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SourceMinistry of External Affairs of India — Passport Seva
Verified
Quick answer: A India passport photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Strictly white background. Neutral expression, better without glasses. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Background | Strictly white background. Make photo background white — India passport → |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Remove glasses to avoid reflections; eyes must not be obscured. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; for paper submission, dark clothing is recommended. |
| Digital resolution | 630 × 810 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | max 250 KB Compress photo to 200 KB — India passport → |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
India publishes three photograph sheets for the passport, and which one applies depends on where the application is lodged. At a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) «a photograph is NOT required» — the photograph is taken there. At any other collection centre (a District Passport Cell, an Authorized Speed Post Centre or a Citizen Service Centre) the application takes «ONLY ONE COLOUR photograph», «recent passport size photograph (4.5 cm length × 3.5 cm width)», pasted in the box of the form, «plain white» background, «dress in dark colour», printed on good quality photo paper — «a photograph in computer print will not be accepted» and «the photograph is NOT to be signed». The digital ICAO guideline asks for «the head and top of the shoulders such that the face takes up 80–85 % of the photograph», in colour, 630 × 810 pixels, «a white background», «unaltered by computer software», taken from 1.5 metres, mouth not open, «full head from top of hair to bottom of chin», head centred and not tilted, and glasses «taken off to avoid reflections». A photograph for an Indian embassy or consulate is a colour print of 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm), with a digital file of 20–100 KB, a plain white or off-white background and a head of 25–35 mm. Head coverings are accepted «for religious reasons», with the face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face clearly shown.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons India passport photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of External Affairs of India — Passport Seva publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A background that is not plain white (a dark background is named as not accepted), a dress that is not dark for the pasted print, shadows on the face or the background | A plain white background, dark clothing, even light with no shadows. |
| A pasted photograph that is black and white, a computer print, signed, cut from a group photo, damaged, or smaller than the box | One colour photo on good photo paper, unsigned, undamaged, filling the 4.5 × 3.5 cm box. |
| Eyes hidden under coloured or dark glasses or hair, glare on the lenses, an open mouth, a grin, frown or raised eyebrows | Eyes open and clear, no dark lenses or glare (take glasses off), mouth closed, natural expression. |
| A digital photo that is not 630 × 810 pixels, not in colour, altered by software, or with the face outside 80–85 % of the photograph | A colour, unaltered 630 × 810 pixel photo with head and shoulders and the face at 80–85 %. |
| A head that is tilted or off-centre, both ears or the edges of the face not visible, a head covering without a religious reason or one that hides the face | A centred, straight head with both edges of the face and both ears visible. |
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.
Size: 35 × 45 mm
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to the required size.
Better without glasses
Take them off before the shot.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, 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 glassesTake your glasses off — this document's rules require it.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
An Indian passport is applied for at a Passport Seva Kendra, a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra or another collection centre in India (the photograph is taken at the first two), or at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad.
passportindia.gov.in — Passport Seva portal, the nearest PSK or POPSK
No photograph needed — it is taken at the counter.
Authority pageThe collection centre named for your district on the Passport Seva portal
One colour print of 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm on a plain white background, pasted in the form box, not signed.
Authority pageThe website of the Indian embassy or consulate for your country
2 × 2 inch colour photograph; digital file 20–100 KB; plain white or off-white background; head 25–35 mm.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of External Affairs of India — Passport Seva |
|---|---|
| Source | Passport Seva ICAO compliant photograph guidelines |
| Verified |
Questions
It depends on the route: a pasted print is a recent colour photograph of 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm on a plain white background; an ICAO digital photo is 630 × 810 pixels with the face at 80–85 %; at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad it is 2 × 2 inch with a file of 20–100 KB.
No. The booklet says a photograph is not required for applications submitted at a Passport Seva Kendra or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra; it is needed only at the other collection centres.
The ICAO guideline says glasses are to be taken off to avoid reflections, and the booklet does not accept eyes hidden under coloured or dark glasses; if you must wear glasses, avoid glare with a slight tilt of the head and keep the eyes clearly visible.
A plain white background; the booklet adds dark clothing for the pasted print, and the mission sheet accepts plain white or off-white.
The India passport photo must be 35 × 45 mm. For digital upload, use 630 × 810 px.
Yes. A phone and a light wall near a window are enough. The rear camera is sharper than the front one, so ask someone to take the photo or use a 3-second timer. The tool crops it to size, fixes the background and checks it against the India passport photo rules.
Most passport offices ask for a photo taken within the last six months. It should look like you today: after a new haircut or beard, take a new one.
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 — the refund policy page has the details.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 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.