Evergreen concept
GuideIndia Passport & Exam Photo Size Checklist
Checklist of common Indian passport, visa, MahaDBT, MPSC, SSC, and UPSC photo pixel and KB rules — verify live portal limits before upload.
Indian portals reject photos for three separate reasons: wrong pixels, wrong KB band, or wrong background/face framing. Fix size first with a measured tool, then confirm the live form’s wording.
Use the Passport Photo Maker and the /photo-sizes/ index. Always re-check the portal before submitting.
Quick checklist before upload
- Which form is this? (Passport Seva, visa/OCI, MahaDBT, MPSC, SSC, UPSC, PAN, …)
- Required width × height in px
- Required min–max KB (both ends matter)
- JPEG vs other formats (most want JPEG)
- Background colour / plain backdrop rule
- Recent photo / glasses / head covering rules from the advertisement
- Separate signature upload? → Signature Resizer
- Measured file size shown by the tool matches the portal band
Common published bands (verify live)
These are the commonly published bands Tools.Town encodes as presets. Portals change mid-cycle — treat the portal help text as authoritative.
| Use | Typical digital size | Typical KB band | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Passport (digital) | 630×810 px (35×45 mm) | ~10–300 KB | Confirm Passport Seva live spec |
| Visa / OCI 2×2 in | 600×600 px | ~10–300 KB | Square crop |
| MahaDBT | 420×525 px | 10–20 KB | Very tight ceiling |
| MPSC | ~413×531 px | ~5–50 KB | Check current advertisement |
| SSC / many exams | Portal-specific | Often ≤50–100 KB | Read that cycle’s notice |
| PAN photo | Portal-specific | Often tight KB | Use PAN preset in the maker |
Full per-preset pages: /photo-sizes/.
MahaDBT is the usual surprise
Applicants resize to 35×45 mm and still fail because MahaDBT wants roughly 420×525 px and ≤20 KB. Generic phone exports are often hundreds of KB. The Passport Photo Maker’s MahaDBT preset targets that band and shows the measured KB before download.
Background and framing
Size compliance does not fix a busy background. For a plain backdrop, use Background Remover first, then run Passport Photo Maker. Framing (full face, centred) remains your responsibility against the portal’s photo guidelines.
Related documents
Photos rarely travel alone. Certificates need PDF KB caps — see India government PDF size limits and the PDF Compressor.
Hub: India Docs & ID Ops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 35×45 mm enough without checking pixels?
No. Portals usually also enforce digital width×height and a KB band. Millimetres alone are not enough for uploads.
Why was my 15 KB photo rejected?
Some portals enforce a minimum KB as well as a maximum. Landing under the floor fails just like exceeding the ceiling.
Do these numbers stay forever?
No. Confirm the live portal or advertisement PDF. Tools.Town presets track commonly published bands and show measured output.