Quick answer
What photo size do Indian missions need for a PCC?
It depends on the mission. PCC applications by Indian nationals now go through Global Passport Seva 2.0 with the same 630 × 810 pixel ICAO upload as passports, the Washington embassy says. Printed consular forms vary: Pretoria's asks for 3.5 × 3.5 cm and VFS Australia's foreign-national PCC form for 2 × 2 inches.
There is no single photo size for consular services at Indian missions. For a PCC for an Indian national, missions on Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0 ask for the same 630 × 810 pixel ICAO upload as passports. Printed forms for other services each state their own size: 3.5 × 3.5 cm on the High Commission of India in Pretoria's form, 2 × 2 inches on VFS Global's Australian form for foreign nationals, and 35 × 45 mm on the passport portal's emergency certificate form.
Always use the size printed in the photo box of the form you are filling in, and follow the notice of the mission you are applying to.
Photo sizes by service
| Service | Photo | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PCC for Indian nationals (GPSP 2.0 missions) | 630 × 810 px colour JPG, up to 250 KB, white background | Embassy of India, Washington DC |
| PCC in India | Photo captured at the PSK or POPSK | Passport Seva |
| Miscellaneous consular services (Pretoria) | 3.5 × 3.5 cm print pasted on the form | High Commission of India, Pretoria |
| PCC for foreign nationals (VFS Global, Australia) | 2 × 2 inch print pasted on the form | VFS Global |
| Emergency certificate (printed from GPSP 2.0) | 35 × 45 mm unsigned recent colour photo | Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0 |
We read these forms in October 2026. Other missions' forms, including those for birth registration, use their own sizes; check yours.
Make PCC photo Make 2 × 2 in photos
PCC through Global Passport Seva 2.0
The Embassy of India in Washington says passport, surrender certificate, police clearance certificate and GEP services have moved to GPSP 2.0, applied for via VFS Global, and that the ICAO photo, scanned signature and documents must be uploaded before you mail or submit the application. The photo rules are the same as for a passport: see Indian passport photos abroad.
| Pixels | 630 × 810 |
|---|---|
| File | JPG or JPEG, up to 250 KB |
| Background | White |
| Face | About 80–85% of the photo |
| Signature | Separate upload, up to 100 KB |
Printed photos for paper forms
Do
- Use the size printed in the form's photo box
- Use a recent colour photo on a plain white background
- Paste the photo neatly inside the box, and sign across it only if the form asks you to
Don't
- Assume one mission's size applies at another
- Use an old passport photo or a photocopy
- Staple through the face or let glue mark the front
One photo, several sizes
If you are applying for several services at once, take one good photo against a white wall and crop it to each size you need, rather than visiting a studio several times.
Sample photos
How to get the right photo for an Indian consular form
- Find the size on your form. Look at the photo box on the form from your mission's website, or check whether the service now uses a GPSP 2.0 upload instead.
- Take the photo on white. Stand in front of a plain white wall in even light, facing the camera, with your eyes open and mouth closed.
- Crop and print or save it. Crop to the form's size, such as 3.5 × 3.5 cm or 2 × 2 inches, and print in colour, or save a 630 × 810 pixel JPG under 250 KB for an upload. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
- Attach it and submit. Paste the print in the box or upload the file, then submit the application at the mission or its VFS Global or BLS International centre.
PCC and consular photo FAQ
In India, a police clearance certificate for an Indian citizen is applied for on Passport Seva and you visit the PSK or POPSK, where your photo is captured, in the same way as for a passport. Passport Seva says a photograph is not required for the visit.
For Indian nationals, missions that have moved to Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0 handle PCCs there, with a 630 × 810 pixel ICAO photo upload. Printed forms for other consular services vary by mission, so use the size printed on your mission's own form.
Each mission publishes its own forms. The High Commission of India in Pretoria's miscellaneous services form asks for 3.5 × 3.5 cm, VFS Global's form for foreign nationals in Australia asks for 2 × 2 inches, and the emergency certificate form printed from the passport portal asks for 35 × 45 mm.
The forms we read only print the size. A plain white background is the safe choice, because it matches the ICAO guidelines Indian missions use for passport photos.
Official sources
- Embassy of India, Washington DC: Guidelines for ICAO compliant photographs (PDF)
- VFS Global: Indian passport and consular services in the USA
- High Commission of India, Pretoria: Miscellaneous consular services form (PDF)
- VFS Global Australia: Miscellaneous services form – PCC (PDF)
- Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0
- Passport Seva: Getting Started
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.