Indian Passport Photo Size and Rules
Updated November 7, 2026
Passport Seva's photo guidelines ask for a colour photo of 630 × 810 pixels on a white background, with your face taking up 80 to 85% of the frame. Printed photos are 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm. Here's what the rules mean in practice and how to get one right at home.
Make an Indian passport photoThe official measurements
These come from Passport Seva documents we checked in November 2026. Check the site again before you apply, because rules can change.
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 630 × 810 pixels |
| Printed size | 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm |
| Colour | Colour photo |
| Background | White |
| Face | Takes up 80 to 85% of the photo |
| Camera distance | About 1.5 metres |
| Editing | Must not be altered with software |
What your photo must show
The guidelines ask for a close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders. Show your full head, from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin, centred and not tilted.
Look directly at the camera with your eyes open and clearly visible. Keep your mouth closed with a natural expression. Keep hair away from your eyes.
Light, shadows and glasses
Light must be even, with no shadows on your face or the background, no flash reflections and no red eye. Natural daylight facing a window usually works better than a phone flash.
Take your glasses off. The guidelines say to remove them to avoid reflections. Head coverings aren't allowed except for religious reasons, and even then your face must be clearly shown from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, including both edges of your face.
How to take one at home
You'll want a second person, because a selfie is usually too close.
- 1Stand in front of a plain white wall, a little away from it so you don't cast a shadow.
- 2Face a window, or use soft, even indoor light.
- 3Have someone stand about 1.5 metres away and hold the phone at your eye level.
- 4Take several photos, with your face straight on and your mouth closed.
- 5Pick the sharpest one and crop it to the passport size.
- 6Check the result against the list above before you use it.
Common reasons photos fail
Look out for these before you go any further.
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Off-white or patterned background | Use a plain white wall or sheet. |
| Face too small | Crop closer so your face fills 80 to 85%. |
| Shadows behind you | Move away from the wall and even out the light. |
| Beauty filter or retouching | Use the original. Edited photos break the rules. |
| Head tilted | Retake it, looking straight at the camera. |
| Glare on glasses | Remove your glasses. |
Printed photos and young children
If you're asked for printed photos, use 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm colour prints with a white background. Passport Seva's application steps say that for minors under 4, you should bring a recent photo of this size.
It has separate guidelines for photos of children under 4, so check those if you're applying for a young child.
File size
We didn't find a file size limit in the Passport Seva photo guidelines we checked, so follow whatever the upload screen tells you. If the form rejects a file for being too big, compress the same 630 × 810 image rather than shrinking its pixels.
Our tool gets the size and placement right, but it can't guarantee acceptance. The final decision rests with the passport office.