India photo requirements

India photo requirements are set by Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs. We publish 3 documents: 1 passport, 1 visa and 1 citizenship document. The most common print size is 51 x 51 mm (2 in x 2 in); 2 documents accept a digital upload. Each page quotes the official rule for size, head height, background and file, links the source we read, and shows the date we last checked it (most recently 2026-10-07).

Passports

Indian Passport Photo (Passport Seva, 35 x 45 mm)For the printed photo needed at a Passport Seva Kendra in India: children under 4, and diplomatic or official passport forms. Adults applying in India are photographed at the counter and need no print. Not for an Indian visa or OCI card, which are 2 x 2 inch, and Indian missions abroad set their own size.35 x 45 mmplain white backgroundverified 2026-10-07

Visas

Indian Visa Photo (regular visa, 2 x 2 inch and upload)For a regular (non e-Visa) Indian visa applied for through indianvisaonline.gov.in and an Indian mission or its outsourcing agency: the square digital upload and the 2 x 2 inch prints. Not for the e-Visa, whose upload limits are only shown inside the e-Visa form, and not for an Indian passport.51 x 51 mmplain light colored or white backgroundverified 2026-10-07

Citizenship documents

OCI Card Photo (Overseas Citizenship of India)For the Overseas Citizen of India card application on ociservices.gov.in: the square digital upload and the 2 x 2 inch print for the mission or outsourcing agency. Not for an Indian visa, which has different file limits, and not for an Indian passport.51 x 51 mmplain light color backgroundverified 2026-10-07

Authorities and portals

Passport authority: Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs
Sources we read: Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs; Bureau of Immigration / Indian Visa Online (Ministry of Home Affairs); Ministry of Home Affairs, OCI Services
Upload portals: Passport Seva (India): known issues Official page

We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.