India passport photo standard from the Ministry of External Affairs
India’s passport photo specification is set by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Consular, Passport and Visa Division, and administered through the Passport Seva Programme. The current rules are published in the Guidelines for ICAO Compliant Photographs for Passport Applications and have been mandatory for all domestic and overseas passport applications since 1 September 2025. The photograph is a colour, full-frontal head and shoulders image on a plain white background, sized 35×45 mm with the face covering 80 to 85 percent of the frame.
The same MEA guidelines anchor the photo standards used across the Passport Seva ecosystem, with closely harmonised qualitative rules (pose, expression, headwear, no retouching) applied to OCI cards and Indian visas, although those documents keep their own 51×51 mm square geometry. Live capture at a Passport Seva Kendra is the norm for most adult applicants in India, while physical 35×45 mm prints are required for infants under four, certain senior citizens, and administrative exceptions.
Passport Seva and Indian missions abroad reject photographs that do not meet the ICAO-compliant specification. Common causes of rejection include an open mouth, glasses (now prohibited under the September 2025 ICAO rules), hair or headwear covering facial features, light clothing or headwear that blends into the mandatory white background, and creased or low-quality prints. A non-compliant photograph delays application processing until a fresh image is submitted.
What the Ministry of External Affairs requires in your photo
The Passport Seva ICAO Guidelines govern how you must appear in an Indian passport photo. The rules below cover the subject; our app handles the technical composition.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionHold a natural, neutral expression. Smiling, frowning, and raised eyebrows are not accepted under the ICAO Guidelines.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be closed with no teeth visible. The ICAO Guidelines state explicitly that the mouth should not be open.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and clearly visible. Hair, frames, and shadows must not cross or obscure the eyes.
- Full frontal viewFace the camera directly with both ears equidistant from the lens. Portrait-style photos with the head turned over the shoulder are rejected.
- Head straightThe head must not be tilted up, down, or to either side. Both edges of the face must be clearly shown.
- Shoulders squareThe top of the shoulders must be visible, level, and square to the camera.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses are not permitted in Indian passport photos under the ICAO biometric standard enforced from September 2025. Medical exceptions require documentation; even then frames must not cover the eyes and lenses must be free of glare.
- Tinted lenses and sunglassesTinted lenses, sunglasses, and any dark eyewear are prohibited.
- Contact lensesClear prescription contact lenses are acceptable. Cosmetic or colour-altering contact lenses that change the appearance of the iris are not permitted.
Hair
- Eyes unobstructedHair must not cross the eyes. The full face from chin to top of forehead must be clearly visible.
- Bangs and fringesBangs that fall across the eyes or eyebrows cause rejection. Bangs sitting cleanly above the eyebrows are acceptable.
- Wigs and hairpiecesWigs are permitted provided they look natural and preserve the applicant’s recognisable likeness.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, fashion scarves, and headbands are not permitted. Head coverings are allowed only for religious reasons.
- Religious head coveringsTurbans, hijabs, chunnis, and similar religious coverings are accepted provided the full face is visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges of the face clearly shown and no shadows cast onto the face.
- Headwear colourDark-coloured religious headwear is required. White or light-coloured turbans, hijabs, and scarves blend into the mandatory white background and are rejected.
Jewelry & accessories
- Earrings and necklacesSubtle jewelry is permitted if it does not obscure facial features, cast shadows, or create glare. Large dangling earrings and highly reflective pieces should be removed.
- Facial piercingsFacial piercings are permitted provided they do not obscure facial structure or cast shadows onto the face.
- Headphones and earbudsHeadphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth devices must be removed before the photo is taken.
Cosmetics
- MakeupMakeup must be light and must preserve natural skin tones. Heavy makeup that changes facial contours, introduces glare, or shifts skin colour is not accepted.
- False eyelashesFalse eyelashes are not permitted.
- Facial tattoosPermanent facial tattoos do not need to be covered, provided they do not obscure the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Clothing
- Dark clothing requiredWear dark, plain clothing. White and light-coloured tops blend into the mandatory white background and are a frequent cause of rejection.
