Quick answer: This India visa preset uses 51 × 51 mm with white or off-white background. Head occupies 49–69% of photo height (25–35 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses prohibited. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .
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| Format | 51 × 51 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 49–69% of photo height |
| Head height (mm) | 25–35 mm chin to crown |
| Background | White or off-white background. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Glasses prohibited. 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 | Check the authority portal before digital upload |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | min 10 KB · max 300 KB |
India e-visa photos are administered by the **Bureau of Immigration / Government of India** through indianvisaonline.gov.in. The format is 51×51mm (2×2 inch SQUARE) — one of few square passport-photo specs worldwide. Digital upload: 350×350 to 1000×1000 px JPEG, 10-300KB. Head height 25-35mm (1 inch to 1⅜ inches). Background must be plain white or very light. CRITICAL UPDATE: Since September 2025, glasses are NOT permitted in Indian visa photos — no exceptions even for prescription glasses. Neutral expression, no smiling, taken within 6 months.
| Authority | Government of India / Bureau of Immigration |
|---|---|
| Source | Indian visa photo requirements |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — general |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for India visa applications. The final decision always belongs to Government of India / Bureau of Immigration, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 51 × 51 mm rule automatically.
Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall — match White or off-white background. The gap eliminates shadow on the wall behind you. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with patterned wallpaper or any background colour gradient.
Face a large window during daylight hours. Even frontal light prevents shadow under the brow ridge and beside the nose — two of the most common rejection triggers for consular visa applications.
Look straight at the camera. Keep your head level and centred in the frame. Even a 3–5° tilt is flagged by the consular ICAO alignment check before a human reviewer sees the application.
Both shoulders square to the camera. Visa photos are biometrically checked against the same reference standard as passports — turned shoulders shift the perceived face centre.
Glasses prohibited For visa photos, consular pre-screening is particularly strict on glasses glare. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, document this in your application.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open and looking directly at the lens. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no parted lips. Match the expression of someone sitting for an official photograph, not a friendly portrait.
Deep solid colours photograph cleanest against a light background. Avoid white tops (they merge with the background), uniforms, religious headwear except where permanent and documented, and any large jewellery near the face or neck.
Verify the photo dimensions match 51 × 51 mm, the head occupies 49–69% of the height, both eyes are clearly visible, and the background matches the rule above. The tool catches most issues automatically but a manual check prevents surprises.
Government of India / Bureau of Immigration publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.
| Code | Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
IN-EV-01 |
Photo not square (51×51mm or pixel 350-1000²) | Re-crop to square aspect ratio |
IN-EV-02 |
Glasses worn (since Sep 2025) | Re-shoot without glasses — NO medical exception |
IN-EV-03 |
JPEG outside 10-300KB range | Re-encode at correct file size |
IN-EV-04 |
Head height outside 25-35mm range | Re-crop with correct framing |
IN-EV-05 |
Background not white or very light | Re-shoot against white backdrop |
IN-EV-06 |
Photo older than 6 months | Re-shoot |
India visa applications are administered by the Bureau of Immigration through the indianvisaonline.gov.in portal. The e-visa route is available to 170+ nationalities.
indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
Photo: 51×51mm SQUARE (2×2 inch), white/very light background, 10-300KB JPEG. CRITICAL since September 2025: NO GLASSES allowed — no medical exception.
Authority pagemea.gov.in mission directory
Used for visa categories not eligible for e-visa (employment, student, journalist). VFS Global handles operations in many countries.
Authority pageWhite or off-white background is required. Consular pre-screening systems are strict on background — even minor texture, gradient or off-white tone is grounds for immediate rejection before a human reviewer sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require photos taken within the last three to six months. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause, especially for first-time visa applications.
Each visa type has specific dimensions. Submitting a passport-sized photo for a visa that requires different proportions is grounds for rejection. Verify the spec table above matches the visa category you are applying for.
The face must be centred horizontally and vertically with the head straight. Consular automated systems flag head tilt above 3–5 degrees before manual review.
Glasses glare, hair across the eye, head covering that obscures the facial outline (except for documented religious exception), or any accessory near the face is rejected by automated pre-screening.
Smile, raised eyebrows, parted lips or visible teeth all cause rejection. Consular photos use the same biometric standard as passports — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
If submitting a physical photo, low-quality home printing, glossy paper instead of matte, ink streaks or finger smudges around the edges all cause manual rejection at the consular submission stage.
Since September 2025 the Indian Bureau of Immigration enforces a no-glasses rule for e-visa photo uploads with NO medical exception. Before September 2025, prescription glasses with clear lenses were tolerated. Now all eyewear must be removed for the photo. This is a tightened regulatory enforcement, not a new rule per se.
The Indian e-visa upload at indianvisaonline.gov.in rejects JPEG files over 300 KB. Most phone-captured photos exceed this. Re-encode using your phone's "compress" feature or an online compressor before upload. Files under 10 KB are also rejected — the strict range is 10-300 KB.
Indian visa adopted the US-style 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) square format historically, predating ICAO 9303 standardisation in the region. Pakistan and Bangladesh use the 35×45 mm rectangular standard. Bringing a 35×45 mm photo to an Indian e-visa application means automatic rejection.
This India visa preset uses 51 × 51 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 49–69% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
White or off-white background. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture or off-white shade before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Use the exact profile for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all India visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. The refund covers the €4.99 download fee. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Glasses prohibited. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
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.