Indian Passport Photo Requirements 2026 – Passport Seva & MEA Rules

Indian passport photos submitted via the Passport Seva Online portal or at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) must meet the following requirements:

• Size: 35mm wide × 45mm tall — the ICAO standard used across most of Asia and Europe.
• Head height: The face (chin to crown) must occupy 25–35mm of the 45mm photo height. The face must be centred horizontally.
• Background: Plain white, uniformly lit, with no patterns, gradients, shadows, or objects.
• Expression: Neutral, relaxed expression. Mouth closed. Both eyes open and clearly visible.
• Glasses: Not permitted. MEA and Passport Seva follow the ICAO requirement prohibiting eyewear in biometric passport photos.
• Print quality: Minimum 300 DPI on photographic print paper. High contrast — the face must clearly stand out from the white background.

Passport applications in India are processed through the Passport Seva Online portal (passportindia.gov.in), with in-person appointments at a PSK or POPSK. You bring two recent printed passport-size photos (35×45mm) to your appointment. The Passport Officer verifies your documents including the photos.

India has been rolling out biometric ePassports with IC chips that store facial biometric data. The ePassport uses the same 35×45mm photo format — the chip data is derived from the photo submitted with your application. Biometric face recognition is used at automated e-gates in Indian airports and at international borders.

Passport validity periods are: 10 years for adults (15 and over) and 5 years (or until age 18, whichever is earlier) for minors.

Religious head coverings — including hijabs, turbans, dupattas, and other faith-based headwear — are permitted in Indian passport photos, provided the following conditions are met:

• The full face from chin to hairline must be clearly visible
• No shadows may fall across the face from the head covering
• The covering may not obscure the jawline, forehead, or any facial feature

Fashion headwear (hats, caps, beanies) is not permitted. Only genuine religious or medical head coverings are accepted.

This is one of the most common sources of confusion for Indian document applications. The two formats are not interchangeable:

• Indian Passport: 35×45mm (width × height) — the standard ICAO rectangular format used by most countries worldwide.
• Indian e-Visa (online application): 2×2 inch (51×51mm) — a square format, the same size as a US passport photo. Required when applying for an Indian e-Visa from abroad.

Both require a white background, neutral expression, and no glasses. Submitting the wrong size will cause your application to be rejected.

Children's passport photos follow the same 35×45mm requirements as adult photos. For babies and very young children:

• Eyes do not need to be fully open, but the face must be clearly visible and centred
• No parent's hands or other people may appear in the frame
• Plain white background is required — the same as for adults
• No accessories, toys, or pacifiers in the photo

Minors under 15 receive a passport valid for 5 years (or until age 18, whichever is earlier). A fresh photo meeting current MEA requirements is needed at every renewal.