Indian Passport Photo Size: Official MEA Requirements

An Indian passport photo is 35×45 mm with an exact 630×810-pixel digital upload, a plain white background, and the head filling 80–85% of the frame — the ICAO-compliant standard set by Passport Seva and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It is not interchangeable with any other country's photo. Mandatory ICAO standardization took effect in September 2025, and Passport Seva Programme 2.0 — rolled out February 2026 — added AI-based photo screening with zero-tolerance auto-rejection: no manual correction window, and eyeglasses are now banned to eliminate glare. The 2×2-inch square is reserved for OCI cards and e-Visas — use it for a passport and the AI rejects it. This guide gives you the exact spec.

Indian Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

The values below follow the "Guidelines for ICAO Compliant Photographs for Passport Applications" published by Passport Seva, the passport-issuing service of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on its official portal at passportindia.gov.in. The "Indian passport" column is the authoritative specification for every passport application — fresh, reissue, or renewal, whether filed at a Passport Seva Kendra in India or at an Indian mission abroad. Since the September 2025 ICAO mandate, this single rectangular standard governs all Indian passport photographs. The second column is shown only for contrast: the 2×2-inch square is for OCI cards and e-Visas, not passports.

The September 2025 ICAO standardization phased out every older format and locked the Indian passport photograph to the 35×45 mm / 630×810 px rectangle worldwide, across all domestic Passport Seva Kendras and overseas Indian consulates. Passport Seva Programme 2.0, rolled out February 2026, caps the digital upload at 250 KB and screens each file with AI before it is accepted. The 51×51 mm square — which matches the US 2×2-inch standard — is now strictly reserved for OCI cards and e-Visa applications; submitting it for a passport triggers automatic rejection.

Exact Dimensions: MM, Inches, and Pixels

Every Indian passport photograph is 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm, or 1.38 × 1.77 inches) — the ICAO-compliant portrait rectangle that the MEA mandated for all passport applications in September 2025. The same size applies whether you file at a Passport Seva Kendra inside India or at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad. The square 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inch) format that matches the US passport standard is not a passport size for India — since the ICAO mandate it is reserved for OCI cards and e-Visa applications only. Submit a square photo for a passport and Passport Seva Programme 2.0 rejects it on upload.

For the 35×45 mm passport format, here are the pixel dimensions at common resolutions:

For reference, the 51×51 mm square format used only for OCI cards and e-Visas (never a passport):

300 DPI is the minimum acceptable resolution for a printed Indian passport photo. The Passport Seva 2.0 online portal expects a JPEG of exactly 630×810 pixels under 250 KB for the passport application, and its AI screening reads each file's pixel dimensions before accepting it — anything off the 630×810 spec is auto-rejected with no manual correction window. OCI and e-Visa uploads follow the separate 600×600 pixel, 10 KB–1 MB JPEG rule.

If your photo exceeds the file-size cap for either format, compress it to under 1 MB before uploading. Passport Seva will reject oversized files without any useful error message.

Head Position and Framing Rules

The MEA specifies that the face must occupy a defined portion of the photo frame. Getting framing right is where most home photos fail.

Face coverage: Under the current ICAO-compliant Passport Seva guidelines, the face and the top of the shoulders must take up 80–85% of the photo frame. The full head must be visible from the very top of the hair down to the bottom of the chin — both too much empty space and over-tight cropping that clips the crown are rejection causes. This 80–85% rule governs the 35×45 mm passport photo, and the same head-size window also applies to the separate 51×51 mm OCI/e-Visa photo.

Head position:

• Face the camera directly — no tilting, no turning
• Both ears should be visible
• Head centered horizontally and vertically in the frame
• No hair falling across the face
• Natural upright posture, not leaning forward or backward

Crown clearance: Leave visible space above the top of the head. Do not crop so tightly that hair touches the top edge. About 3–5 mm of space above the crown is typical.

