Quick answer
Why was my Indian passport photo rejected?
The Global Passport Seva portal checks uploads against ICAO rules and flags an open mouth, glasses reflections, red eyes, a non-uniform background, unnatural colour, low contrast, wrong face size, blur and a tilted head. Files over 250 KB, altered photos and photos taken closer than 1.5 metres also cause problems.
When you upload a photo on Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0, it is checked against the ICAO rules automatically. The portal names nine checks, from "Mouth Open" to "Tilted Face", and rejects files that are over 250 KB, not in colour, not a JPG or JPEG, or altered by software. Nearly every problem is fixed by retaking the photo, not by editing it.
These checks apply to applications through Indian missions abroad. In India, the photo is taken at the PSK or POPSK, so you only prepare a photo yourself for a child under 4.
The portal's photo checks and how to fix them
| Check | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Mouth Open | Your mouth is open, or you are smiling widely. | Close your mouth and keep a natural, relaxed expression. |
| Glasses Reflection | Light is reflecting on your lenses and hiding your eyes. | Take your glasses off, or change the lighting so there are no reflections. |
| Red Eyes | The flash has caused red eye, or a ring flash has left bright spots in your eyes. | Switch the flash off and use natural daylight. |
| Non Uniform Background | The portal cannot tell you apart from the background, or the background has shadows, glare or patterns. | Stand in front of a plain white wall (the guidelines ask for white), a little further from it so your shadow does not fall on it. |
| Unnatural Color | Your camera settings or the light have given the photo a colour cast. | Switch off the flash and any filters or beauty modes, and stand in natural light. |
| Low Dynamic | The photo is too light, too dark or too flat, so your features do not stand out. | Stand in even, bright light in front of a light background. |
| Face Length Ratio | Your head is too large or too small for the frame. | Crop so your face fills about 80–85% of the photo, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, and stand about 1.5 metres from the camera. |
| Blurred | The photo is out of focus or shaky. | Use more light, clean the lens, and keep both you and the camera still. |
| Tilted Face | Your head is tilted or turned, or you are not looking at the camera. | Keep your head level and look straight into the lens. |
Check names as the portal shows them; the explanations are rewritten from the portal's own error messages.
File problems
| Size | Photo up to 250 KB; signature up to 100 KB |
|---|---|
| Format | JPG or JPEG only |
| Dimensions | 630 × 810 pixels |
| Colour | Colour photo only |
| Editing | Unaltered by computer software |
Photos that fail the check
Retake, do not retouch
Most failures come from the room, not the camera: a flash, a window behind you, a shadowy wall or a camera held too close. Move to soft daylight facing a window, stand a little away from a white wall, and ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 metres.
How to fix a rejected Indian passport photo
- Read the check name. Note which check failed, such as Glasses Reflection or Face Length Ratio, and find the fix in the table above.
- Retake the photo. Stand in front of a plain white wall in even daylight, glasses off, flash off, eyes open and mouth closed, with someone taking it from about 1.5 metres.
- Crop and save it again. Crop so your face fills about 80–85% of the frame, resize to 630 × 810 pixels and save as a JPG under 250 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 it again. Upload the new file on Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0. If it still fails and you have a medical reason, use the exception with a certificate from a registered medical practitioner.
Photo rejected FAQ
The check could not see both eyes clearly open. Keep your head straight and centred, look directly at the lens, keep hair away from your eyes and take your glasses off.
The portal asks for photos unaltered by computer software, and its error text for size limits repeats that. Some missions, such as Bern, Milan and Paris, allow you to make the background white. It is safest to retake the photo against a plain white wall. See where the rules differ.
The portal says that if you cannot meet the photo requirements you can skip the upload step and your photo will be taken at the passport office. Some missions say applications without an uploaded photo are not accepted, so contact your mission or its visa centre first. Applicants with a facial deformity or neurological disorder can use the exception with a medical certificate.
No photo is needed for adults or for children aged 4 and over in India: the photo is taken at the PSK or POPSK. Only a child under 4 brings a 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo with a white background. See baby and child photos.
The limit is 250 KB for the photo and 100 KB for the signature, as a JPG or JPEG. Resize to 630 × 810 pixels and save with a little more compression. The Embassy of India in Paris says to expect up to 200 KB.
Official sources
- Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0
- Embassy of India, Washington DC: Guidelines for ICAO compliant photographs (PDF)
- Embassy of India, Bern: Notice on ICAO photo requirements
- Embassy of India, Paris: Practical guidelines for uploading photo and signature (PDF)
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.