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India aadhaar card photo 35 × 45 mm

Updated

Quick answer: This India aadhaar card preset uses 35 × 45 mm with if the official source does not publish a separate background rule, use a plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, see glasses rule. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .

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Official — generalVerified 2026-05-17
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Photo requirements

Format35 × 45 mm
Head height70–80% of photo height
BackgroundIf the official source does not publish a separate background rule, use a plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects.
PoseFull face, head centred, no tilt or rotation.
ExpressionNeutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
GlassesEyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules →
LightingShadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted.
Digital resolutionCheck the authority portal before digital upload
File formatJPEG · sRGB / 24-bit
File sizemin 20 KB · max 100 KB

How a aadhaar card photo is verified

India Aadhaar (12-digit unique ID) photos are administered by **UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India)**. The format is 35×45mm with white background and face coverage 80-85% (higher than typical ICAO 70-80%). JPEG only (PNG/HEIC/WebP rejected), 413×531 pixels portrait orientation, 20-100KB file size. UIDAI-UNIQUE: BOTH EARS must be clearly visible (unless covered for religious reasons) — UIDAI uses ear shape as an additional biometric marker beyond just face/fingerprint/iris. Glasses generally not allowed (interferes with iris scan). Biometric enrollment includes photo + 10 fingerprints + both iris scans.

Local application route

AuthorityUnique Identification Authority of India
SourceAadhaar enrolment process
Verified
ConfidenceOfficial — general
What the source confirms
  • UIDAI states that biometric information is captured during Aadhaar enrolment.
  • The biometric data captured for Aadhaar includes a facial photograph, ten fingerprints and two iris scans.
  • Aadhaar demographic data includes name, date of birth or verified age, gender, address, mobile number and email when supplied.
  • UIDAI guidance describes the photograph as enrolment-centre capture; it does not publish an applicant-supplied print photo size for the normal Aadhaar route.
Still conservative because
  • UIDAI confirms authority capture of the photograph during enrolment; an applicant-supplied print photo size is not applicable to the normal route.
  • Some generation prompt fields use conservative biometric fallback wording because the official public source does not publish them separately.

What makes a India aadhaar card photo accepted

One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for India aadhaar card applications. The final decision always belongs to Unique Identification Authority of India, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.

✓ Accepted Compliant India aadhaar card photo example (35 × 45 mm) — centered face, plain background, neutral expression, eyes open, even frontal lighting. Meets Unique Identification Authority of India biometric requirements.

Compliant India aadhaar card example (35 × 45 mm)

  • Face centred, looking directly into the lens
  • Plain background — no shadow, pattern or texture
  • Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed
  • No glasses, no hair across the face

Top 6 India aadhaar card rejection causes

Rejected India aadhaar card photo example — shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient. Unique Identification Authority of India would reject this for aadhaar card applications.
Background shadow India aadhaar card: Shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient
Rejected India aadhaar card photo example — visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression. Unique Identification Authority of India would reject this for aadhaar card applications.
Smile / open mouth India aadhaar card: Visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression
Rejected India aadhaar card photo example — glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye. Unique Identification Authority of India would reject this for aadhaar card applications.
Glasses with glare India aadhaar card: Glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye
Rejected India aadhaar card photo example — loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face. Unique Identification Authority of India would reject this for aadhaar card applications.
Hair across the face India aadhaar card: Loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face
Rejected India aadhaar card photo example — eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens. Unique Identification Authority of India would reject this for aadhaar card applications.
Eyes off-camera India aadhaar card: Eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens
Rejected India aadhaar card photo example — head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal. Unique Identification Authority of India would reject this for aadhaar card applications.
Head tilted India aadhaar card: Head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal
Current profile Format: 35 × 45 mm Head: 70–80% Background: If the official source does not publish a separate background rule, use a plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects.

Prepare your India aadhaar card photo

Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.

How to take a India aadhaar card photo correctly

Background setup

Stand 1–2 metres from a light-coloured wall. If the official source does not publish a separate background rule, use a plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects. The photo will be printed on a card and viewed many times — any background imperfection is amplified at the small print size of an ID card.

Lighting

Face a window for diffused natural light. Even illumination prevents shadows under the chin or beside the nose that look minor in preview but become prominent at card-print scale.

Head position

Camera at eye level, head straight, looking directly at the lens. Identity cards are checked at banks, polling stations and government offices over a 5–10 year validity — submit a photo that will still match in years to come.

Shoulders and frame

Square shoulders, both visible in the frame, head and shoulders centred. India ID cards typically print the photo at a small fixed size — proportions matter more than absolute pixel resolution.

Eyewear

Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections Identity cards have long validity periods. Removing glasses for the shoot prevents glare-related re-verification problems years from now.

Expression

Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. Identity cards must show your natural everyday appearance — neither a stylised portrait nor a candid photo. Imagine you are renewing a library card.

Attire

Dress as you would on a normal day. Avoid white or pale tops against light backgrounds. Solid dark colours work best. Religious head covering is allowed only where consistently worn in daily life and supported by your application.

Photo recency

The photo must reflect your current appearance. If your hair, beard or weight has changed significantly since you would naturally have a recent photo of yourself, take a new one for the application.

Authority rejection codes

Unique Identification Authority of India publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.

CodeReasonFix
IN-AAD-01 One or both ears not visible (UIDAI ear-shape biometric) Re-shoot with hair behind both ears
IN-AAD-02 Glasses worn (interferes with iris scan) Remove glasses; medical exception requires documentation
IN-AAD-03 Non-JPEG file format Convert to JPEG only
IN-AAD-04 Face coverage outside 80-85% Re-crop to UIDAI spec
IN-AAD-05 File over 100KB or under 20KB Re-encode within UIDAI range

Where to submit your aadhaar card application

India Aadhaar enrollment is administered by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) through Aadhaar Enrollment Centers. Aadhaar is the 12-digit unique identification for Indian residents.

Aadhaar Enrollment Center (in-person) in-person

uidai.gov.in + 30,000+ centers across India

Processing
90 days for Aadhaar generation; ~30 days for the physical card
Cost
Free (first enrollment)

Biometric enrollment: photo + 10 fingerprints + both iris scans on-site. Photo: 35×45 mm white background, BOTH EARS visible. JPEG 20-100 KB.

Authority page
mAadhaar / Self Service Update Portal online (updates only)

ssup.uidai.gov.in

Processing
15-30 days for online updates
Cost
₹50 for biometric update

Used for demographic updates (address change, etc.) only. New enrollment must be done in person.

Authority page

India-specific things to know

Top reasons India aadhaar card photos get rejected

Frequently asked questions

This India aadhaar card preset uses 35 × 45 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 70–80% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. The photo must reflect your current everyday appearance.

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Photo rules & guides

Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.