India eVisa photo requirements (square JPEG, 10 KB to 1 MB)
Updated 2026-09-20
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.
India's online visa (eVisa / e-Tourist / e-Business) application asks for a digital photo with three constraints: JPEG format, a square (1:1) aspect ratio, and a file size between 10 KB and 1 MB. A rectangular phone photo is refused at the upload step, and so is anything over 1 MB, which most phone photos are.
The portal does not publish a pixel size the way the US does, so this guide uses a 350 x 350 square as a safe, widely used default and explains how to get there and stay in the size band. The values in the table come from a third-party upload guide that summarises the portal's rules; the official application portal is linked so you can confirm them on the day you apply.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPEG | Passlens upload guide (third-party summary) |
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1) | Passlens upload guide (third-party summary) |
| File size | 10 KB minimum, 1 MB maximum | Passlens upload guide (third-party summary) |
| Pixel size | Not stated by the portal; 350 x 350 used here as a safe square | indianvisaonline.gov.in (official portal) |
| Official portal | Confirm the current rules on the application form | indianvisaonline.gov.in |
Open the tool with these settings
Centre-crops to 1:1 and saves as JPEG. Converts HEIC automatically.
Only needed when a custom size pushes the file over 1 MB; 500 KB leaves a safe margin.
All tools linked here run in your browser; the photo is never uploaded to GivenTool.
The three rules
Format: JPEG only. PNG, HEIC and PDF uploads are rejected, so iPhone users should convert HEIC first (the resizer does this automatically when JPG is the output). Aspect ratio: square. Height must equal width; the portal checks this rather than a particular pixel count. Size: at least 10 KB and at most 1 MB. The 10 KB floor stops unreadably tiny images; a 350 x 350 JPEG at normal quality is 20 to 60 KB, well above it.
Composition follows the usual passport pattern: full face, front view, eyes open, plain light background, no border, no shadows, head centred. Because the frame is square the head fills more of it than in a 35 x 45 mm print; leave room above the hair when you take the photo so the centre crop does not clip it.
Choosing the pixel size
Since no minimum pixel size is stated on the portal, the preset uses 350 x 350, a size that comfortably satisfies the 10 KB floor and that many applicants report as accepted. If you prefer a larger image, 600 x 600 also stays far below 1 MB. Avoid going above about 1500 x 1500: at that size a JPEG can exceed 1 MB and would need compressing again.
If you scan a printed photo, 300 dpi of a 2 x 2 inch print gives 600 x 600; of a 35 x 45 mm print it gives a rectangle that the resizer will crop to a square.
Step by step
Open the resizer with the India eVisa preset. It centre-crops to a square and outputs 350 x 350 JPEG.
Check the result card: dimensions must be equal, and the size should be between 10 KB and 1 MB. At 350 x 350 it will be.
If you chose a larger custom size and the file exceeds 1 MB, run it through the "compress to 500 KB" tool, which leaves a wide margin.
Upload the JPEG in the application and confirm the preview shows the whole head.
Frequently asked questions
What exact pixel size does the portal want?
It does not state one; it checks the format, the square ratio and the file size. 350 x 350 is a widely used size that passes; 600 x 600 works too.
The portal rejected my 4 MB square photo. Why?
The maximum is 1 MB. Either resize to 350 or 600 pixels square, which brings the file well under the limit, or compress it with the 500 KB tool.
Can I upload a PDF of my photo?
No. The photo field accepts JPEG only. The passport page field is a separate upload with its own rules (PDF is accepted there).
Why are the sources marked third-party?
The eVisa portal shows its photo rules inside the application flow rather than on a public page we could cite, so the table links a reputable upload guide for the numbers and the official portal for verification. Check the form on the day you apply.
This guide summarises published requirements for convenience. It is not legal advice and GivenTool is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority's page is the only authoritative source.
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.