What changed in February 2026
If you are working from an older guide — or an older photo — this is the part that catches people out. The 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51mm) square photo that Indian passport applications used for years is no longer valid, and a photo in that format will be rejected regardless of its quality.
The current specification is 35 × 45mm, the same portrait shape used across Europe and most of Asia. If you have recent passport photos printed in the old square format, they cannot be reused.
| Before Feb 2026 | Current requirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51mm) | 35 × 45mm |
| Shape | Square (1:1) | Portrait (7:9) |
| Digital pixels | 600 × 600 | 630 × 810 exactly |
| File size | varied by service | 10KB – 250KB |
| Format | JPEG | JPEG only |
The Passport Seva upload rules
The portal validates your file before a human ever sees it, and it rejects on any one of three checks: the format must be JPEG (a .png, .heic or .webp is refused outright, even renamed), the dimensions must be exactly 630 × 810 pixels, and the file must be between 10KB and 250KB.
Note that 630 × 810 is not 35 × 45mm at 300 DPI — that would be 413 × 531. The portal wants its own pixel dimensions, which work out to roughly 457 DPI. Set the pixel values directly rather than converting from millimetres, which is what the tool above does.
- Format: JPEG only.
- Dimensions: exactly 630 × 810 pixels.
- File size: between 10KB and 250KB — there is a minimum as well as a maximum.
- Background: plain white, evenly lit, no shadow.
- Face coverage: roughly 80–85% of the frame.
- No glasses. Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes visible.
Hitting the size window
The 10KB floor matters as much as the 250KB ceiling. A heavily compressed photo that lands at 8KB is rejected just as a 300KB one is, and people often over-compress trying to be safe.
Set the dimensions to 630 × 810 first, then compress toward the limit rather than as far below it as possible. The tool targets just under the ceiling, which keeps the most detail while staying inside the window.
Where 2 × 2 inches is still used
The square format has not disappeared from Indian paperwork entirely, which is part of why the change is confusing. OCI card applications still use 2 × 2 inches, and US visa applications filed from India use the US specification, also 2 × 2 inches.
So the rule is specific: Indian passport, 35 × 45mm. OCI and US visa, 2 × 2 inches. Check which document you are actually applying for before you resize.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Indian passport photo still 2x2 inches?
- No. Since 16 February 2026 the requirement is 35 × 45mm, and 2 × 2 inch photos are not accepted through any submission channel. Guides published before that date are out of date.
- What pixel size does Passport Seva require?
- Exactly 630 × 810 pixels, as a JPEG between 10KB and 250KB. The portal rejects anything that does not match these exactly.
- Can I still use 2x2 inches for an OCI card?
- Yes. OCI applications still use the 2 × 2 inch square format, as do US visa applications filed from India. Only the Indian passport itself moved to 35 × 45mm.
- Why is my upload rejected even though the size looks right?
- Most often the format or the exact pixel dimensions. The file must be a real JPEG — renaming a PNG does not work — and exactly 630 × 810, not approximately. Also check you are above the 10KB minimum.
Sources & disclaimer
The specifications on this page were taken from the sources below on the dates shown:
- Passport Seva (Ministry of External Affairs) — passportindia.gov.in — checked October 2026
Please verify before you submit. Government photo requirements change without notice and are not always announced — India replaced its 2 × 2 inch passport photo standard in February 2026, for instance. The information here reflects those sources as of the dates given and may since have become out of date, and requirements can also differ between individual embassies and consulates. It is provided for general guidance only, with no warranty of accuracy or completeness, and Instant Image Resizer accepts no liability for rejected applications, fees or other losses arising from its use. Always confirm the current requirements with the issuing government authority before submitting your application.