India Visa Photo Requirements 2024: What are the Specific Photo Requirements to Apply for an Indian Visa?

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Updated January 2024

If you’re planning a trip to India, it’s important to ensure that your visa application is complete, including having an official photo that meets the requirements. Failing to meet these requirements could result in your visa application being rejected and delay your trip.

Keep reading to find out the India visa photo size and other requirements.

India visa photo requirements 2024

The International Standards Organization (ISO) and ICAO, responsible for standardizing travel documents in India, have provided specifications for a photograph for an Indian visa. The most crucial requirements include taking the face from the full frontal position and ensuring that the height of the face meets the prescribed specifications. These specifications are detailed further below.

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Size

As per the official rules, the photograph for an Indian visa should be in color and sized at 2 inches x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm).

Moreover, the photo must present a full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin. The height of the head should measure between 1 inch to 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm). Please ensure that the eye height falls between 1-1/8 inches to 1-3/8 inches.

Specifications

The following are the specifications of the India visa photo that must be adhered to by visa applicants. Non-compliance may result in the rejection of their visa applications.

General specifications

• the photograph should be in colour, and the size must be 2 inch x 2 inch (51 mm x 51 mm)
• the photo print should be clear and with a continuous-tone quality
• the face should cover about 60-70 percent of the photo area
• the applicant’s picture should display a full face, front view with eyes open
• the photo should present a full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin
• centre the head within the frame
• the background should be a plain white background
• there should not be any distracting shadows on the face or in the background
• the photograph must be taken in coloured attire, for instance, a medium blue shirt, etc
• the attire should not be patterned/textured or pure white
• head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown
• the expression on the face should look natural

Quality and background of the photographs

The background and quality of the photographs to apply for an Indian visa must be as follows:

• high-resolution photography and printing are strongly recommended
• since both conventional and digital photography are acceptable, conventional or digital printing methods may be used
• digitally printed photos should be produced without visible pixels or dot patterns. Fine facial features should be discernible
• brightness and contrast should be adjusted to present the subject and background accurately
• photos without proper contrast or colour may obscure unique facial features
• colour should reproduce natural skin tones
• avoid using fluorescent or other lighting, as unbalanced colours may cause unwanted colour cast in the photo
• appropriate filters can eliminate improper colour balance
• the light should be even and balanced to avoid shadows on the face
• the background behind the face should be properly illuminated to avoid shadows in the background
• the resulting print should exhibit a continuous-tone quality regardless of the print method used (dye sublimation, inkjet, laser, etc.)
• make sure to print the photograph on thin photo paper

Please make sure to not retouch or otherwise enhance or soften the photo.

Attire and expression of the applicant

For both printed and digital photos, the applicant must:

• the head should face the camera directly and should not tilt or turn (portrait style)
• the photo must show both edges of the face clearly
• the eyes must be open, level and clearly visible and must not be covered by hair or eye-glass frames
• the photo should capture the full face, front view, with eyes open
• the head should be in the centre of the frame
• there should not be any distracting shadows on the face or background
• glare on eyeglasses should be avoided with a slight upward or downward tilt of the head. Please note that tinted or dark glasses are not allowed

Please note that head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons. In this case, the facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.

Requirements for children & infants

For photographs of children under ten years of age, the India visa photo requirements are somewhat relaxed, and the following specifications must be followed:

• in the case of babies and infants, the position of the face, the facial expression, the eyes and the line of sight can have some relaxation. However, a frontal photograph with clarity is required for children
• the photograph should clearly show the child alone (no chair backs, toys or other people visible), looking at the camera with a neutral expression and the mouth closed
• photographs taken with a digital camera should be of high-quality colour

Please note that babies under one year are not required to have their eyes open in the photographs.