Updated · Rules checked against indianembassyusa.gov.in
What changed in September 2025
The Embassy of India in Washington says that from September 1, 2025, only photos that meet ICAO guidelines are accepted for passport applications. ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization, which sets the photo standards many countries use for machine-readable passports. The embassy's ICAO photo guidelines are dated August 2025. A photo that was acceptable before that date may not meet the new rules, so plan on a new one.
Indian passport photo rules
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 630×810 pixels |
| Color | Color photo |
| How it's submitted | Uploaded on the Passport Seva portal when you apply through VFS Global |
| Camera distance | About 1.5 meters (5 feet) |
| Face size | The face takes up 80–85% of the photo |
| Background | White |
| Eyeglasses | Remove them |
| Alterations | None allowed |
| Printed size | Not listed here; check the checklist for your application |
We don't state a printed size because the embassy guidance we rely on specifies the digital file. If your application also asks for printed photos, follow the size in its checklist.
Make the photo with this tool
- Check that the document above the buttons says India passport. It's already selected on this page.
- Take off your glasses. Stand in front of a white wall with even light on your face, and have a helper take the photo at eye level from about 1.5 meters (5 feet) away, the distance the guidelines give.
- The tool crops to 630×810 pixels with your face sized for the 80–85% range. Check that the top of your head and your chin are both inside the frame, and adjust with the slider and the arrows if needed.
- Fix anything the checks flag. White background, even light and sharp focus matter more here, because the face fills most of the frame.
- Read the reminder next to the save button, including that the photo must be unaltered. Then save the JPG with the main button and upload it in the portal.
With the face filling 80–85% of the photo, every blemish of focus and light is magnified. Take the source photo with the back camera in daylight, and use the original file rather than a copy from a messaging app.
Checking a photo you already have
If a studio or a friend has already given you a digital photo, choose it on this page. If it's already 630×810 pixels, or the same shape, and it meets the size rules, the tool measures it as it is. Otherwise it crops it around your face first and tells you, and you can tap Measure it as it is to see how the original measures. A photo cropped for a US passport or visa will usually show the face too small for the 80–85% range, so let the tool re-crop it. If the photo doesn't have enough resolution for the tight crop, the resolution check will say so, and a new photo is the fix.
If all you have are printed photos from a studio, there's no file to upload. Take a new digital photo with the setup above.
Things to watch for
- A much tighter crop than a US photo. A US passport photo puts the head at about 50–69% of the height. The Indian photo puts the face at 80–85%, so the two can't be swapped.
- White only. Light gray or cream walls that work for some other documents aren't the target here. Aim for white, lit evenly so it doesn't turn gray.
- No glasses, even clear ones. The guidance says to remove them, with no mention of an exception for untinted lenses.
- Exact pixels. The file is a fixed 630×810 pixels, not a range. The tool's digital JPG is made at exactly that size.
- No alterations. Don't brighten, retouch or change the background after taking the photo. The tool doesn't offer background changes for Indian passport photos, so if something is wrong, retake it.
- Passports only. This page covers passport applications. OCI cards and Indian visas have their own instructions.
Questions
What size is an Indian passport photo in pixels?
630×810 pixels, in color, according to the Embassy of India in Washington's guidance for applicants in the US.
What printed size do I need?
The guidance we rely on specifies the digital file, so we don't list a printed size. If your application asks for prints, use the size in its checklist.
Can I wear glasses?
No. The guidance says to remove eyeglasses for the photo.
What background color is required?
White. Keep it plain and evenly lit so it doesn't come out gray.
Can I reuse a photo from an earlier application?
Since September 1, 2025, only ICAO-compliant photos are accepted. An older photo may not meet the new rules, so take a new one.