Updated
By Passport Photo at Home · Rules checked against Embassy of India notice, ICAO photo guidelines and VFS Global checklists · How we check (updated )
What changed with Passport Seva 2.0
The Embassy of India in Washington's notice on the move to Passport Seva portal version 2.0 (listed November 20, 2025) says you must upload an ICAO-compliant photograph, your scanned signature and all supporting documents on the portal before you mail or submit the application to VFS Global: “These uploads are mandatory, else the application will not be accepted.” ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization, whose face-photo standard most machine-readable passports follow. A photo that was fine for an older application may not meet it, so plan on a new one.
Indian passport photo rules
| Item | Official rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Digital size | 630 × 810 pixels, in color | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Framing | Close-up of the head and top of the shoulders; the face takes up 80–85% of the photo; full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Background | White | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Pose | Full face, front view, looking directly at the camera; head centered, not tilted | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Eyes and mouth | Eyes open and clearly visible, no hair across them; mouth not open; natural expression | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Light | Uniform, no shadows or flash reflections on the face, no red eye; natural skin tones | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Glasses | Taken off to avoid reflections | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only, with the face from chin to forehead and both edges visible | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Distance | Taken from 1.5 m (about 5 ft) | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Edits | Unaltered by computer software | ICAO photo guidelines |
| Prints | Two identical 35 × 45 mm photos, white background, taken within 6 months, shoulders visible | VFS Global checklists |
The ICAO guideline sets no file size.
What's different from a US passport photo
| US passport photo | Indian passport photo (from the US) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Square, 2 × 2 in | Portrait: 630 × 810 px upload, 35 × 45 mm prints |
| Head size | Head 50–69% of the height | Face 80–85% of the photo |
| Background | White or off-white | White |
| Smile | Natural smile allowed | Natural expression, mouth not open |
| How it's sent | Print mailed with the form, or a file to renew online | Uploaded on Passport Seva, then prints sent to VFS Global |
A US 2×2 photo can't be reused: its head is far too small for the 80–85% rule. Choosing it here re-crops it, and if it lacks the resolution for the tight crop, the resolution check says so.
Why Indian passport photos get rejected
- Not uploaded. The upload on the portal is mandatory; VFS returns applications without it.
- A loose crop. A US-style photo with lots of space around the head misses the 80–85% face rule.
- Off-white or gray background. White only, lit so it doesn't turn gray.
- Glasses or flash glare. Take glasses off and use window light instead of the flash.
- Edits. Brightening, smoothing or a replaced background is alteration by software.
- Prints that don't match. VFS says the two prints must be identical; “applications with incorrect photographs specifications cannot be accepted and will be returned.”
Make the photo with this tool
- Check that the document above the buttons says India passport. It's already selected on this page.
- Wear a colored top, take off your glasses, and stand in front of a white wall facing a window. Have a helper take the photo at eye level from about 1.5 m (5 ft) away.
- The tool crops to 630 × 810 pixels with the face sized for the 80–85% range. Check that the top of your head and your chin are inside the frame.
- Fix anything the checks flag; focus and even light matter more here, because the face fills the frame. Skip Fix it for me: its color and background fixes are alterations.
- Save the JPG with the main button and upload it on Passport Seva. Under More formats, save the 4×6 print sheet for the two 35 × 45 mm prints, cut from the same shot so they're identical.
Checklist
- 630 × 810 px color JPG, saved from the same shot as the prints.
- Face 80–85% of the frame, top of the shoulders visible.
- White background, no shadows, no flash glare.
- No glasses; eyes open; mouth closed.
- Uploaded on the portal before you mail to VFS Global.
- Two identical 35 × 45 mm prints, taken within 6 months.
This page covers Indian passports. An OCI card needs a square photo on a light background, plus a signature image: see the OCI photo and signature maker. Visiting India on another country's passport? The visa and e-Visa forms take a square JPEG of 350 to 1000 px instead, covered on the India visa photo page.
Questions
What size is an Indian passport photo in the USA?
The upload is 630 × 810 pixels, in color, per the ICAO photo guidelines the Embassy of India in Washington links to. VFS Global's checklists ask for two printed photos of 35 × 45 mm.
Do I upload the photo or mail it?
Both. You upload the ICAO photo on the Passport Seva portal before mailing the application, and the VFS checklist asks for two identical printed photos with it.
Can I wear glasses?
No. The guideline says to take glasses off to avoid reflections, and the VFS checklist says photos must be without glasses.
What background color is required?
White. Keep it plain and evenly lit so it doesn't come out gray.
Can I use my US passport photo?
No. The face is too small for the 80–85% rule, the shape is square instead of 35 × 45, and the background can be off-white. Take a new photo or let the tool re-crop a high-resolution original.
Can I reuse a photo from an earlier application?
The prints must be taken within the last 6 months, and the upload must meet the ICAO guideline, so take a new one.