India eVisa Photo Requirements: How to Get Your Photo Accepted
Getting the India eVisa photo requirements right is one of the simplest ways to keep your application moving. A photo that is too dark, the wrong shape or the wrong file size is among the most frequent reasons applicants are asked to resubmit documents, which can delay approval just when you are finalising your trip. This guide explains the official specifications, shows you how to take a compliant picture at home with a smartphone, and covers the passport scan you will need when you upload your photo with your India eVisa application.
Key takeaways
- The photo must be a JPEG file between 10 KB and 1 MB, with equal height and width (a square).
- Show your full face from the front, eyes open, against a plain light-coloured or white background with no shadows or borders.
- Remove your spectacles; the official guidance asks for a photo without them.
- Upload the passport bio page as a PDF between 10 KB and 300 KB.
- If the authorities do not accept an image, they usually ask you by email to upload a corrected version, so check your inbox after applying.
Official India eVisa photo requirements at a glance
The Government of India’s e-Visa portal sets out a short list of rules for the digital photograph and the passport scan. Where the portal does not specify something, such as an exact pixel count, the table below says so rather than guessing.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| File format | JPEG |
| File size | Minimum 10 KB, maximum 1 MB |
| Shape | Height and width must be equal (square) |
| Pixel dimensions | Not stated on the official portal; many applicants use at least 350 x 350 pixels, and a larger square such as 600 x 600 gives more detail |
| Pose | Full face, front view, eyes open |
| Framing | Head centred in the frame, from the top of the hair to the chin |
| Background | Plain, light-coloured or white |
| Shadows and borders | None on the face or background; no borders around the image |
| Spectacles | Not worn |
| Passport scan | PDF of the bio page showing photo and personal details, 10 KB to 300 KB |
Because the authorities occasionally update the rules, check the upload screen at the time you apply. The specification shown during the application is the one that counts. Before you travel, it is also worth reading the GOV.UK entry requirements for India, which summarise the wider e-Visa rules.
How to meet the India eVisa photo requirements at home
You do not need a studio. A modern smartphone and a little preparation are enough.
Step 1: Choose the right spot
Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or very light wall. Avoid patterned wallpaper, doors, shelves or anything that could appear behind your head. A smooth white sheet pinned flat also works.
Step 2: Get the lighting even
Above all, soft, even light is the key to a clean result. Face a window during daylight so natural light falls evenly on your face. Avoid overhead bulbs, which create shadows under the eyes and nose, and avoid direct sunlight, which causes squinting and harsh contrast. If one side of your face is darker, place a white towel or piece of paper on that side to bounce light back. Stand a step away from the wall so your own shadow does not fall behind you.
Step 3: Position the camera
Ask someone else to take the picture rather than using a selfie at arm’s length, which distorts facial proportions. The camera should be at eye level, about one to one and a half metres away, held straight rather than tilted. Use the rear camera if possible, as it usually produces a sharper image. Turn off beauty filters, portrait blur and any automatic retouching.
Step 4: Pose correctly
- Look straight into the lens with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.
- Keep both eyes open and clearly visible; move hair away from your eyes and face.
- Keep your head level, not tilted up, down or to the side.
- Also, make sure both edges of your face are visible.
- Remove spectacles, hats, headphones and sunglasses.
- Wear everyday clothing in a colour that contrasts with the background; white tops can blend into a white wall.
Step 5: Take several shots
Take five or six photos and choose the sharpest one, with even light and no reflections.
Cropping your photo to a square
Most phone cameras produce rectangular images, so you will need to crop. Almost every phone gallery app has a crop tool with a square (1:1) option.
- Open the photo and select crop, then choose the square ratio.
- Centre your face horizontally.
- Include the full head from the top of the hair to the chin, with a small margin above the hair and some of the shoulders below. Your face should fill a large part of the frame rather than appearing as a small figure in the middle.
- Save as a new copy so the original stays untouched.
Avoid stretching or squashing a rectangular image to make it square; always crop instead, otherwise your face will look distorted.
Compressing to the right file size without losing quality
The file must sit between 10 KB and 1 MB. Modern phones often produce images of several megabytes, so you will usually need to reduce the size.
- Resize the pixel dimensions first. Scaling a square photo to around 600 x 600 or 800 x 800 pixels typically brings it well under 1 MB while keeping good detail.
- Adjust JPEG quality modestly. If the file is still too large, export at a slightly lower quality setting (for example, 80 to 90 per cent) rather than dropping it drastically.
- Do not over-compress. However, a file close to 10 KB is likely to look blocky or blurred. Instead, aim for a comfortable middle ground, such as 100 KB to 500 KB.
- Check the format. Some iPhones save photos as HEIC. Convert to JPEG before uploading, either by changing the camera format setting or by exporting a JPEG copy.
- Check the result. Zoom in on the finished file. Your eyes, hairline and the outline of your face should be crisp.
Why photos fail the India eVisa photo requirements
These issues come up again and again when an image does not meet the India eVisa photo requirements:
- Background is patterned, coloured, dark or cluttered.
