Indian Passport Photo (2 × 2 inch / 51 × 51 mm)
If you renew or apply for an Indian passport through an embassy, consulate or VFS centre abroad, you usually need 2×2 inch colour photos. In India, Passport Seva Kendras capture your photo on the spot.
🔒 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) | 25–35 mm |
| Eye line from bottom | 28.6–34.9 mm |
| Background | plain, light-coloured |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI |
| Photos per 4×6 / A4 sheet | 6 / 20 |
| Background editing | avoid; optional tool available |
Official source: https://ociservices.gov.in/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf. Checked 2026-10-20. Rules change — always confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Size and composition
The Government of India's photo advice for passport applicants (published on the OCI services portal) specifies:
- Colour photo, 2 inch × 2 inch (51 mm × 51 mm).
- Full face, front view, eyes open, head centred, showing the full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
- Head height 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm); eye height 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom.
- Plain light-coloured background, no distracting shadows on the face or background.
- Head coverings only for religious reasons, with the face from chin to forehead and both edges visible; a natural expression.
- Printed on thin photo paper with continuous-tone quality — no retouching, no visible pixels.
Applying in India vs. abroad
At a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK in India, your photograph, fingerprints and signature are captured digitally at the counter, so you don't bring photos. Applications at Indian missions abroad and their outsourced centres (VFS Global, BLS) typically ask for printed 2×2 photos to paste on the form — some missions specify a white background, so check your mission's page. Requirements can differ slightly by country, so confirm on the mission website before printing.
How this differs from OCI and e-Visa photos
The OCI card photo is also 51×51 mm but asks for a light, non-white background and an upload of 200 KB or less — see our OCI photo page. The Indian e-Visa needs a square JPEG upload with its own size limits — see the India visa photo page.
Tips for a clean result
Stand half a metre in front of a plain light wall to avoid shadows, face a window, remove glasses to avoid glare, and keep your hair away from your eyebrows. Print the 4×6 sheet (six photos) at a photo shop — the 51×51 mm size is identical to the US 2×2 inch size, so any shop that prints US passport photos can print these.
How to make a India passport photo with this tool
- Pick a photo taken in the last few months against a plain, light-coloured background, face lit evenly from the front.
- The tool finds your face and scales it so the head is about 30 mm tall on a 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) photo.
- Drag or zoom until every check is green — the eyes must sit inside the green band.
- Download the 600×600 px JPG for online forms, or a 4×6 sheet with 6 photos to print.
FAQ
What is the size of an Indian passport photo?
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), colour, with the head 25 to 35 mm and a plain light background.
Do I need a photo at a Passport Seva Kendra?
No. In India the PSK captures your photo, fingerprints and signature at the counter.
Is the Indian passport photo the same as the US passport photo?
The size is the same (2x2 inches) and the head/eye ranges match. Background rules can differ by mission; some ask for white.
Can I print Indian passport photos on a 4x6?
Yes. A 4x6 print holds six 2x2 inch photos.