Indian passport photo size: 630 × 810 pixels, and why a US 2×2 photo won't work

Why isn't a US 2×2 photo a direct substitute?

Check the framing before reusing a US passport or DS-160 photo.

A US passport or DS-160 photograph is 2 × 2 inches, with the head occupying 50–69% of the image height. The Indian passport upload is portrait-shaped, at 630 × 810 pixels, with the face occupying 80–85% of the photograph.

Cropping the US-style square to 630 × 810 leaves the head too small for the Indian requirement.

Before reusing a photograph, check that it shows your full head, from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin, along with the top of your shoulders. Your head must be centred and not tilted.

If you are having a new photograph taken, ask for the Indian passport specification rather than a generic "passport photo." Give the photographer both the pixel dimensions and the face-framing requirement. A square US photo and an Indian passport upload are different specifications, even when both photographs show the same person against a white background.

What should you check before uploading an Indian passport photo?

Review the whole photograph, not only its width and height.

Passport Seva's "Guidelines for ICAO Compliant Photographs for Passport Applications" give these requirements:

Image: Colour, 630 × 810 pixels.

Framing: Close-up of head and top of shoulders.

Face size: 80–85% of the photograph.

Head position: Full head visible, centred, not tilted.

Background: White.

Lighting: Uniform, without shadows or flash reflections.

Eyes: Open, looking directly at the camera, no red eye.

Expression: Natural, mouth not open.

Glasses: Taken off to avoid reflections.

Camera distance: About 1.5 metres.

Software alteration: Photograph must not be altered by computer software.

Use the framing requirements together. The face must occupy 80–85% of the photograph, with the full head visible. The background must be white, and lighting must be uniform, without shadows or flash reflections.

The guidelines do not state a file-size limit. If the upload form shows one, follow that message.

For applicants using GPSP 2.0, the Embassy of India in Washington requires an ICAO-compliant photograph and directs applicants to these Passport Seva guidelines. In the US, passport applications go through VFS.

The PSK exemption applies to applications submitted at a Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office PSK in India. Passport Seva's instruction booklet says no photograph is required there because staff take it at the centre.

Can you crop the photo without breaking the software-alteration rule?

Separate a crop check from a claim that the photograph meets every rule.

The official guidelines say the photograph must not be altered by computer software.

Cropping addresses the image's boundaries and framing.

I built pixtidy. Its Indian passport photo tool checks a photograph against the 630 × 810 specification and crops it in your browser. The photograph is not uploaded.

Use that check for its stated purpose, then review the photograph against the full requirements.

If your starting image is a US-style 2 × 2 photo, keep the face-size difference in view throughout. The Indian passport guidelines require the face to occupy 80–85% of the photograph.

How do passport, OCI and e-Visa photo requirements differ?

Choose the specification for your document before preparing the file.

The three documents use different specifications:

Indian passport: 630 × 810 pixels; file size: Follow any limit shown by the upload form; background: White.

OCI: Square; file size: At most 200 KB; background: Plain light background, not white.

India e-Visa: Square JPEG; file size: 10 KB–1 MB; background: Light or white.

The background difference matters as much as the shape. An Indian passport photograph requires white; OCI specifies a plain light background that is not white.

For an India e-Visa, check the JPEG format and the 10 KB–1 MB range as well as the square shape.

Which mistakes should you catch before submitting?

Make one final check for these three mix-ups.

Correct dimensions, wrong framing: Check the 80–85% requirement and keep the full head visible.

Correct document family, wrong photo rules: Passport, OCI and e-Visa applications have different specifications.

Correct PSK advice, wrong application route: Staff take the photograph at a PSK or Post Office PSK in India. Applicants abroad using GPSP 2.0 must upload one.

Common questions

Do I need to bring a photo to a PSK in India? No photograph is required for applications submitted at a PSK or Post Office PSK. Staff take it there.

What is the Indian passport photo upload size limit? The photograph guidelines do not state a file-size limit. Follow the upload form's message if it gives one.

Can I wear glasses in the photograph? The guidelines say to take your glasses off to avoid reflections.

Does cropping a US 2×2 photo make it suitable? Not by itself. Cropping a US-style 2 × 2 photo to 630 × 810 leaves the head too small for the Indian requirement of 80–85%.

Disclosure: I built pixtidy.