Shoulder line: Both shoulders should appear in the frame. The photo should capture from the upper chest upward.

Background Requirements

The MEA requires a plain white background only for the passport photo — no patterns, no colors, no gradients, and no off-white or cream tints. Off-white, light grey, and shadowed backgrounds that older portals once tolerated now fail under the ICAO-compliant rule. The background must be consistent across the entire photo with no visible shadows behind the head or shoulders.

A common problem with home photos: the subject stands too close to a white wall, creating a shadow behind the head. Stand at least 50–60 cm away from the background wall to prevent this.

Why pure white matters now: The Passport Seva 2.0 AI screening samples the background and flags any cream, beige, yellow, or grey cast. A distinctly off-white background that would have passed a manual reviewer is auto-rejected. When in doubt, use pure white — it is the only safe choice for an Indian passport.

If your existing photo has an unsuitable background, Pixotter's background removal tool can isolate your face and place it on a clean white background — all processed locally in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device.

Expression, Eyes, and Glasses

Expression: The MEA requires a neutral, natural expression. Mouth closed. No smiling, no frowning, no raised eyebrows. Think "relaxed and neutral" — not a forced straight-faced stare.

Eyes: Both eyes must be fully open and clearly visible. Looking directly at the camera lens. No squinting or partial closure.

Glasses: Eyeglasses are now banned outright. Under the ICAO-compliant Passport Seva Programme 2.0 rules, you must remove all glasses for the photo — tinted glasses, sunglasses, thick frames, and even untinted prescription lenses are prohibited, because frame reflections and lens glare defeat the automated AI screening. There is no manual exception. Take the photo without glasses, full stop. The same rules also prohibit digital touch-ups and AI-based skin smoothing, so do not retouch the image afterward.

Hair: Hair should be neatly arranged and not covering the face or eyes. Hair covering the ears is acceptable. Hairstyles that obscure the forehead or face outline may cause rejection.

Clothing and Accessories

The MEA does not require specific clothing color, but recommends avoiding white or very light colors that blend into the white background and make shoulders invisible.

What to avoid:

• White shirts, blouses, or tops (poor contrast against the background)
• Hats and caps (not permitted except religious head coverings)
• Uniforms, including military and police uniforms
• Excessive or heavy jewellery that alters the face outline

Religious head coverings: Permitted only if worn daily for religious reasons. The face must be clearly visible from forehead to chin, and both sides of the face must be fully visible.

Children and infants: Passport photos for minors follow the same rules. Infants must not be supported by an adult hand or visible prop — photograph them lying on a white sheet or in a car seat with a white cover.

Photo Paper and Print Quality Requirements

For physical (print) passport applications, the photo must be printed on:

• High-quality photographic paper — matte or glossy finish, both accepted
• No ordinary printer paper — inkjet-on-plain-paper photos are rejected
• No digital editing artifacts — compression artifacts, pixelation, or visible banding cause rejection
• Correct color reproduction — the photo must accurately represent your skin tone and features

Photo studios and pharmacy photo kiosks (Kodak, Fujifilm) that advertise passport photo services print on compliant photographic paper. Home inkjet prints on glossy photo paper from Epson or Canon are generally acceptable if print quality is high.

Passport Seva Online Upload Requirements

For applications submitted through the Passport Seva Online Portal (passportindia.gov.in) after the Passport Seva 2.0 update, the digital photo must meet these specifications:

The Passport Seva Programme 2.0 uploader runs AI-based screening on each file: it reads the pixel dimensions, samples the background, and checks for glasses before accepting the photo. Anything that is not exactly 630×810 pixels, exceeds 250 KB, or fails the background or glasses check is flagged and rejected instantly — there is no manual correction window under the zero-tolerance policy. The high-resolution 630×810 upload supports up to 250 KB to avoid compression artifacts, though many applicants aim for the 20–100 KB range to stay safely clear of portal glitches. If your file is over the cap, use Pixotter's image compressor to reduce the size without visible quality loss before uploading.

