Indian Visa Photo Requirement as per 2024

Getting an opportunity to travel to India is incredible but you need to fulfill certain requirements when applying for either Indian e-Tourist Visa, medical or business visa. One of the requirements is attaching a recent photograph of you. But do you just attach any photograph?

Well, below are year 2024 Guidelines for India visa application, we explain the specifics that surround the ideal photographs that fulfill Indian visa requirements and will increase chances of the visa approval. These Indian visa photo details surround the size, position, format, lighting among other factors.

Acceptable Photo for Indian Visa

1. Duration from Capture Date

A photograph that fulfills Indian visa requirements should be how old?The appropriate photograph should be recent and not more than six months in age. If the photo is too old, like your high school passport photo that is ten years old, then chances are it will be rejected.

2. What about the India Visa Photo Size Requirements?

The ideal image should be a minimum of 1 MB and a maximum of 10 MB. Well, to know the size is not hard particularly if you are using one of those mobile devices like a tablet or a smartphone. Once someone captures your image to be passport-sized, check the properties/details of it and you will know the size. Note that, someone has to take this image – a selfie is a NO go zone. It will result in visa rejection.

3. What about the India Visa Photo Format Requirements?

The acceptable format that meets visa requirements for India is JPEG. Although that word sounds technical, you can check the format on the properties of the image.

4. Ideal Dimensions

The photo must have dimensions between 900 x 1200 pixels wide and 2250 x 3000 pixels high (in a 3:4 aspect ratio)

5. What about your face Positioning?

The expression on the face should look natural and photo print should be clear and with a continuous tone quality. With increased technology, photo editing is common. However, for your visa to India, you should avoid any photo editing. The image should be a full representation of you.
You need a photo of you not one of those travel documents. For example, taking a digital photo of your face from the passport is wrong for an Indian visa photo.
It should have a full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles. The right photo should not contain a red-eye also.
The photo should present full center head from top of hair to bottom of chin within the frame. The background should be plain light colored or white background. There should not be any distracting shadows on the face or on the background.
Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of the chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.

6. For India visa requirements, the photograph should be without borders.

Also, this image should maintain a portrait and not a landscape photograph. The portrait presents a great appearance of your face without causing unnecessary elongation.

7. What about Lighting?

You should take a digital photograph with enough lighting. Sometimes, a studio photo will be ideal as the photographer knows how to vary the lighting to get the appropriate image.
Proper lighting will enhance clarity and reduce chances of blurry photographs that can result in rejection of the visa.
Avoid shadowing at whatever cost.

8. What about your Appearance?

You should endeavor to have plain clothes and avoid multicolored and flowered clothes if you want to meet Indian visa requirements. Also, you should take the photo alone; not with another person on the side or behind you.

Something To Note

As you attach the photo, you will also make the payments before your visa is processed. The money is non-refundable a rejection of the visa means you start afresh and pay again. One way to avoid this inconvenience is to follow the photograph requirements.

Below we provide Illustrations of Ideal Indian visa photos requirements for 2024

Your photo must be:

Be in portrait as shown (not landscape). Also, your face should not be tilted. You should be facing straight on the camera. Both edges of your face should be symmetrical and seen clearly.

Be of you (not a photo of a captured image or your travel document or government identity document).

The glasses do not have a glare and thus you can see the eyes well. This is how it should be if spectacles are to be worn for medical reasons.
The face is not visible and other elements are present in the image. Instead. Take a clear photo with no one or nothing else in it.
Have even lighting with minimal shadowing. Light should be evenly distributed and the image should be big enough; with proper contrast and clarity.

Have even lighting with minimal shadowing

Enough lighting, a light-colored background and plain clothes to enhance the appearance of the photo.
Light is not enough and the face is not visible and thus incorrect. It is too dark.
Shadowing on one side – uneven light distribution and thus wrong.
Be in colour, showing natural skin tones. Here, the face is too bright and unnatural. Possible photo editing or use of flash and/or too much light. Thus, wrong.

Clear face – enough light and plain clothes – acceptable.

Be in focus (not blurry)

Not contain red-eye

Be an original photo (not changed by photo-editing software)

Not be a selfie

Be taken 1.5 metres from the face

Be taken against a plain, light-coloured (but not white) background with no patterns or objects

Only contain plain clothing patterns

Be of one person

If you wear a head covering:

You may wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons. Make sure that your face and hairline can be seen clearly in the photo.