head 49–69 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Home Affairs of India — Online OCI Services portal
Verified
Quick answer: A India OCI card photo must be 51 × 51 mm. Light plain background (not white — that is the requirement for the Indian passport, not for OCI); light grey, cream or light blue tones are acceptable. Head occupies 49–69% of photo height (25–35 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 51 × 51 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 49–69% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 25–35 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Light plain background (not white — that is the requirement for the Indian passport, not for OCI); light grey, cream or light blue tones are acceptable. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinting or reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Digital resolution | 200 × 200 to 900 × 900 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | max 200 KB Compress photo to 200 KB — India OCI card → |
| Millimetres | 51 × 51 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 5.1 × 5.1 cm |
| Inches | 2 × 2″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 602 × 602 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 1205 × 1205 px |
The OCI portal of India's Ministry of Home Affairs asks for a square photograph «not less than 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inch) with 80 % coverage of the face», in colour, on «a plain light colour background (not white) without the border», showing the front view of the head and shoulders with the full face in the middle. You upload it: «the height and width of the applicant photo must be equal», no smaller than 200 × 200 pixels and no larger than 900 × 900 pixels, as a JPEG/JPG of at most 200 KB — the same limit as for the signature image.
The Photo Specifications PDF adds the passport-style rules: full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, the head 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inch) and centred, eyes open, level and clearly visible, not covered by hair or glasses frames, both edges of the face shown, natural expression, no distracting shadows on the face or background, no tinted or dark glasses and no glare, and no retouching or softening; head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, with the face from the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges clearly shown. The portal warns that «photographs that do not conform to the above standards will be rejected and may cause delay»; after the online application you bring only the originals of the supporting documents to the Indian Mission, Post or FRRO, which tells you by email if the photograph is deficient.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons India OCI card photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of Home Affairs of India — Online OCI Services portal publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph that does not conform to the portal standards — the portal says it will be rejected and may delay the application | Use a square colour photo of at least 51 × 51 mm with the full face in the middle. |
| A photo that is not square, below 200 × 200 or above 900 × 900 pixels, or a file that is not a JPEG/JPG of at most 200 KB | Upload a square JPEG/JPG of 200 × 200 to 900 × 900 pixels, at most 200 KB. |
| A white or dark background, a border, distracting shadows on the face or the background | A plain light-coloured background (not white), no border, even light. |
| A tilted or turned head, eyes covered by hair or frames, tinted or dark glasses, flash reflection on the lenses | Face the camera directly, eyes open and visible, clear glasses without glare, or none. |
| A retouched, softened, blurred, pixelated or washed-out photograph | A sharp, unretouched photo with natural colours and no visible pixels. |
How to take it
Background: plain white
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 49–69 % of the photo height (25–35 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 51 × 51 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 4 (2 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 20 (4 × 5) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
An OCI application is filed online on the Online OCI Services portal with the photograph, the signature and the documents uploaded; the originals of the documents are then brought to the Indian Mission, Post or FRRO.
ociservices.gov.in — apply online; the Indian Mission or FRRO that covers your residence
Square colour photo, light background (not white), JPEG up to 200 KB, 200–900 px.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Home Affairs of India — Online OCI Services portal |
|---|---|
| Source | OCI photograph specifications |
| Verified |
Questions
A square colour photograph of at least 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inch) with the face covering 80 %, on a plain light background (not white), front view of the head and shoulders, full face in the middle; uploaded as a JPEG/JPG of at most 200 KB between 200 × 200 and 900 × 900 pixels.
Square — at least 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inch), with equal height and width; the upload is 200 × 200 to 900 × 900 pixels.
The portal FAQ asks for a plain light colour background «(not white)» without a border.
JPEG or JPG with a maximum size of 200 KB, the same limit as for the signature image.
The India OCI card photo must be 51 × 51 mm. The head must occupy 49–69% of the photo height. For digital upload, use 200 × 200 to 900 × 900 px. The photo should look like you do day to day.
Yes. Stand against a plain light wall facing a window, and take the photo with a timer or ask someone to help. The tool crops it to size, fixes the background and checks the framing.
Most offices accept a photo taken within the last six months. If your hair, beard or face has changed noticeably since then, take a new one.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinting or reflections. If you keep them on, tilt them slightly downwards by lifting the arms a little above your ears: this usually moves reflections of a window or lamp off the lenses.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the India authority.
51 × 51 mm = 5.1 × 5.1 cm = 2 × 2 inches. At 300 dpi that is 602 × 602 pixels; at 600 dpi, 1205 × 1205 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.