Indian Passport Photo Requirements (2026 MEA Guide)

Photo Size and Dimensions

• Photo size: 2 inches × 2 inches (51 mm × 51 mm)
• Face coverage: 70% to 80% of the frame (chin to crown)
• Minimum resolution: 300 DPI (600 × 600 pixels)
• Two identical photos required for physical passport application

Background Requirements

The background must be plain white or off-white with no patterns, textures, shadows, or other objects visible. MEA requires a uniform, light-coloured background. Kindro’s AI automatically removes your background and replaces it with a clean, compliant white — no need to find a perfect wall.

Facial Expression and Pose

• Face the camera directly — no tilting or turning
• Keep a neutral expression with mouth closed
• Both eyes must be open and clearly visible
• Head must be centred and not cropped at the top
• Face should occupy 70–80% of the photo height

Glasses — Not Recommended

MEA strongly recommends removing glasses for passport photos. While not an absolute ban, glasses frequently cause glare, reflections, and shadows that lead to rejection at Passport Seva Kendra. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are strictly not allowed.

To avoid any risk of rejection, remove all eyewear before taking your photo. This is one of the most common reasons for rejection at PSK offices.

Clothing and Accessories

• No hats or head coverings unless worn daily for religious reasons
• No headphones or wireless earbuds
• Avoid white clothing that blends with the background
• Hair must not cover the face or eyes
• Religious head coverings must not cast shadows on the face

Photo Quality

• Must be in colour (no black and white)
• Taken within the last 6 months
• No filters, effects, or digital alterations to facial features
• Properly exposed — no overexposure, underexposure, or red-eye
• Printed on photo-quality paper with no visible pixels or inkjet lines
• No creases, scratches, or ink marks on the photo

Digital Submission Specifications

When applying online through the Passport Seva portal, you can upload a digital photo instead of submitting printed photos. The digital photo must meet these specifications:

• Minimum 350 × 350 pixels (600 × 600 recommended)
• JPEG format
• File size between 10 KB and 1 MB
• No red-eye, shadows, or glare
• Taken against a plain white background

Kindro outputs at 600×600 pixels (300 DPI), which exceeds the Passport Seva digital requirements. The JPEG file is typically well under 1 MB.

Common Rejection Reasons

• Wearing glasses (glare or reflections)
• Shadows on face or background
• Face too large or too small in the frame (must be 70–80%)
• Non-white or uneven background
• Incorrect dimensions (not 2 × 2 inches)
• Low-resolution or blurry image
• Photo older than 6 months
• Expression not neutral (smiling, mouth open)
• Head covering not permitted (non-religious)

Baby and Child Passport Photos

Children and infants must meet the same photo requirements as adults (with minor allowances for very young babies). Tips for photographing babies and young children:

• Lay the baby on a plain white sheet or blanket
• Take the photo from directly above
• Make sure the eyes are open and looking at the camera
• No pacifiers, toys, or other people visible
• Mouth should be closed (slight allowance for very young babies)
• The same 2 × 2 inch size applies for all ages

Related Guides

• Free India Passport Photo Tool →
• India Passport Photo Cost →
• How to Print Your Photo →
• Passport Photo FAQ →
• Rejection Reasons & Fixes →