Quick answer
What are the photo requirements for an Indian e-Visa?
The Indian e-Visa portal asks for a JPEG photo of 10 KB to 1 MB with equal height and width, showing your full face from the front with eyes open and no spectacles, centred, on a plain light-coloured or white background with no shadows or borders. The passport page is a PDF of 10–300 KB.
The Indian e-Visa photo is a square JPEG (equal height and width) of 10 KB to 1 MB, showing your full face from the front, eyes open and without spectacles, centred from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, on a plain light-coloured or white background with no shadows or borders. You also upload your passport bio page as a PDF of 10–300 KB.
These rules come from the official e-Visa portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, run for the Government of India. The e-Visa has several categories, such as e-Tourist, e-Business and e-Medical, and the same photo rules apply to all of them.
India e-Visa photo specifications
| Format | JPEG |
|---|---|
| File size | Minimum 10 KB, maximum 1 MB |
| Shape | Square: height and width must be equal |
| Face | Full face, front view, eyes open |
| Glasses | Not allowed: the photo must be without spectacles |
| Framing | Head centred in the frame, full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin |
| Background | Plain light-coloured or white |
| Shadows and borders | No shadows on the face or background, and no borders |
White or light?
The photo specification allows a plain light-coloured or white background, but the portal's general instructions say a recent front-facing photo "with white background". Use plain white to satisfy both.
Passport page and other uploads
| Passport bio page | Scan of the page with your photo and details (name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date). PDF, 10–300 KB |
|---|---|
| Extra documents | Depending on the e-Visa type, such as a business card or a hospital letter. PDF, 10–300 KB |
When to apply
- Apply online at least 4 days before your arrival date, within a window of 120 days. The fee must also be paid at least 4 days before travel.
- The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is sent by email. Check it shows "GRANTED" on the portal, and carry a copy when you travel.
- Your biometrics are captured on arrival at immigration in India, where the e-Visa is stamped in your passport.
- People with a defence, military, security or police background, and holders of official or diplomatic passports, cannot use the e-Visa and apply for a regular visa instead.
Use the official portal only
The official e-Visa website is indianvisaonline.gov.in. Fees vary by country or territory; check the portal for the current fee, plus the bank transaction charge it adds. The portal also says the Government of India charges no emergency or express fee for an e-Visa, so be wary of websites that charge extra for a faster e-Visa.
Sample photos
Samples show pose and background. Crop your e-Visa photo to a square.
How to make your India e-Visa photo
- Take the photo on a plain background. Stand in front of a plain white or light-coloured wall in even light, with your glasses off, looking straight at the camera with your eyes open.
- Crop it to a square. Crop so the height and width are equal, with your full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin centred in the frame and no border.
- Save a JPEG of 10 KB to 1 MB. Save the photo as a JPEG between 10 KB and 1 MB, and scan your passport bio page as a PDF of 10–300 KB. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
- Upload and check before you submit. Upload both on indianvisaonline.gov.in, check that the photo is clear and matches you, then pay at least 4 days before you travel.
India e-Visa photo FAQ
The portal sets no pixel size, but the photo must be square (equal height and width), a JPEG of at least 10 KB and at most 1 MB, with your full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, centred.
No. The e-Visa photo rules say the photo should show your face from the front with eyes open and without spectacles.
The photo specification says a plain light-coloured or white background, while the portal's general instructions mention a recent front-facing photo with a white background. A plain white background meets both.
A scan of the bio page of your passport showing your photo and details, as a PDF of 10 KB to 300 KB. Business and medical e-Visas need another PDF document of the same size.
The portal says applications are liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear or not as per specification, and that you are responsible for checking your photo and details before you submit.
Yes. Biometric details are captured at immigration on arrival in India.
Official sources
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.