Here are the full rules for India Passport photos:1
- Size and Dimensions
- Size: 2 inches x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm).
- Print quality: High-resolution, clear, and continuous-tone quality on thin photo paper.
- Color: Recent color photograph.
- Appearance
- Full face: Show your full head from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin.
- Front view: Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression. No smiling or frowning.
- Center: Your head should be centered within the frame.
- Eyes: Open and clearly visible. No hair covering your eyes.
- Expression: Neutral expression, with your mouth closed.
- Headwear: Not allowed, except for religious purposes. Religious headwear should not obscure your facial features.
- Clothing: Wear clothes that cover your shoulders. Avoid wearing busy patterns or clothing that blends in with the background.
- Background
- Plain: Plain white or off-white background. No patterns, shadows, or other objects.
Lighting
- Uniform: Even and balanced lighting to avoid shadows on your face or the background.
- No red-eye: Use flash carefully to avoid red-eye.
Other requirements
- Do not: Retouch, enhance, or soften the photo.
- No: Glasses with a dark tint or thick frames. If you wear glasses, they should be clear and thin-framed and not have flash reflections or obscure your eyes.
- No: Jewelry, headphones, or other items that obscure your face.
- Quantity: Two identical passport-sized photographs are required.
- Recency: Must be taken within the last six (6) months.
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a photo of yourself using our guidelines, send it in and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home, to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits of using an online passport photo service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why choose us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your own photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Do’s and Don’ts for a Perfect India Passport Photo
Do
- Neutral look: Show a natural, relaxed expression with your mouth closed.
- Full face: Frame your head from hairline to chin, centered in the photo.
- Open eyes: Keep your eyes open and clearly visible. No hair coverings.
- Plain background: Use a solid white or off-white background, free of distractions.
- Clear clothing: Opt for plain clothes that contrast the background and cover your shoulders.
- High-res print: Choose a high-quality, recent color photo on thin photo paper.
- Religious headwear: If applicable, ensure it doesn’t obscure your face.
- Two copies: Submit two identical passport-sized photographs.
Don’t
- Smile or frown: Maintain a neutral expression for official documentation.
- Wear glasses: Unless medically necessary, avoid glasses with dark tint or thick frames.
- Headwear (except religious): Hats, scarves, or other headwear are prohibited.
- Jewelry or headphones: Remove any items that obscure your facial features.
- Busy patterns: Avoid clothing that blends with the background or has distracting patterns.
- Retouch or edit: Submit an unaltered, natural-looking photograph.
- Red-eye or shadows: Ensure proper lighting to avoid red-eye or shadows on your face or background.
Don’t risk delays due to a small mistake. Use Visas for Future passport photo service to ensure you meet government requirements.
India Passport photo for kids and babies
General Guidelines
- Size and Dimensions: Same as adults, 2 inches x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm).
- Appearance: Full face, front view, centered, open eyes, no hair covering eyes, shoulders covered.
- Background: Plain white or off-white, with no patterns, shadows, or objects.
- Lighting: Even and balanced, no red-eye.
- Do not: Smile, frown, wear glasses (except medically necessary), headwear (except religious), jewelry, props, or edit the photo.
Expressing Yourself by Age
Newborns and Infants (up to 6 months)
- Naturally relaxed: Aim for a peaceful, sleeping state. If awake, soothe the baby to avoid tears or fussiness.
- Head support: Gently hold the baby’s head to ensure proper positioning for a clear view.
- Lying down: Use a plain white blanket as a background.
Babies (6 months to 1 year)
- Engaged: Play with toys or games to elicit a neutral expression, avoiding laughter or crying.
- Seated upright: Use a car seat or parent’s lap for support.
- Natural: Avoid forcing a smile or using props that obscure the face.
Toddlers (1-3 years)
- Distraction: Use simple toys, bubbles, or familiar faces to keep them calm and focused.
- Patience: Take multiple shots, as toddlers are easily distracted.
- Neutral expression: Aim for a calm, non-smiling face.
Children (4-10 years)
- Simple instructions: Explain the importance of staying still and looking at the camera.
- Practice: Do a “dry run” beforehand to familiarize them with the process.
- Natural smile (optional): A slight smile is acceptable at this age, but avoid forced grins.
If you want to turn your little one’s simple photo into a government-compliant passport photo, use Visas for Future passport photo service.
Correct and Incorrect Samples of India Passport Photos
Steps to get an India passport photo Online
Here’s the simple step to obtain your passport photo through Visas for Future.
Step 1: Visit Visas for Future.
Step 2: Click on “Get Passport Photo now“
Step 3: Fill out the order form provide your name, email, phone number, nationality, and your country of residence.
Step 4: Pay the application fee of $5.50 for digital photos.
Step 5: Upload your clear and not blurry photo.
Step 6: Receive your photo in 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear for a passport photo in India?
Dress in plain, solid-colored clothing contrasting the white background and covering your shoulders.
Can we smile in a passport photo in India?
No, you cannot smile in an Indian passport photo for any age group. Maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed, whether you’re an adult, child, or baby.
- e-Visa. (2021). Indianvisaonline.gov.in. <https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html> [↩]
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Written by
Apple Gajes 
Apple is a skilled content writer of Visas For Future who had a bachelor's degree in Education. She does well at producing high-quality visa articles and continuously upgrading her skills by actively engaging herself to various courses and training opportunities. She also contributes to travel forms and visa fulfillment in Turkey and India. Committed to writing exceptional visa articles, she performs real visa orders and provides customer support quarterly to stay abreast of the visa processing process.
Managed by Glen Vidania
Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
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MLA Style
Gajes, Apple. "India Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/india-passport-size-photo-dimensions-in-pixels/. Accessed on 18 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Gajes, Apple. "India Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 18, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/india-passport-size-photo-dimensions-in-pixels/.