the page discards the working image. ## How to use it 1. **Select your application route:** Choose US residency, IMG, fellowship or custom requirements. Limits differ between routes; use the instructions in your own portal as the final authority. 2. **Read the original-file report:** Open a JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC photo up to 20 MB. Review its original byte count, detected JPEG or PNG signature and decoded pixel dimensions. 3. **Frame and prepare the JPEG:** Drag the crop and adjust zoom. Choose output dimensions and prepare a JPEG. Compression tries progressively lower quality while checking the real encoded byte count. 4. **Review and download:** Download the finished file, inspect its appearance and verify any physical-size metadata requirement separately before submitting. ## ERAS photo requirements depend on the route The AAMC US residency photo page permits JPG or PNG and a maximum 150 KB. It does not publish a mandatory pixel size, DPI or 5:7 crop in the cited instructions. Do not apply IMG rules to every applicant. ECFMG's IMG guidance specifies JPEG, no more than 150 KB, and no larger than 2.5 by 3.5 inches. AAMC fellowship guidance lists 100 KB and 2.5 by 3.5 inches. Check your current recipient instructions; this checker cannot certify acceptance. - [AAMC: residency photo](https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residencies-eras/publication-chapters/photo) - [ECFMG: ERAS applicant documents](https://www.ecfmg.org/eras/applicants-documents-index.html) - [AAMC: fellowship documents](https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-fellowships-eras/myeras-documents-fellowship-applicants) ## Pixels and inches are different checks 375 by 525 pixels is an optional 5:7 export suggestion, not a universal ERAS minimum. An image's physical size depends on resolution metadata. A pixel-only check cannot prove that an inch-based limit is met. Browser canvas exports use browser-provided resolution metadata, commonly 96 DPI when the format supports it. This tool does not set application-specific DPI. Verify or set the physical dimensions in an image editor if your route requires them. - [MDN: canvas export and resolution metadata](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/HTMLCanvasElement/toBlob) ## What compression can and cannot fix The tool uses a conservative decimal limit of 1,000 bytes per KB. It checks actual JPEG bytes and reports failure when it cannot meet your chosen cap. Reducing dimensions can help, but enlarging a crop cannot restore missing detail. The working image is capped at 1,600 pixels on its longest edge to keep browser memory bounded. File checks do not assess attire, expression, likeness or whether the receiving program considers the portrait appropriate. ## Route-specific published limits; verify with your portal | Route | File | Maximum bytes | Physical size | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | US residency | JPG or PNG | 150 KB | No requirement published on cited page | | IMG / ECFMG | JPEG | 150 KB | No larger than 2.5 x 3.5 inches | | Fellowship | Check portal; tool exports JPEG | 100 KB | 2.5 x 3.5 inches | - [AAMC: residency photo](https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residencies-eras/publication-chapters/photo) - [ECFMG: ERAS applicant documents](https://www.ecfmg.org/eras/applicants-documents-index.html) - [AAMC: fellowship documents](https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-fellowships-eras/myeras-documents-fellowship-applicants) ## FAQ ### Does this guarantee my ERAS photo will be accepted? No. This checks technical file properties and prepares a JPEG. The receiving portal and program decide whether the photograph meets all requirements. ### Is 375 by 525 pixels required for every ERAS photo? No. It is an optional export suggestion here. The cited US residency instructions do not specify a required pixel size, DPI or 5:7 aspect ratio. ### Why can a small JPEG still fail an inch-based rule? Byte count, pixel dimensions and physical dimensions are separate properties. Physical size depends on resolution metadata, which this tool does not validate or set for your application. ### What happens when the JPEG cannot fit the byte limit? The tool reports failure and does not offer an oversized file as a successful result. Try smaller output dimensions or a different photograph. ## More free tools - [LinkedIn Photo Checker](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/tools/headshot-photo-checker): A LinkedIn photo checker is a tool that scores a profile picture out of 100 for light, sharpness, framing, eye line and background, rating the photo rather than the person in it. - [Circle Crop Tool](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/tools/profile-photo-cropper): A circle crop tool cuts a photo into a round profile picture and saves it as a PNG with transparent corners, or as a square sized for each platform. - [Background Changer](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/tools/headshot-background-changer): A headshot background changer is a tool that separates the person in a portrait from the background behind them and replaces that background with plain white, grey, a brand color or a blurred version of the original. - [Cost Calculator](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/tools/headshot-cost-calculator): A headshot cost calculator estimates what professional headshots cost from a studio photographer, an on-site corporate photographer or an AI headshot service, using published prices for your city, team size, looks and retouching. - 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