The portal also requires a separate signature scan: JPEG, white background, black ink on white paper, scanned at 300 DPI. OCI and e-Visa applications — which use the 51×51 mm square photo and are not passports — still follow the older 10 KB–1 MB JPEG range rather than the 250 KB passport cap.

OCI and PIO Card Photo Requirements

If you are applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, the photo is a different size from the passport — the 51 × 51 mm square, not the 35×45 mm passport rectangle. Since the September 2025 ICAO mandate split the two documents, do not reuse a passport photo for an OCI application or vice versa:

The OCI online portal follows this 51×51 mm square, 10 KB–1 MB JPEG standard rather than the passport's 630×810 px / 250 KB rule. PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card applications, where still processed, follow the same OCI photo standard. Prepare OCI and PIO photos identically — but keep them separate from your passport photo, which is the 35×45 mm rectangle.

For other country travel documents, see our guides on Schengen visa photo requirements and Canada passport photo size.

How to Prepare an Indian Passport Photo at Home

You do not need a photo studio. A smartphone with a 12MP or higher camera produces fully compliant photos if you follow these steps:

Setup:

• Use a plain white wall as background, or tape a white sheet flat against a wall
• Position yourself 50–60 cm in front of the background (prevents head shadow)
• Use natural daylight from a window facing you — avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows
• Mount the phone at eye level using a tripod, pile of books, or door handle

Taking the shot:

• Remove glasses entirely — eyeglasses are banned under the Passport Seva 2.0 rules, with no exception for prescription lenses
• Remove hats and heavy jewellery too
• Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, mouth closed
• Have someone else take the photo — arm-length selfies distort facial proportions and the AI screening penalizes the distortion
• Take 5–10 shots and pick the best one

Processing the photo:

1. Crop so the face and top of the shoulders fill 80–85% of the frame — a 7:9 portrait crop for the 35×45 mm passport size (use a 1:1 square crop only for a separate 51×51 mm OCI/e-Visa photo)
2. Remove the background if it is not perfectly plain white — off-white and grey now fail the AI screening
3. Resize to 630×810 pixels for the Passport Seva 2.0 passport upload, or 600×600 pixels for an OCI or e-Visa photo
4. Save as JPEG and verify the file size — 20 KB to 250 KB for a passport upload, 10 KB to 1 MB for OCI and e-Visa — using Pixotter's compressor if needed
5. Do not apply any filter, beauty mode, or AI skin smoothing — the Passport Seva 2.0 system rejects digitally retouched photos

All three steps run in your browser — no upload, no account, no data sent anywhere.

Comparing Indian Passport Photo Size to Other Countries

Since the September 2025 ICAO mandate, the Indian passport photo (35×45 mm) matches the Australian and Schengen rectangle in size, though India's plain-white-only background and 630×810 px / 250 KB digital spec remain India-specific — the photo is not interchangeable with any other country's passport. The 51×51 mm square shown in the table is the OCI card and e-Visa format, which matches the US passport standard; it is never accepted for an Indian passport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official Indian passport photo size?

Every Indian passport photo is 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm), with a digital upload of exactly 630×810 pixels to the Passport Seva portal. Since the September 2025 ICAO standardization mandated by the Ministry of External Affairs, this single rectangular size governs all passport applications — at a Passport Seva Kendra inside India or at an Indian consulate abroad. The 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square is not a passport size; it belongs to OCI cards and e-Visas. Submitting a square photo for a passport is the most common rejection cause.

Is the 2×2-inch (51×51 mm) square photo accepted for an Indian passport?

No. Since the September 2025 ICAO mandate, the 2×2-inch square is reserved for OCI cards and e-Visa applications only — it is not accepted for a passport. The Passport Seva Programme 2.0 AI screening auto-rejects a square photo on upload. Use the 35×45 mm rectangle (630×810 px) for the passport, and keep the 51×51 mm square strictly for OCI or e-Visa submissions. The two documents now take different photo shapes, so do not reuse one for the other.

