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India passport photo size & requirements

Indian passport photos are typically 35 x 45 mm with a plain white background; Indian visa photos use the 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) square format.

India is one of the few countries that uses two different photo sizes depending on the document type — and confusing them is one of the most common application mistakes. For a standard Indian passport (processed through the Passport Seva portal), the required photo is 35 x 45 mm with a plain white background. But for Indian visa applications, including e-Visa applications processed by the Bureau of Immigration, the required size switches to the US-style 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) square.

Indian passport applications through the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) require two physical copies of the photo, printed on matte or semi-gloss paper. Both photos must be identical. The Passport Seva system also performs a digital scan of the submitted photo, so print quality matters — blurry or pixelated prints, even from correctly sized files, are flagged. Additionally, Indian passport officials are known to check that the background is true white, not cream or off-white, more rigorously than in many other countries.

Photo size
35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in)
Resolution
300 DPI
Head height
Head centred and occupying about 70–80% of the photo height
Background
Plain white
Make my Indian photo How to print it

India passport photo requirements

  • Common Indian passport photo size is 35 x 45 mm; Indian visa photos are 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm).
  • Plain white background with adequate contrast against the face.
  • Full face, front view, eyes open, neutral expression.
  • Head centred within the frame, covering most of the photo height.
  • No shadows on the face or background.
  • No caps, hats, or sunglasses; prescription glasses must not glare.

Common reasons India passport photos get rejected

Even a technically correct photo can be turned away for these issues. They come up repeatedly in official rejection notices.

  • Using 35 x 45 mm for visa applications (or 2 x 2 in for passport applications) — the size mismatch between the two documents is the most common confusion.
  • Background that is cream, off-white, or has any shadow behind the subject. Indian PSK officers frequently cite shadow on background as a rejection reason.
  • Photos with coloured borders or frames — some photo printing services add a border by default.
  • Wearing sunglasses or coloured contact lenses.
  • Hair covering the forehead — Indian passport guidelines specify the hairline should be clearly visible.
  • Photo with heavy make-up that significantly alters skin tone or facial features.
  • Blurry or pixelated prints from low-resolution source files — use at least 600 pixels wide for the 35 x 45 mm size.

Make your India passport photo

The tool below is preset to 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in). Crop, fix the background, and download — free and private.

Your photo never leaves your device.

Photo settings

Adjust
Background

High-resolution export at 300 DPI. No watermark, no signup.

Other countries

United States flag United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Albania flag Albania 35 x 45 mm Australia flag Australia 35 x 45 mm Brazil flag Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in Canada flag Canada 50 x 70 mm China flag China 33 x 48 mm France flag France 35 x 45 mm Germany flag Germany 35 x 45 mm Iceland flag Iceland 35 x 45 mm Ireland flag Ireland 35 x 45 mm Italy flag Italy 35 x 45 mm Japan flag Japan 35 x 45 mm Luxembourg flag Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm Malaysia flag Malaysia 35 x 50 mm Netherlands flag Netherlands 35 x 45 mm New Zealand flag New Zealand 35 x 45 mm Nigeria flag Nigeria 35 x 45 mm Norway flag Norway 35 x 45 mm Pakistan flag Pakistan 35 x 45 mm Philippines flag Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) Russia flag Russia 35 x 45 mm Saudi Arabia flag Saudi Arabia 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Schengen / EU flag Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm Singapore flag Singapore 35 x 45 mm South Africa flag South Africa 35 x 45 mm South Korea flag South Korea 35 x 45 mm Spain flag Spain 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm Switzerland flag Switzerland 35 x 45 mm Thailand flag Thailand 35 x 45 mm Turkey flag Turkey 50 x 60 mm United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates 43 x 55 mm United Kingdom flag United Kingdom 35 x 45 mm Vietnam flag Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)