IN India OCI Passport (2x2 inch, 51x51mm, 200x200 to 1500x1500 pixels) Application: Photo Guidelines (Step-by-Step)

Requirements

• Photo dimensions: must be exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) in print or between 200×200 and 1500×1500 pixels in digital form
• Head size & positioning: head (from chin to crown) should occupy 50–70% of the frame (25–35 mm vertically) and be centered both horizontally and vertically
• Eye height: eyes must be positioned 28–35 mm from the bottom edge of the photo to ensure proper alignment
• Background: plain white or off-white, uniformly lit with no patterns, textures, shadows, or objects visible
• Facial expression & pose: neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, face square to the camera without tilting or turning
• Lighting & exposure: even, front-facing illumination to avoid shadows on face or background; no over-exposure or under-exposure and no red-eye effect
• Glasses & eyewear: if worn, frames must be thin and non-reflective, lenses clear (no tinted or dark glasses), with no glare obstructing the eyes
• Headwear & accessories: only permitted if worn daily for religious reasons; must not cast shadows on the face or obscure any facial features
• Print quality (for physical photos): high-resolution glossy or matte finish with sharp detail, no ink blots, creases, or visible pixels; printed within the last six months
• Digital file format & size: JPEG (.jpg) format, file size minimum 10 KB and maximum 1 MB, colour space sRGB, no compression artifacts or editing traces
• Colour & contrast: natural skin tones without over-saturation or filters; clear contrast between subject and background
• Borders & margins: no borders, frames, or decorative edges; the entire 2×2-inch area must be occupied by the photo image only

Step-by-Step Process

• Understand the Official Specifications: Ensure you know the mandatory size (2×2 inches/51×51 mm), head-height (between 50 % and 69 % of photo), pixel dimensions (minimum 200×200 px, maximum 1500×1500 px), file format (JPEG), color space (sRGB), file size (max 1 MB) and background (plain white or off-white).
• Prepare Your Equipment and Environment: Use a high-resolution digital camera or smartphone with at least 8 MP; set ISO to 100–200 to avoid grain; position the subject facing a plain white wall or attach a white backdrop; employ two soft-box lights at 45° angles to eliminate shadows and ensure even illumination.
• Position the Applicant Correctly: Seat or stand the subject 1–5 meters from the backdrop; keep shoulders straight, head centered and eyes looking directly at the lens; maintain a neutral expression with mouth closed and eyes fully open; remove glasses, hats, scarves or any headgear unless worn for religious reasons (must not obscure facial features).
• Capture the Photo: Frame the shot so the head (from crown to chin) occupies 50 %–69 % of the vertical dimension; leave ample space around the head and shoulders to allow for cropping; ensure the camera is at eye-level and perpendicular to the face to avoid distortion; take multiple shots and review immediately for focus, color accuracy and absence of glare or red-eye.
• Edit, Crop, and Resize: Import the best image into photo-editing software; crop to a square aspect ratio ensuring the final dimensions are exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) with the head-height guideline; adjust brightness and contrast so the background is pure white (RGB 255,255,255) and the skin tone remains natural; export as JPEG with minimal compression to keep file under 1 MB but above 200×200 pixels (preferably around 600×600–1200×1200 px for clarity).
• Perform Final Quality Checks: Verify head position, size and centering; confirm no shadows, reflections or background patterns; check that eyes are open, mouth closed and expression neutral; ensure file metadata shows sRGB color profile; confirm file name meets OCI portal standards (e.g., “Surname_GivenName.jpg”).
• Upload and Submit on the OCI Portal: Log in to your OCI application; navigate to the photo upload section; select the edited JPEG file; preview the image in the portal’s checker tool to confirm compliance; if the portal flags any issue, return to step 5 for corrections; once approved, save the application and proceed with payment and document submission.

Tips and Best Practices

• Exact Dimensions & Resolution: Ensure your photo is exactly 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) at 200×200 to 1500×1500 px in JPEG/PNG to meet OCI digital and print criteria—wrong size or resolution triggers automatic rejection.
• Proper Head Size & Position: Frame your head so it occupies 50–69% of the image (35–50 mm from chin to crown) and centre it—too small, too large or off-centre crops invalidate biometric scans.
• Balanced Lighting & Shadow Control: Use soft, diffused light from multiple angles to eliminate facial and background shadows—shadows obscure features and lead to manual review or refusal.
• Clean Plain White Background: Shoot against a smooth, uniform white (or very light grey) backdrop with no textures, patterns or objects—busy backgrounds are non-compliant and rejected.
• Neutral Expression & Direct Gaze: Maintain a relaxed, closed-mouth expression with eyes open, looking straight at the camera—smiles, frowns or head tilts can cause your photo to be turned down.

Conclusion

In summary, adhering to these India OCI Passport photo guidelines ensures your application proceeds smoothly:

• Dimensions: exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) with the head occupying 70–80 % of the frame
• Resolution: between 200×200 and 1500×1500 pixels at 300 DPI, saved as a high-quality JPEG
• Background: plain, uniform white or off-white with no shadows, patterns, or borders
• Pose & Expression: full face visible, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and centered toward the camera
• Image Quality: natural color, no filters or editing artifacts, sharp focus with even lighting

Following these specifications precisely will help avoid delays or rejections in your OCI Passport application.