Harish applied for his passport renewal online. He uploaded his photo — taken professionally at a studio. Application rejected: "Photo does not meet specifications." The studio photo cost him ₹150. The studio said "We gave you standard size." Standard wasn't enough.
Indian passport photos have very specific requirements from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Studio photographers don't always know the digital upload specs — only the print size. Here's what actually matters for online applications.
Official Passport Photo Requirements (MEA Guidelines)
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Print size | 2 inch × 2 inch (51mm × 51mm) |
| Digital minimum | 350×350 pixels |
| File size | Max 1MB |
| Background | Plain white |
| Face coverage | 70–80% of frame |
Common Rejection Reasons
- Shadows on face or background
- Coloured or patterned background instead of white
- Face too small in frame (below 70%)
- Photo too old — must be recent (within 6 months)
- File size over 1MB or wrong dimensions
- Glasses with glare, hat, or head covering (except religious)
How to Take Passport Photo at Home
Phone Tips
- Stand against a plain white wall in daylight
- Camera at eye level, 1–1.5 metres away
- Neutral expression, both ears visible
- No flash — causes glare on forehead
How to Resize Photo to Passport Size Free
- Open Photo Resizer — Passport preset
- Upload your photo and crop to face guidelines
- Compress with Image Compress if over 1MB
- Download and upload to passport portal
Full specs on our Passport Photo Size page.
Special Requirements
Infants and Children
Baby must be alone in photo — no hands of parent visible. Eyes open if possible. Plain white sheet as background works well.
Elderly Applicants
Same dimensions apply. Ensure adequate lighting — wrinkles and shadows cause rejections too.