Renewing your passport requires a suitable photo that meets India’s specific requirements. Pay close attention to the photo’s size, background, facial expression, and what you’re wearing to ensure a smooth renewal process.
Here are the full rules for India passport photo:1
- Quantity:
- Submit four photos with your passport renewal application.
- Size:
- The photograph should be in color and 2 inches x 2 inches 51 mm x 51 mm.
- Background:
- Choose a plain, white background.
- Print Quality:
- Ensure the photo print is clear with continuous-tone quality.
- Facial Features:
- Capture a full face, front-view, with open eyes.
- Head Presentation:
- Present the full head from the top of the hair to the shoulders. Center the head in the frame, with the face making up 60-80% of the photograph.
- Recency:
- Take the photo within the last six months to reflect your current appearance.
- Avoid Shadows:
- Eliminate distracting shadows on the face or background.
- Head Coverings:
- Avoid head coverings, except for religious reasons. Ensure clear visibility of facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both face edges.
- Expression:
- Maintain a natural and neutral facial expression.
- Glasses:
- Non-tinted prescription glasses are allowed, ensuring clear visibility of the eyes.
- Printing Recommendations:
- Ideally, have the photo printed by a professional studio. Avoid Polaroid or mobile phone photos as they may not be suitable for scanning.
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 and check your passport photo to ensure 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 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.
Is a photo required for passport renewal in India?
Yes, a recent photo is typically required when renewing your passport in India. This is important for two main reasons:
- Verification: The latest photo is crucial for verifying your identity and maintaining up-to-date records.
- Changes in Appearance: Given potential changes in your appearance since your last passport issuance, a new photo ensures that authorities can readily recognize and identify you.
Specific requirements for passport renewal photos in India
Documents Needed for Passport Renewal:2
Primary Documents:
- Submit your passport application.
- Provide four recent studio glossy paper photographs in a square size of not less than 2 x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm).
- Include the original passport with photocopies of relevant pages (photo page, first and last page, Philippine visa page).
- Submit the original I-card – ACR/ICR with a photocopy (valid).
Additional Documents (as applicable):
- Change in Address in India:
- Include proof of a change of address in India if applying for inclusion in the fresh passport.
- Spouse’s Name Inclusion (if not included in the previous passport):
- Provide the original marriage certificate with a photocopy authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines (for marriages in the Philippines) or by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi (for marriages in India).
- Submit a joint affidavit (from husband and wife) sworn before the Consular officer.
- Include a joint photo taken during the marriage.
- Provide a valid ID of the spouse.
- More Than One Year Since Passport Expiry:
- Submit an affidavit in the prescribed format stating that the applicant has not acquired Filipino nationality, along with a letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines confirming the same. This may be sworn before the Consular Officer.
- Change in Appearance:
- Include an affidavit for the change of appearance.
- Change of Name in the Passport (for complete/substantial name change):
- Furnish a prescribed Deed Poll/Sworn Affidavit (Annexure ‘E’ can be downloaded from the application form section).
- Provide original newspaper cuttings announcing the change of name published in the area of the applicant’s present address and another at his permanent address.
Important Notes:
- In regular cases, passports are issued 15 working days after the application receipt at the Embassy.
- For minor passport renewals, either parent or guardian must apply with the originals of all the minor’s documents.
- Parents’ Original passports are required; if either parent is out of the country, their consent is necessary.
- Photocopies of all submitted documents should be self-attested (signed by the applicant).
Where to get a photo for your renewal of your India passport?
You can obtain a photo for the renewal of your Indian passport through our service here at Visas for Future.
Here is the step-by-step procedure for obtaining your passport photo through Visas for Future.
- Visit Visas for Future: Navigate to the Visas for Future website using your web browser.
- Click on the “Get Passport Photo Now” Button: Locate and click on the “Get Passport Photo Now” button featured on the website.
- Fill Out the Order Form: Complete the order form by providing the necessary details, including your name, email, and country of residence, and specifying the country for which you are applying for a passport.
- Pay the Application Fee: Make the required payment for the application fee using the provided payment methods.
- Upload Your Photo: Adhere to the instructions to upload an appropriate photo that meets the specific requirements for passport photos.
- Receive Your Photo: Upon completing the process, anticipate receiving your photo within seven days for printed photo services or within 24 hours for digital photo services.
What are the rules for passport renewal in India?
Rules for Passport Renewal in India:
1. You can initiate the renewal process up to one year before the passport expires.
2. Passport renewal is possible irrespective of the expiry date under specific circumstances such as a change in personal details (name, address, spelling, etc.), alterations in appearance, changes in signature, or loss/damage of the passport booklet.
3. The validity of an Indian passport is ten years from its date of issue.
4. The maximum duration for which an Indian passport is valid is up to 10 years at a time.
5. Certain documents must be submitted to Passport Seva along with the application form for renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we smile in a passport photo in India?
No, it is not permissible to smile in an Indian passport photo. The guidelines explicitly mandate a neutral expression for passport photos.
Do I need to bring an old passport for passport renewal in India?
Yes, bringing your old passport is required for the renewal process in India.
How long does it take to renew an Indian passport in India?
The regular processing time for renewing an Indian passport in India usually spans from 15 to 20 working days, provided you are applying under the Normal scheme.
- Embassy of India, Copenhagen, Denmark. (2021). Photo Specifications for Passport. Indianembassycopenhagen.gov.in, Retrieved February 27, 2024, <https://www.indianembassycopenhagen.gov.in/page/photo-specifications-for-passport/> [↩]
- Embassy of India, Manila, Philippines. (2021). Renewal of Passport. Eoimanila.gov.in, Retrieved February 27, 224, <https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/eoi.php?id=renewal/> [↩]
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Written by
Wences Orcales 
Wences has been working home-based for 7 years in the Visa industry. As a content writer in Visas for Future, she makes sure the information she provides is useful for her readers. Once a quarter she does visa fulfillment for Turkey and India visas. She makes sure that clients are satisfied with their orders through customer service. She loves learning new things and hates procrastination.
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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Orcales, Wences. "Passport renewal photo for India 2024." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-renewal-india-photo-size/. Accessed on 23 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Orcales, Wences. "Passport renewal photo for India 2024." Visas For Future. September 23, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-renewal-india-photo-size/.