What pixel dimensions does the Passport Seva 2.0 portal require?

The Passport Seva Programme 2.0 portal at passportindia.gov.in requires a passport photo JPEG of exactly 630 × 810 pixels, between 20 KB and 250 KB. The AI screening reads the file's pixel dimensions and rejects anything off the 630×810 spec on the spot — there is no manual correction window. Aim for the 20–100 KB range to stay safely under the cap. OCI and e-Visa uploads, which are a different document, use the separate 600×600 pixel, 10 KB–1 MB rule. Resize your photo to exactly 630×810 before uploading.

What background color is required for Indian passport photos?

The Ministry of External Affairs requires a plain white background only under the current ICAO-compliant Passport Seva guidelines — no colors, patterns, gradients, shadows, or off-white tints. The Passport Seva 2.0 AI samples the background and rejects photos with any cream, beige, or grey cast, or any shadow behind the head or under the chin. Wear dark clothing so your shoulders do not blend into the white. Use Pixotter's background removal tool to replace a non-white background before resizing.

Can I use a grey background for an Indian passport photo like Schengen visas allow?

No. The Indian passport photo requires a pure white background only. Grey, beige, blue, and any other non-white backgrounds are auto-rejected by the Passport Seva 2.0 AI screening. This is stricter than the Schengen visa photo standard, which permits a light grey background — a useful distinction if you are preparing photos for travel to Europe at the same time as an Indian passport application. India shares the 35×45 mm size with Schengen but not the background rule.

How much of the frame must my face cover in an Indian passport photo?

Under the current ICAO-compliant Passport Seva rules, your face and the top of your shoulders must fill 80–85% of the photo frame, with the full head visible from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin. The MEA defines the photo as a close-up of the head and top of the shoulders. Too much empty space above the head and over-tight cropping that clips the crown are both rejection causes flagged by the Passport Seva 2.0 face detection.

What is the maximum file size for a Passport Seva photo upload?

For an Indian passport application on the Passport Seva 2.0 portal, the JPEG photo must be between 20 KB and 250 KB. The high-resolution 630×810 upload supports up to 250 KB to avoid compression artifacts. OCI and e-Visa uploads — a separate document — use a different range, 10 KB to 1 MB. Files outside the applicable range are rejected without a useful error message. If your photo exceeds the cap, compress it using Pixotter before uploading.

Are glasses allowed in Indian passport photos?

No. Eyeglasses are banned under the Passport Seva Programme 2.0 rules — you must remove all glasses for the photo, including untinted prescription lenses, even if you wear them daily. Frame reflections and lens glare defeat the automated AI screening, so the system flags any glasses and rejects the photo with no manual exception. Tinted glasses and sunglasses are prohibited too. The same rules also ban digital touch-ups and AI-based skin smoothing.

How does the Passport Seva Programme 2.0 AI photo screening work?

Rolled out in February 2026, Passport Seva Programme 2.0 added automated AI-based photo screening at the digital upload stage. The AI checks the pixel dimensions (must be exactly 630×810), samples the background (must be plain white), detects glasses (banned), and looks for digital retouching (prohibited). Under the zero-tolerance policy, a non-compliant upload is flagged and rejected instantly — there is no manual review or correction window. Get the photo right before you upload, because the system will not let a borderline file through.

Can I take my Indian passport photo at home for a Passport Seva application?

Yes. A smartphone camera at 12 MP or higher, a plain white wall, and good window light produce photos that meet Passport Seva standards. Remove your glasses first — they are banned — and use a tripod or ask someone else to take the shot, since arm-length selfies create lens distortion that the portal's AI face detection penalizes. After taking the photo, resize it to exactly 630×810 pixels and check the file size is 20–250 KB before submitting.

For other Asian passport requirements, see our Korea passport photo size guide.