Many people print passport photos before their Passport Seva Kendra visit and then find they were not needed. Here is when you need one, the size Passport Seva asks for, and how to make it at home.
Do you need to bring a photo?
- Applying at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK, age 4 or above: no. Your photo is taken at the PSK, along with your fingerprints.
- Child below 4 years: yes. Passport Seva asks you to carry a recent passport-size photo (4.5 × 3.5 cm) with a white background.
- Applying at a District Passport Cell, Speed Post Centre or Citizen Service Centre: yes. You paste one colour photo on the form.
Photo rules for pasted photos (Passport Seva instructions)
- Size 4.5 cm high × 3.5 cm wide, in colour. Not smaller than the box on the form.
- Plain white background, with dark-coloured clothes.
- Full face, front view, head in the centre, both ears visible, eyes open.
- Natural expression: no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows.
- Printed on good quality photo paper. A computer print is not accepted.
- No dark or coloured glasses, no uniform, no shadows, no glare on spectacles, hair off the eyes.
- Head coverings only for religious reasons, with the face from chin to forehead clearly visible.
- Don't sign the photo, and don't use a photo cut from a group picture.
How to make a passport photo at home
- Stand against a plain light wall in daylight and have someone take the photo at eye level, from about 1–1.5 metres.
- Open the Passport Size Photo Maker and choose India passport 35 × 45 mm (this is the same as 3.5 × 4.5 cm).
- Drag the box so your head is centred with a little space above it and your shoulders visible.
- Choose a White background if the wall is not plain white.
- Pick a 4 × 6 inch print sheet and download it.
- Get the sheet printed at a photo studio on photo paper. A home inkjet or office print counts as a computer print and may be refused.
For babies under 4
Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above, with eyes open and no hands or toys in the frame. Then make the 35 × 45 mm sheet the same way.
Passport Seva rules can change. Always check the latest instructions on passportindia.gov.in before your appointment. ToolSandook is not connected to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passport photo size in India?
Passport Seva instructions ask for a recent colour photo 4.5 cm high and 3.5 cm wide with a plain white background, where a photo is needed.
Do I need to carry a photo to the Passport Seva Kendra?
Not if the applicant is 4 years or older: the photo is taken at the PSK or POPSK. For children below 4, carry a recent 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo with a white background.
Can I print my passport photo at home?
Passport Seva says a computer print will not be accepted for pasted photos. Make the sheet online, then get it printed on photo paper at a studio.
Can I wear spectacles in my passport photo?
Plain spectacles are allowed if there is no glare and your eyes are clearly visible. Dark or coloured glasses are not accepted.