Indian Passport Photo Samples: Correct vs Incorrect

Correct and incorrect sample photos side by side, with the rule behind each one from Passport Seva and Indian missions' ICAO guidelines.

Based on official sources · last checked

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Quick answer

What does a correct Indian passport photo look like?

A correct Indian passport photo shows only you, facing the camera with a natural expression, eyes open and mouth closed, evenly lit on a plain white background, with your full head from hair to chin and your face filling 80–85% of the frame. It has no shadows, red eye, glare, tilt or editing.

A correct Indian passport photo is a close-up of the head and top of the shoulders on a plain white background, with the face filling 80–85% of the photo, eyes open, mouth closed and even light. The samples below show what passes and what the passport portal's automatic check rejects.

The same rules apply to the 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo you bring for a child under 4 and to the 630 × 810 pixel upload for applications through Indian missions abroad. In India, adults and children aged 4 and over are photographed at the PSK, so these samples also show what the counter staff are aiming for.

Correct sample photos

Correct photo example
Correct Plain white background, face about 80–85% of the photo, head straight, eyes open, mouth closed and even light.
Correct photo example: religious head covering
Religious head covering Allowed only for religious reasons, with the face visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face showing.
Correct photo example: child: head and shoulders
Child: head and shoulders A close-up of the head and top of the shoulders on white, eyes open and looking at the camera, with no toys or hands in view.
Correct photo example: plain light background
Plain light background Accepted where a light background is allowed, such as OCI and e-Visa uploads. Indian passport photos need white.

White for passports, light for some other uploads

The light background sample is for documents that allow it, such as the India e-Visa and the OCI card. For an Indian passport, use white.

Incorrect sample photos

Glasses

Rejected photo example: wearing glasses
Wearing glasses Indian missions' ICAO guidance says to take glasses off to avoid reflections, and the e-Visa photo must be without spectacles.
Rejected photo example: glare on glasses
Glare on glasses Reflections on lenses hide the eyes, and the passport portal flags "glasses reflection". Take your glasses off.
Rejected photo example: tinted glasses
Tinted glasses Sunglasses and tinted lenses are never accepted. Your eyes must be open and clearly visible.

Background and lighting

Rejected photo example: coloured background
Coloured background The portal flags a "non-uniform background". Use a plain white wall with no pattern, objects or shadows.
Rejected photo example: shadows on face
Shadows on face Lighting must be uniform, with no shadows on the face or background and no flash reflections.
Rejected photo example: too dark
Too dark Under-exposed or unevenly lit photos fail the check. Face a window or use soft, even light without flash.

Pose and expression

Rejected photo example: mouth open
Mouth open Keep a natural expression with your mouth closed; the portal flags an open mouth.
Rejected photo example: head tilted
Head tilted Face the camera straight on; the portal flags a tilted face.
Rejected photo example: hair across eyes
Hair across eyes Both eyes must be open and clearly visible, with no hair across them.
Rejected photo example: close-up selfie
Close-up selfie Selfies distort the face. Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 metres away, as the passport portal advises.

Framing and quality

Rejected photo example: face too small
Face too small The face should fill about 80–85% of the photo; the portal checks the face length ratio.
Rejected photo example: face too large
Face too large Keep the full head, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, and the top of the shoulders in the frame.
Rejected photo example: blurred
Blurred The photo must be sharp and in focus. Avoid zooming, low light and apps that compress the file.
Rejected photo example: hand in photo
Hand in photo Only the applicant may appear. For a baby, lay them on a plain white sheet rather than holding their head.

Make my photo

How to check your photo against the samples

  1. Check the background. It should be plain, even and white for a passport, with no shadow behind your head.
  2. Check the framing. Your face, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, should fill about 80–85% of the photo, centred, with the top of your shoulders showing.
  3. Check your face. Eyes open and looking at the camera, mouth closed, head straight, no hair across the eyes and no glasses.
  4. Check the quality. The photo should be sharp, in colour with natural skin tones, evenly lit and not edited. If anything fails, retake it rather than editing it.

Sample photo FAQ

No. They are AI-generated images of people who do not exist, made to show pose, framing, lighting and background, so no real person's photo is published. Use them to compare against your own photo before you print or upload it.

Not for Indian passports: Passport Seva's minors' guidelines and the missions' ICAO guidelines ask for white. Some other Indian uploads allow a plain light background, such as the e-Visa (light-coloured or white) and OCI (plain light colour).

About 80–85% of the photo, from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin, with the top of your shoulders showing. The passport portal checks the face length ratio and flags faces that are too large or too small.

Keep a natural expression with your mouth closed. The passport portal's automatic check flags an open mouth.

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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.