Indian Visa Photo: Meet All the Requirements

Whether it’s your first time visiting India or you’re a veteran traveller, getting your visa photo right is a crucial aspect of the application process.

Thanks to our comprehensive guide, you’ll learn all the essential details of Indian visa photos—from size and colour to headgear and attire.

First up are the technical specifications, presented in the chart below:

Indian Visa Photos Explained

The fine details: specifics of Indian visa photos

Besides the technical aspects mentioned above, the Indian government has very specific guidelines regarding your appearance in visa photos. You should take into account the following when snapping your picture:

• Smile: Maintain a neutral expression. No smiling is permitted
• Eyes: Must be open, level (e.g., don’t raise one eyebrow) and clearly visible. Your eyes can’t be covered by hair or eyeglass frames
• Glasses: Tinted or dark glasses are not allowed. Furthermore, ensure no glare is reflected off of the lenses
• Headgear: Only permitted for religious reasons. Cannot obscure any part of the face
• Attire: Wear clothing that does not blend into the background
• Beard: Permitted. Cannot obscure facial features
• Head position: Directly facing the camera. Tilting or turning the head is strictly prohibited

Indian visa photo size—examined

Indian visa photos have precise sizing requirements that cannot be overlooked.

For example, both physical prints and digital photos have the following parameters in common:

• Photo size: 51x51 mm (2x2 inches)
• Head size: 35–40 mm (1⅜–1³⁷⁄₆₄ inches)

In addition, digital photos must be between 10 KB and 300 KB in size—so be careful not to exceed the maximum file size limit by submitting an image with a very high pixel rate (e.g., 1200x1200 pixels).

Online services for Indian visa photos

Given all the requirements, it’s no surprise that some people get their visa photo done at a studio by a photographer.

If opting for this route, a quick search of “Indian visa photo near me” can yield a few local brick-and-mortar options, but wouldn’t you rather save time and money by getting your visa photos done at home?

That’s where visa photo apps really shine. Experience the convenience and ease-of-use with an app that asks you only to provide a photo—the rest of the work lies on our side.

With a 100% compliance guarantee and user-friendly interface, it’s no surprise that Passport Photo Online is consistently rated 5 stars in Trustpilot reviews!