Passport Size Photo Size in India and for Visas: Sizes and Tips

What people mean by passport size photo

In India, the phrase passport size photo is used loosely. It is asked for in school admissions, college forms, bank KYC, ID cards, job applications and of course passport and visa applications. The exact size is not the same everywhere, so the safest approach is to read the instructions of the specific form and follow them exactly.

That said, a few sizes come up again and again, and knowing them helps you prepare a photo that is likely to be close to what is needed.

Commonly used sizes

For Indian passports and many Indian forms, a photo of about 35 mm wide by 45 mm high is the most commonly seen size. For a United States visa, the usual requirement is 2 inches by 2 inches (about 51 mm by 51 mm). Many other countries also use 35 mm by 45 mm, but some have their own sizes.

Online forms often describe the photo in pixels and kilobytes instead of millimetres. For example, a form might ask for a JPG between 20 KB and 50 KB with specific pixel dimensions. These numbers differ from form to form, so treat any example you see online, including in this article, only as a rough guide and always check the official website or notification.

• Indian passport and many Indian forms: commonly 35 x 45 mm
• US visa: commonly 2 x 2 inch (square)
• Online forms: usually a pixel size plus a KB range, which varies by form

Background, face and clothing

Most official photos need a plain, light background, usually white or off-white, with no patterns, shadows or objects behind you. Your face should be centred, looking straight at the camera, with both ears and the full face clearly visible in most cases.

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed. Avoid tinted glasses; many authorities now prefer that you remove spectacles altogether to avoid reflections. Religious head coverings are usually allowed as long as the face is fully visible, but check the specific rules.

Wear plain, darker clothing that contrasts with a white background. A white shirt against a white wall can make your shoulders disappear into the background.

How to take a good photo at home

You do not need a studio for many online forms, though for a passport application an official photo or one taken at the passport office may be required. For other uses, a phone camera is usually fine if you follow a few basics.

• Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or light wall.
• Face a window so daylight falls evenly on your face. Avoid harsh overhead light that creates shadows under the eyes.
• Ask someone else to take the photo at eye level, about one to one and a half metres away. Selfies distort the face.
• Turn off beauty filters and portrait blur. Official photos should look natural.
• Take several shots and pick the sharpest one.

Cropping and resizing correctly

Once you have a good photo, crop it to the right shape. A 35 x 45 mm photo has a portrait ratio of 7:9, while a 2 x 2 inch photo is square. Cropping to the wrong ratio and then stretching it makes the face look wide or thin, which can lead to rejection.

The Filyzo Passport Photo tool helps you crop to common sizes and arrange copies for printing, and it works in your browser without uploading your photo. If a form asks for a specific file size, you can then use Resize Image in KB to bring the photo within the allowed range.

Common reasons photos get rejected

Rejections usually come from small, avoidable issues. Check your photo against this list before printing or uploading.

• Old photo that no longer looks like you
• Shadows on the face or on the background
• Head too small or too large in the frame, or cut off at the top
• Blurry, grainy or heavily compressed image
• Coloured or patterned background when plain light is required
• Wrong file format or file size for the online form