Ministry of External Affairs specs in one page. The Indian passport uses a 35×45 mm photo; Indian visas, OCI and PIO cards use the 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square format. Plain white background, neutral expression, no glasses. Make a compliant photo in your browser — your image never leaves your device.
Indian passports use 35×45 mm; Indian visas, OCI and PIO cards use the square 51×51 mm (2 × 2 inch) format.
| Indian passport size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Indian visa / OCI / PIO | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inch, square) |
| Pixels at 300 DPI — passport | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 300 DPI — visa/OCI | 600 × 600 px |
| Head height | 25–35 mm chin to crown (70–80% of frame) |
| Background | Plain white — no patterns, no shadows |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, no smile |
| Glasses | Not permitted (reflections cause rejection) |
| File format | JPG, under 300 KB for most online uploads |
| Taken within | The last three months |
The editor auto-crops to the Indian 35×45 mm (passport) or 51×51 mm (visa/OCI) format, removes the background in your browser, and exports at 300 DPI — ready to upload to Passport Seva or print at any studio.
Open the India passport / visa photo editor
Drop a phone HEIC or JPG — we auto-crop and remove the background.
What the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and Indian embassies abroad check on every photo.
Plain white only. Light blue is sometimes requested for PAN and Aadhaar photos, but Indian passports and visas both require pure white. Use the background-removal tool and composite over white.
Neutral, mouth closed, no smile. The Passport Seva portal explicitly rejects smiling photos. Eyes open and looking straight at the lens.
Not allowed. The Ministry of External Affairs banned glasses on passport photos to prevent reflections. Remove them before taking the photo.
Allowed — turban (Sikh), hijab, dupatta on the head for cultural reasons. The full face must be visible from chin to forehead, ear to ear. No shadows from the covering on the face.
Religious and cultural jewellery is allowed — mangalsutra, bindi, tilak, small nose studs, subtle earrings. Remove large hoops or chains that cover the face outline.
Beards and moustaches are allowed. Your passport photo should reflect your everyday appearance — don't shave or grow a beard just for the photo.
The Indian passport uses a 35×45 mm photo with white background, head 25–35 mm chin to crown, neutral expression, no smile, and no glasses. Indian visas, OCI and PIO cards use the 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square format instead. Both require a plain white background and a photo taken within the last three months.
At 300 DPI the 35×45 mm Indian passport photo is 413×531 pixels. The 51×51 mm visa/OCI photo is 600×600 pixels. Passport Seva online uploads accept JPG files under 300 KB.
Yes. The Passport Seva Kendra accepts home-taken photos as long as they meet the specification. Stand 50–100 cm from a plain white wall, face a window for soft daylight, have someone hold the phone at eye level — not a selfie. Upload the HEIC or JPG here, crop to 35×45 mm and export.
Most renewal and Tatkal applicants no longer need to bring printed photos — the Passport Seva Kendra takes a photo at the appointment. If you are submitting a paper application overseas through an Indian consulate, carry two identical 35×45 mm or 51×51 mm prints on matte photo paper.
Size. The Indian passport photo is 35×45 mm rectangular; the Indian visa, OCI and PIO card photos are 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square — the same as US passport format. All require a plain white background.