Photo sizes for 15 Indian documents, in one table

Document photo size list for India — passport, OCI, visa, PAN, Aadhaar, DL, and major exams in one reference table.

Every Indian document and exam form has its own photo specification, and they genuinely differ — reusing one document's photo for another is one of the most common causes of rejection. The table below is a starting reference; always confirm the exact current figures against the official notification for the specific document or exam before you submit, since specs are updated periodically.

1. Passport and OCI use the same base spec

The Indian passport and OCI card both follow the 35×45 mm ICAO-aligned format with a white background, so a compliant passport photo generally works for both. See Indian passport photo size — 35×45 mm (2026 rules) and OCI card photo size and requirements.

2. Visa photos vary by destination country

Visa photo requirements are set by the destination country, not India — a Schengen visa and a US visa can have different size and background rules from each other and from the Indian passport spec, even though many follow a similar ICAO-style standard.

3. PAN and Aadhaar have their own smaller formats

PAN card and Aadhaar enrolment photos are typically smaller than a passport photo and don't require the same strict white-background rule — a light, plain background is usually acceptable, but the exact pixel size differs from passport specs.

4. Driving licence specs vary by state (Sarathi)

Driving licence applications run through each state's Sarathi portal, and photo and signature specs can differ slightly between states — always check your specific state's current notification rather than assuming a national standard.

5. Exam photos are usually smaller and closer to square

Most competitive exam photos — UPSC, SSC, NEET, banking — use smaller pixel dimensions than a passport photo and a proportion closer to square rather than passport's 7:9 portrait. See Exam photo sizes 2026 — SSC, UPSC, NEET, banking and more for the current specs by exam.

6. When in doubt, don't reuse across categories

The single biggest mistake this list is meant to prevent: taking a photo that's compliant for one document and assuming it will pass for another. Even where the dimensions are close, background rules, KB ranges, and recency requirements often aren't.

Quick reference table

Pixel and KB figures above are typical ranges from recent notifications — verify against your specific document's current official source before submitting.

How to use this table

Work down the row for the document you're applying for, then open the linked spec page for exact pixels, KB limits, and rejection fixes. If your document isn't listed, start from Exam photo sizes 2026 for competitive exams or the passport hub for travel documents.

FAQ

Can I use one photo for passport and SSC? Usually no — passport is 35×45 mm portrait while SSC expects a smaller, squarer digital crop. Even when dimensions look close, KB and background rules differ.

Which spec changed most recently? Indian passport moved to ICAO 35×45 mm in September 2025. Older 51×51 mm advice is obsolete for passport — but some visas still use square 2×2 in formats.

Where do KB limits come in? Almost every row above also implies a JPEG KB window (often 20–50 KB for exams, wider for passport). The linked spec pages list both dimensions and file size.

Fix yours

Pick the preset that matches your row, upload a recent photo, and use the checklist before export. Each linked spec page shows the exact numbers for that document — this table is the map, not the final authority.