How to Take a Passport-Size Photo Online for Free (India Specs)
The exact size, background and rules Indian passport and PAN photos need — and how to crop your own photo to spec in your browser, no studio visit required.
EDTechToolsCenter EditorialA rejected passport application because of a photo that's the wrong size or has the wrong background is one of the most avoidable delays in the whole process. The good news: you don't need a photo studio to get it right — a phone photo and the correct crop are enough.
The exact specs for an Indian passport photo
- Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), same as the US visa/passport standard.
- Background: plain white or light-coloured, no patterns or shadows.
- Face coverage: your face and shoulders should fill about 70-80% of the frame.
- Expression: neutral, both eyes open, mouth closed, no smiling with teeth.
- No glasses glare, no head covering unless worn daily for religious reasons.
- Taken within the last 6 months — an old photo can get your form rejected.
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What about PAN card photos?
PAN card photos use a different size — 25×35 mm, closer to a typical passport-style ID photo than a square. The background and expression rules are the same as above: plain background, neutral expression, no shadows across the face.
Step-by-step: crop your own photo online
- Take a photo facing a plain wall in good, even daylight — avoid backlighting from a window behind you.
- Open the Passport Photo Maker and upload the image.
- Pick your country/document preset — India Passport/Visa (2×2 in), India PAN Card, US Passport/Visa, Schengen/EU Visa, or UK Passport are all built in with the correct millimetre dimensions.
- Drag to position your face inside the guide overlay so it fills the frame correctly.
- Download the cropped photo, or the print sheet if your local photo shop needs a 4×6 print with multiple copies.
Common mistakes that cause rejections
- Wearing glasses that catch a glare or tint the eyes.
- A shadow cast on the wall behind you, visible in the frame.
- Cropping too tight so the top of the head or chin gets cut off.
- Using a photo where you're not facing the camera directly.
Once your photo matches the spec, attach it to your application exactly as instructed by the passport portal or PAN service — file formats and maximum file sizes vary slightly by service, so check the upload requirements on the official portal before submitting.
Tools used in this article
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, as long as it's cropped to the correct size (2×2 in for Indian passports), has a plain light background, and was taken within the last 6 months in good lighting.
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