Common physical and digital examples
- Physical print: 35 x 45 mm (standard for Indian passport photos)
- Digital pixel examples (approx):
- 35 x 45 mm at 300 DPI ≈ 413 x 531 px (good-quality upload)
- 2 x 2 in at 300 DPI ≈ 600 x 600 px
- Many Indian portals accept 350 x 450 px - always check portal instructions
- Typical file-size limits: common limits are ≤100 KB; some portals accept up to 200 KB. Legacy portals may require ≤50 KB.
- Preferred formats: JPG/JPEG (recommended). Use PNG only for strict transparency, WebP if the portal supports it.
How to create a passport-size image that meets portal rules
- Crop to the required aspect ratio (35:45). If the portal gives exact pixels, use those values.
- Resize to the target pixels (for example 413 x 531 px or 350 x 450 px) using an editor or Compressly downscale options.
- Choose JPEG (or WebP if explicitly supported). Use the Target (KB) box - try 100 KB for most Indian portals.
- Compress, visually inspect and download. If rejected, slightly lower the target KB or downscale further.
Quick rule: keep the original high-quality copy. Produce
one compressed copy (100 KB) for upload and a backup high-res copy for records.
Portal notes and troubleshooting
Portals can reject images for many reasons besides file size - common checks include pixel dimensions, aspect ratio, filename characters and background color. If your upload fails:
- Confirm the portal exact pixel and format requirements
- Rename the file to a simple name (example: passport-photo.jpg)
- Ensure the image background matches the portal requirement (plain white or light)
- If the portal does not accept WebP, convert to JPEG before upload
FAQ
Q: Which image format is safest for passport uploads?
A: JPEG is the most widely accepted. Use WebP only if the portal explicitly supports it.
Q: Should I use 300 DPI for uploads?
A: DPI matters more for printing. For online portals, match pixel dimensions required by the portal
(for example 350 x 450 px).