- UniformsUniforms, particularly those with heavy insignia near the face, should be avoided.
- Everyday dressReligious dress that the applicant wears daily is acceptable provided the face remains fully visible.
Photo quality issues
- Shadows on the faceShadows cast onto the face by hats, religious headwear, or harsh overhead lighting cause rejection. Reposition or relight before retaking.
- Red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted and cannot be corrected digitally. The photo must be retaken.
- Motion blurAny blur from the subject moving during capture is grounds for rejection. Stay still while the photo is taken.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 23 mm and 26 mm (roughly 67–74% of the photo height).
- Top margin (from the top of the head to the top edge): 3–5 mm.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
India accepts more than one size — we generate them all.
India publishes more than one acceptable format depending on where you submit your application — domestic passport offices, the official online portal, and regional consulates abroad can each call for a different print or pixel size. We render every variant below from the same source photo, so the head sits at the same physical position across files, and each one arrives in your order email with a clear filename indicating which submission channel it's for.
India Passport 35×35 mm
Primary · Print + DigitalIndia's official format — the same file works for both printed in-person submissions and the online portal upload.
India Passport 2×2 in
Print + DigitalUS-style 2×2 in size used by US-based consulates and visa agencies.
India Passport 35×45 mm — Seva portal
Print + DigitalFormat for the Indian Passport Seva online portal.
India Passport 360×360 px
Digital uploadDigital-only format for online submission — not intended for printing.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
The Passport Seva Minors’ Guidelines relax certain rules for young children who cannot reliably hold an adult pose.
Infants under 1 year
The strictest expression and gaze rules are waived for babies under twelve months.
- EyesThe eyes-open requirement is waived. Sleeping infants are acceptable.
- ExpressionNeutral expression and closed-mouth requirements are relaxed.
- Capture setupLay the baby flat on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above.
- IsolationNo supporting hands, arms, parents, toys, pacifiers, or other people may be visible in the frame.
Children under 4 years
Standard ICAO qualitative rules apply, with practical allowances for children who cannot hold still.
- ExpressionA perfectly neutral expression is not required, but the mouth should be closed where possible.
- PoseSome flexibility in head position and gaze is accepted, provided the photo remains a front view.
- IsolationThe child must appear alone. No supporting hands, toys, pacifiers, chair backs, or other people may be visible.
Children 1 to 10 years
Older children are expected to approach the adult standard, with limited relaxation on framing and gaze.
- Head height and eye positionMinor deviation from the 80 to 85 percent face-coverage rule and exact eye position is tolerated.
- Expression and line of sightSlight variation in expression and gaze direction is accepted if the face is clearly identifiable.
- Frontal view and isolationA frontal view of the child alone, against a plain white background, remains mandatory.
Country-specific details to know.
A few rules in the Indian spec are easy to miss and worth calling out.
ICAO transition date
The 35 by 45 mm ICAO-compliant specification has been mandatory for all Indian passport applications, domestic and overseas, since 1 September 2025. Many embassy and consulate web pages still display legacy 2 by 2 inch samples. The Passport Seva ICAO Guidelines are the authoritative source.
Live capture at PSKs
For most adult applicants in India, the passport photo is captured live at the Passport Seva Kendra by webcam. Physical 35 by 45 mm prints are required mainly for infants under four, senior citizens unable to visit a centre, and specific administrative exceptions.
Six-month recency rule
Photos must be no more than six months old. A new photo is required sooner if appearance changes significantly through facial surgery, weight change, gender transition, or new or removed prominent tattoos or piercings.
Shared specification
The qualitative rules on pose, expression, head coverings, and clothing are harmonised across Indian passports, OCI cards, and e-visas, though OCI and e-visa photos use a separate 51 by 51 mm square format.
As easy as snap, upload, done.
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Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- Continuous-tone photographic paper (matte or glossy finish).
- Inkjet printing is not accepted. Use a professional photo lab.
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.
- Do not write on the back of the photo.
- 2 identical prints are required.