- Shadows on the face or behind the head.
- The photo is not square, or the image has been stretched.
- The face is too small, cut off at the chin or hair, or not centred.
- Spectacles are worn, or there is glare covering the eyes.
- Eyes are closed, half-closed or hidden by hair.
- The image is blurred, pixelated or overexposed.
- The file is a screenshot or a photo of a printed photo.
- Filters or heavy retouching have altered the appearance.
- The wrong format (PNG, HEIC) or a file outside the 10 KB to 1 MB range.
Many of these overlap with wider form errors. Our guide to avoiding common mistakes in your India eVisa application covers name mismatches, passport number typos and other details worth double-checking.
Photos of babies and children
Every traveller, including infants, needs their own e-Visa application with their own photo. Children’s photos follow the same rules, but a little flexibility and patience help.
- Babies: Lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above. As a result, nobody needs to hold them.
- No hands or toys in shot: Parents’ hands, arms or dummies should not appear in the picture.
- Eyes open: Try to capture the moment the child looks at the camera.
- Neutral expression: A calm face is ideal; for very young children, officials generally understand that a perfect expression is hard to achieve, but eyes open and face fully visible are important.
When you start an India e-Tourist Visa application for each family member, keep every child’s photo and passport scan under clear file names so you never mix them up.
Glasses, hijab, turban and other head coverings
Glasses
The official guidance asks for a photo taken without spectacles, so remove your glasses before you take the picture. Similarly, tinted lenses and sunglasses are never suitable. If you cannot remove your glasses for a genuine medical reason, choose the clearest possible image with no glare and be ready to explain if asked.
Religious head coverings
The e-Visa portal’s summary specification does not address head coverings in detail. In practice, head coverings worn for religious reasons, such as a hijab or turban, are generally accepted on visa and passport photos, provided the full face is clearly visible from the forehead to the chin and both edges of the face can be seen. The covering should not cast shadows on the face. Remove fashion hats, caps and hoods. To be safe, make sure your e-Visa photo matches how you appear in your passport photograph.
Passport bio-page scan requirements
Alongside your photo, you will upload a scan of your passport’s bio page, the page with your photograph and personal details.
| Passport scan requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| File format | |
| File size | Minimum 10 KB, maximum 300 KB |
| Content | Bio page showing your photograph and personal details |
| Passport validity | At least six months from the date of application |
| Blank pages | At least two, for immigration stamps |
Tips for a clear passport scan
- Use a flatbed scanner or a phone scanning app that saves directly to PDF.
- Place the passport on a dark, plain surface and scan in good, even light, without flash glare over the laminate.
- Make sure all four corners of the bio page are visible and the machine-readable lines at the bottom are sharp and legible.
- Scan in colour at a moderate resolution; if the PDF exceeds 300 KB, reduce the resolution or use a PDF compression option rather than cropping out details.
- Upload only the bio page, not the cover or other pages.
What happens if your photo is rejected?
If the authorities consider your photo or passport scan unsuitable, your application is not usually refused immediately. Instead, you will typically receive an email asking you to upload a corrected document. Respond promptly: the application cannot progress until the authorities receive the new file, and delays can push processing close to your travel date. Take a new photo following the steps above, check the size and format, and upload it through the link or instructions provided. This is one reason it pays to apply early; the official portal asks for applications at least four days before arrival, so aim to apply for your India e-Tourist Visa online well ahead of that minimum.
Related guides: you may also find these articles useful: how long India eVisa processing usually takes, our complete India e-Business Visa guide and the India eVisa guide for Canadian citizens.
Frequently asked questions
What are the India eVisa photo requirements for file size?
The photo must be a JPEG file of at least 10 KB and no more than 1 MB. A file in the range of roughly 100 KB to 500 KB usually balances quality and size well.
Does the photo have to be square?
Yes. The official specification states that the height and width of the photo must be equal. Crop your photo to a 1:1 ratio rather than stretching it.
Can I wear glasses in my India e-Visa photo?
No. The official guidance asks for a full-face photo without spectacles, so remove your glasses before you take the photo.
Can I use my passport photo?
You can use a similar style of photo, but do not scan a printed photo or crop the picture from your passport bio page. Upload a fresh, sharp digital image that meets the square JPEG specification.
What format should my passport scan be?
Upload the bio page as a PDF between 10 KB and 300 KB, with all details clearly readable.
Get your India eVisa photo right the first time
Meeting the India eVisa photo requirements comes down to a few essentials: a square JPEG between 10 KB and 1 MB, a plain light background, even lighting, a centred full face with eyes open and no spectacles, plus a clear PDF scan of your passport bio page. Spend ten minutes preparing and you avoid the delay of a re-upload request. Once your files are ready, you can submit your India e-Visa application online, or, if you are travelling for meetings or trade, start your India e-Business Visa application using the same photo standards. For everything else about planning your trip, from seasons to customs, see our complete India travel guide.
India eVisa Gate is a private, independent service and is not affiliated with the Government of India. Visa rules can change; always check the conditions printed on your Electronic Travel Authorisation before you travel.