Official requirements
| Print size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square |
|---|---|
| Digital size | Our export is 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI |
| Head framing | No official numeric band is published; frame the head at roughly 50–69% of the height, as in the US spec (guidance, not an Indian rule) |
| Background | Plain white, no shadows, patterns or objects |
| Expression | Neutral, looking directly at the camera, both eyes open and visible, mouth closed or a natural expression |
| Glasses | Remove them if possible; if worn, the eyes must be fully visible with no glare, and tinted lenses are not acceptable |
| Head coverings | Only for religious reasons, with the full face visible |
| Recency | A recent photo that matches your current appearance (within the last 6 months is the safe standard) |
| Other rules | Colour photo, full face and shoulders visible, no borders or frames printed around the photo |
How to take a compliant India Visa / Passport photo at home
- Use a plain wall in the required background colour if you can — replacing a background digitally is a fallback, not the first choice, and a couple of authorities (Australia, and Canada for digital uploads) require an unaltered photo.
- Stand roughly half a metre in front of the wall so your shadow does not fall on it, and face a window or another even light source so both sides of your face are lit the same.
- Have someone else take the photo from about 1.5 metres away, holding the phone at your eye level. Arm’s-length selfies widen the face and tilt it, and are a quiet cause of rejections.
- Shoot head and shoulders with clear space on every side of your head. The maker scales and centres you; a tight original crop leaves it nothing to work with.
- Look straight at the lens, keep your head level, close your mouth unless your spec allows a natural smile, and take several shots — then use the sharpest one with no shadow on the face or the wall.
Then open the passport photo maker with the India Visa / Passport preset selected, drag your photo until the top of your head sits between the dashed crown lines, your chin rests on the lower line and your eyes fall inside the shaded band, and download the photo at exactly 600 × 600 pixels — or a print sheet with the copies laid out at 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) each.
Common reasons India Visa / Passport photos are rejected
- A non-white or shadowed background.
- The 35 × 45 mm European format — Indian applications ask for the 51 × 51 mm square.
- A side profile, turned head or eyes looking away from the camera.
- Dark glasses, glare on lenses, or hair covering the eyes.
- A photo with a printed border or frame around it.
- An old photo that no longer matches your appearance.
For many Indian passport services the photograph is captured at the Passport Seva Kendra during your appointment; the 2 × 2 inch photo is required for Indian visa applications, OCI and several miscellaneous services. Check the document list for your exact application type before printing.
Open the maker with the India Visa / Passport preset
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Indian passport photo?
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square, against a plain white background, showing the full face front-on. That is the size used for Indian visa applications and several passport-related services.
Is the Indian photo the same as the US passport photo?
The outer size and white background match the US spec exactly, so a US-format photo is dimensionally right for India. Composition rules still differ in detail — check the requirements of the service you are applying to.
What background colour is required for Indian visa photos?
Plain white. The Indian preset therefore offers only a white swatch when you replace a background.
Do I need to bring photos to a Passport Seva appointment?
For most adult passport applications the photo is taken at the centre. Visa, OCI and some other services do require you to supply the 2 × 2 inch photo — confirm on your appointment or application checklist.