Photo for the Overseas Citizenship of India

Prepare a perfect biometric photo with guaranteed acceptance!

1M+
approved
ID photos
200%
Guarantee of
acceptance
Photo for the Overseas Citizenship of India
1M+
approved
ID photos
200%
Guarantee of
acceptance

How does it work?

Perfect biometric photo within 3 minutes.

Check how simple and smart is it!

Take or upload a photo

Take or upload a photo

That's the only thing you need to do. Take or upload a photo - we will take care of the rest.

AI prepares the photo

AI prepares the photo

Artificial Intelligence will check your photo, crop it to the right size and remove the background.

Expert verification

Expert verification

Our Photo Expert will make additional verification to check if your photo meets the official requirements.

Digital or printed photos

Digital or printed photos

You can download a digital version and order a printout which we will send within 2-3 days. Delivery is free!

Why?

Take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home

You save time and money

Convenience

Don't waste time, effort or money. You can take your passport photo without leaving home.

Professional service

Over 1 million people have used our services within the past 11 years. Our Photo Experts are available 24/7.

Money-back guarantee

We give you a guarantee of acceptance by authorities or otherwise we will refund you double the price!

Satisfaction guarantee

Take as many photo shots as you want - you pay only when you are satisfied.

How to take a photo?

Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.

Follow simple instruction to take a perfect ID photo.

1

Body-camera distance

The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.

2

Posture: Straight ahead

Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.

3

Lighting

Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.

OCI Photo - Size & Requirements

Digital OCI Photo Online
Size
Width: 2 in
Height: 2 in
Resolution
300 dpi
Is it suitable for online submission?
Yes
Image definition parameters
Head height: 1.29 in
Bottom of the Photo to the Eye Line: 1.18 in
Is it printable?
Yes
Background Color
Show more

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OCI Photo - All You Need to Know

OCI photo requirements

The requirement for the OCI registration photo is based on the International Standards Organization and ICAO specifications. Since 2005 it is possible to obtain an Overseas Citizen of India card, and if you want to get it you must meet certain OCI card photo requirements. An obvious one and yet the most important is that the photo must be taken in a full-frontal position, and the applicant must be looking directly at the camera.

OCI photo specification

To obtain an OCI ID card you need to submit an application with all the important documentation. You need to include 3 photos in the designated section on the application and 2 additional photos attached in an envelope. We want to help you avoid a possible application rejection by providing all the photo requirements as well as the most common mistakes.

OCI photo size

The OCI photo size is 2 inches x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm) and the digital photo shouldn’t be more than 200KB. The head size should measure 1 inch to 1-/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm) with the face covering 80% of the photo.

OCI photo format

JPEG/JPG format is required. The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels x 200 pixels and the maximum dimensions are 900 pixels x 900 pixels.

Validity

Your OCI photo usually cannot be the one you used for your passport, as it must be a recent photo taken within the past 6 months, that shows your current appearance. If you have changed in any way in the past half a year, we recommend taking a new photo.

Quality of the OCI photo

The photo must be:

  • in color, with a plain light-colored background,
  • in high resolution,
  • an original photo,
  • printed on glossy photo paper,
  • good-quality.

The photo cannot be:

  • digitally changed,
  • damaged in any way,
  • blurry,
  • pixelated or with dot patterns,
  • overexposed / underexposed.

Lighting and shadows

The light should be well balanced and even to avoid shadows behind the head, or on the face and neck. The best light for taking your picture is natural, so choose daylight – remember that brightness and contrast should be ideally adjusted. No flash reflections can be visible on your face, so make sure there are none.

Head and facial expression

The head should be placed in the center of the frame, shown from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin. The hair cannot cover your eyes, and you must have a natural facial expression. Your eyes must be open, your mouth closed, and your teeth can’t be showing. The photo must show your full head with both edges of the face clearly visible.

Background

The OCI photo calls for a plain light colored background. There cannot be any objects or other people visible. The OCI photo background color shouldn’t be white.

Glasses and head coverings

Wearing glasses in the photo is allowed if:

  • They are not sunglasses, tinted, or thick-framed.
  • They don’t produce flash reflections on the lenses.

Glare on eyeglasses should be avoided by slightly tilting your head upward or downward.

How to take a passport photo at home?

Nowadays you don't have to go to a professional photographer to waste your time and money – you can take the photo at home and complete the whole process with our help in just a few minutes.

  • Prepare your space and yourself.
  • Use a digital camera or a smartphone.
  • Stand slightly away from the white background.
  • Camera should be placed 1.5 m away from the face, at the eye level.
  • Ask someone for help and take a perfect shot!
  • Don’t worry about the photo not being perfect on the first try – you can take as many shots as you like! The next thing you have to do is to upload the photo on our site, and the Passport Photo Online tools will take care of the rest!

How does our application work?

Passport Photo Online will prepare your photo for your OCI application. In just a few minutes our application will replace the existing background with the correct one if needed; trim your photo to the correct OCI photo size and check every other element, just to verify that the photo is acceptable.

The most common mistakes

The OCI photo must be in color, with a plain light colored background, without any shadows. Don’t submit a photo that’s too old (not taken within the last 6 months) or damaged in any way, or one that is underexposed or overexposed. The right photo size is 2 inches x 2 inches (51 x 52 mm) and you cannot upload anything else. Don't wear any items that cover your face, remember about closing your mouth, keeping your eyes open, and having a neutral facial expression.

Photo requirements are based on: ociservices.gov.in
Last update: 21/09/23

About the document

Overseas citizenship of India

The most important information about this document is that the Overseas Citizenship of India does not grant the right to vote in Indian elections, because it is not an Indian citizenship. It is a form of permanent residency for people of Indian origin. The OCI allows people of Indian origin and their spouses to live and work in India indefinitely.

Because the Constitution of India prevents people from obtaining dual citizenship, in 2005 The Citizenship Act introduced the OCI in response to demands of the Indian diaspora. Nowadays there are close to 6 million holders of the OCI cards, but this status is not available for any Pakistani or Bangladeshi citizen, or children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of such a person.

OCI information

There are many strict rules for holders of the OCI card. The Government of India can cancel the OCI status of people who:

  • obtained it by fraud,
  • violated or broke any local law,
  • displayed acts of unpatriotism.

Applications submitted from outside of India cost $275, and those submitted from India cost $210. An OCI photo and many identity-proving documents are also required for the OCI application.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

What are the documents required for the OCI?

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In addition to these requirements you might also have to submit other documents. The documents are:

  1. OCI application form,
  2. A biometric photo,
  3. Current foreign passport,
  4. Marriage certificate,
  5. Proof of your spouse’s Indian origin.

How do I apply for an OCI card?

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To apply for the OCI card you must go to the official website and complete the application form online.

How long does it take to get an OCI?

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To get an OCI card it takes around 8 to 10 weeks.

OCI card holders must have their OCI cards reissued if a passport is renewed for people under the age of twenty, and for people after the age of 50, it must be renewed only once.

The Overseas Citizenship of India card allows you to live and work in India indefinitely - it is a permanent residency document.

The new OCI card submitted from outside of India costs $275.

You can take it yourself at home, upload it on the Passport-Photo Online website or in the app, and within a few minutes find it in your email.

The OCI photo size is 2 inch x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm).

The processing time should take between 8-10 weeks after sending an application to the Consulate.

Yes, if the person is eligible in his/her own capacity.

OCI photo should be 2 inches x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm) and not more than 200KB showing face, shoulders and both ears in front pose.