Polarization of 8×8 vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays is completely controlled. These index‐guided VCSELs have a 6×5 &mgr;m rectangular poststructure consisting of DBR mirrors. All 64 VCSELs emit fundamental single‐mode and linearly polarized light with a polarization angle deviation of only 2.9°. Their light output characteristics are almost the same as those of conventional 6×6 &mgr;m polarization‐uncontrolled VCSELs. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.