India Passport and OCI Photo Requirements
Indian passport and OCI applications use a square photo rather than the rectangular format most countries use, and OCI applications in particular are refused frequently for background and file-size problems rather than anything to do with the subject.
Make a compliant india passport / oci photo now
Free, and your photo is processed in your browser — it is never uploaded.
Open the India photo toolThe official specification
| Photo size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
| Pixel dimensions | 600 × 600 px |
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Head height | 70–80% of the photo height |
| Background | Plain, #ffffff |
Source: Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Requirements change — confirm there before you submit.
Rules that catch people out
Square format, not rectangular
This catches people who have a photo prepared for a US or European application. A rectangular photo cropped to a square usually leaves the head incorrectly positioned.
Plain white background
OCI applications are strict about this. Any visible gradient, shadow, or off-white tint is a common cause of resubmission.
Full face, front view, eyes open
Head centred and covering roughly 70-80% of the frame. Neutral expression with the mouth closed.
No uniforms, and avoid white clothing
Uniforms are not accepted. White or very pale clothing blends into the white background and makes the outline of the shoulders disappear.
Strict file-size limits online
The OCI portal enforces a maximum file size and will reject an otherwise valid photo for being too large. Compressing to the required size without dropping below the resolution requirement is the practical difficulty.
Why india passport / oci photos get rejected
- Submitting a rectangular photo where a square is required
- A file that exceeds the portal's size limit
- Off-white or lightly shadowed background on an OCI application
- Wearing spectacles with reflection, or tinted lenses
- Scanning a printed photo instead of uploading the original digital file
Printing and submitting
Passport Seva applications and the OCI portal both accept a digital upload. If your file is rejected for size, compress it rather than reducing its dimensions — dropping the pixel dimensions will fail the resolution check instead.
Ready to make yours?
The tool crops to 51×51 mm at 300 DPI and checks head height and background before it releases the file.
Open the India photo toolOther photo requirements
- US Passport Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- UK Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Schengen Visa Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Canada Passport Photo Requirements50×70 mm · 300 DPI
- Australia Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Baby and Infant Passport Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- Pet Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Driver's License and State ID Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.