What is ICAO Doc 9303, and why India's photo size changed
ICAO passport photo standard explained — context for India's 35×45 mm size and the old 51×51 mm studio prints.
Why it exists
Portals and passport authorities align to international standards so automated checks can reject non-compliant files before manual review.
What it means for you, practically
You need the exact pixel size, KB range, background colour, and face proportion — not approximate social-media crops. See Indian passport photo rules in 2026 — what changed.
Where it applies
| Document | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian passport | 35×45 mm | White background |
| OCI | See notification | Light background |
| Exam forms | ~200×230 px | JPG, KB range |
Related
This applies across documents and exams — pick yours and we will set the exact size automatically.
Choose your document or examDocument photo rules look similar across portals but differ in pixels, KB, and background. Always read the current notification instead of copying last year's file. When a form rejects an upload, note the exact error text — "invalid dimensions" and "file too large" need different fixes. PhotoFix presets encode the published spec so you do not have to memorize each exam.
Before final submit, compare your export against the checklist: correct JPG, dimensions within range, KB inside the window, plain background, and face proportion where applicable. Keeping the original photo lets you re-export if a portal updates limits mid-cycle.
Document photo rules look similar across portals but differ in pixels, KB, and background. Always read the current notification instead of copying last year's file. When a form rejects an upload, note the exact error text — "invalid dimensions" and "file too large" need different fixes. PhotoFix presets encode the published spec so you do not have to memorize each exam.
Before final submit, compare your export against the checklist: correct JPG, dimensions within range, KB inside the window, plain background, and face proportion where applicable. Keeping the original photo lets you re-export if a portal updates limits mid-cycle.
Document photo rules look similar across portals but differ in pixels, KB, and background. Always read the current notification instead of copying last year's file. When a form rejects an upload, note the exact error text — "invalid dimensions" and "file too large" need different fixes. PhotoFix presets encode the published spec so you do not have to memorize each exam.
Before final submit, compare your export against the checklist: correct JPG, dimensions within range, KB inside the window, plain background, and face proportion where applicable. Keeping the original photo lets you re-export if a portal updates limits mid-cycle.
Document photo rules look similar across portals but differ in pixels, KB, and background. Always read the current notification instead of copying last year's file. When a form rejects an upload, note the exact error text — "invalid dimensions" and "file too large" need different fixes. PhotoFix presets encode the published spec so you do not have to memorize each exam.
Before final submit, compare your export against the checklist: correct JPG, dimensions within range, KB inside the window, plain background, and face proportion where applicable. Keeping the original photo lets you re-export if a portal updates limits mid-cycle.
Document photo rules look similar across portals but differ in pixels, KB, and background. Always read the current notification instead of copying last year's file. When a form rejects an upload, note the exact error text — "invalid dimensions" and "file too large" need different fixes. PhotoFix presets encode the published spec so you do not have to memorize each exam.
Before final submit, compare your export against the checklist: correct JPG, dimensions within range, KB inside the window, plain background, and face proportion where applicable. Keeping the original photo lets you re-export if a portal updates limits mid-cycle.
See also
Related guides
More PhotoFix articles on the same problem or document type.
- Explainer"Face height 36–38mm" — what that actually meansChin to crown measurement for passport photo — what 36–38 mm means and how normal framing fails it.
- TroubleshootingPassport photo rejected at the PSK counter: every cause, diagnosedTold to retake at Passport Seva? Match your symptom to the cause — shadow, glasses, face size, or wrong dimensions — and fix it before you go back.
- TroubleshootingYour face is the wrong size in the photo (India's unusual requirement)Indian passport photos need 36–38 mm chin-to-crown height — larger than many countries. Normal selfie framing often fails.