India OCI Photo (51 × 51 mm, under 200 KB)
The OCI portal is picky: a square JPEG, between 200×200 and 900×900 pixels, no more than 200 KB, on a light background that is not white. This tool outputs 600×600 and compresses below 200 KB.
🔒 100% in your browser — your photo is never uploaded
1. Choose a photo — front-facing, even light, plain light background.
2. Adjust — drag to move, slider to zoom.
3. Optional: replace background
⚠️ Many authorities reject photos that are digitally altered. For the safest result, take the photo against a plain light wall and skip this step.
Background editing is disabled for this photo type because the issuing authority prohibits edited or background-replaced photos. Use a real plain wall.
4. Checks
- Waiting for a photo
Automated checks are guides only — they can't judge expression, glasses, shadows or focus.
5. Download (free)
Requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital output (this tool) | 600 × 600 px JPEG |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 30–40 mm |
| Background | plain light colour, NOT white |
| File size | max 200 KB (auto-compressed) |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI |
| Photos per 4×6 / A4 sheet | 6 / 20 |
| Background editing | avoid; optional tool available |
Official source: https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/faq. Checked 2026-10-20. Rules change — always confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Official OCI photo rules
From the OCI services FAQ (Ministry of Home Affairs):
- Square photo, not less than 51 × 51 mm, with about 80% coverage of the face.
- Plain light colour background (not white), no border, front view of head and shoulders with the full face in the middle.
- Upload: height equals width, minimum 200×200 px, maximum 900×900 px, JPEG/JPG, maximum 200 KB.
Some OCI-related pages and outsourced centres list different upload limits (for example up to 1500×1500 px and 500 KB at VFS in the USA, or up to 1 MB on newer portal screens). A 600×600 file under 200 KB satisfies all of these at once, which is why we use it as the default.
The "not white" background
This is the rule people trip over. The OCI photo should be on a light background such as light grey, off-white or pale blue — not pure white, which can make the face edges blend in. If you have a light grey wall, use it. Our checks flag a background that looks pure white. If you use the optional background tool for this spec, it fills with light grey (#ECECEC) rather than white — but remember that edited photos may be rejected, so a real light-grey wall is best.
Face coverage
"80% coverage of face" means a tight crop: the head should fill most of the frame height. Our OCI preset sizes the head at roughly 35 mm of the 51 mm height, noticeably bigger than a US passport crop. Leave a little space above the hair and include the top of the shoulders.
Signature image
The portal also asks for a signature image with a 3:1 width-to-height ratio (minimum 200×67 px). Sign in black ink on white paper, photograph it flat, and crop to a 3:1 rectangle.
Printed copies
Some missions and VFS centres also want printed photos with the paper file. Use the 4×6 sheet to get six 51×51 mm copies.
How to make a India OCI photo with this tool
- Pick a photo taken in the last few months against a plain light colour, NOT white background, face lit evenly from the front.
- The tool finds your face and scales it so the head is about 35 mm tall on a 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) photo.
- Drag or zoom until every check is green.
- Download the 600×600 px JPG (compressed under 200 KB) for online forms, or a 4×6 sheet with 6 photos to print.
FAQ
What size is an OCI photo?
Square, at least 51 x 51 mm; for upload a JPEG between 200x200 and 900x900 pixels, max 200 KB.
Can the OCI photo have a white background?
The OCI FAQ asks for a plain light colour background that is not white, such as light grey.
How do I reduce my OCI photo below 200 KB?
Choose the India OCI spec and download; the tool lowers JPEG quality until the file is under 200 KB and shows the final size.
What does 80% face coverage mean?
The head should fill most of the photo height, a tighter crop than a typical passport photo.