OCI card photo size and requirements
Spec pending verification against the official source — confirm on the official portal before you submit.
Loading preset…
OCI photos use a square format and a light-coloured background — not the pure white used for passports. Submitting a white-background photo is the single most common OCI photo mistake.
The specification
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 900 × 900 px (square) |
| File size | Under 200 KB |
| Background | Light colour — not white |
| Format | JPEG |
| Expression | Neutral, full face, front view |
Last verified: UNVERIFIED — confirm on the official OCI portal before submitting.
The white-background trap
This is worth stating plainly because it catches almost everyone: OCI is not a passport photo.
If you've just made a passport photo, or you use a generic "passport photo" tool, you'll get a pure white background — and OCI asks for a light colour. A very pale grey, cream or light blue satisfies it; pure white does not.
The two documents also differ in shape. Passport is a 7:9 portrait rectangle. OCI is square.
Fix: use the OCI preset above, which sets a light background and the square format, rather than reusing your passport photo.
Other common OCI rejections
Face too small in a square frame. Squaring a portrait photo often leaves the face small relative to the frame. The face should fill a clear majority of the image.
File over 200 KB. A modern phone photo is several megabytes. It needs compressing, and naive compression at this size can visibly degrade the photo — compress to just under the limit rather than far below it.
Reusing an old photo. It should be current and look like you now.
How to make one
- Take a front-facing photo in even light.
- Upload above with the OCI preset — the background is set to a light colour, the crop is squared, and the file is compressed under 200 KB.
- Download and upload to the OCI portal.
FAQ
Can I use my passport photo for OCI? Usually not. The passport photo is white-background and portrait; OCI wants a light-coloured background and a square image.
What exact colour should the background be? A light, plain, uniform colour — pale grey, cream or light blue are commonly accepted. Avoid pure white and avoid anything dark or patterned.
Does the same rule apply to the OCI signature? The signature has its own specification on the portal. Check the current requirement, as it's stated separately from the photo.
Related: Indian passport photo size · Passport vs OCI vs visa photo · Indian visa photo size · Background not white — rejected
PhotoFix is an independent private utility, not affiliated with the Government of India, MEA or any passport authority. Confirm the current specification on the official portal before submitting.