The specification at a glance
The Indian passport photo is a 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square on a white background. That is the entry in the ShrinkLab spec registry, last checked in October 2026 against the official Passport Seva site at https://www.passportindia.gov.in. This guide covers what the size means in pixels, how to print copies, why it is easy to bring the wrong size, and what to confirm on the official site.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Document | Indian passport (Passport Seva) |
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| Background | White |
| Official source | https://www.passportindia.gov.in |
| Last checked | October 2026 |
| What this preset exports | 600 × 600 pixel JPEG at 300 DPI, or a print sheet |
The registry records only the size and the background. Head position, expression, clothing and any limits on the digital file are set by the passport authority and can change between years, so read the current photo instructions on the official site rather than relying on a summary.
Square 2 × 2 inch, not 3.5 × 4.5 cm
Many Indian forms use a different, taller photo. In the same registry, SSC, NEET and JEE Main list 3.5 × 4.5 cm, and the PAN card lists 3.5 × 2.5 cm. Because 3.5 × 4.5 cm is so common, the tool's size list labels 35 × 45 mm with India among its countries, and many studios print it by habit when asked for a passport-size photo. The India passport preset selects 2 × 2 inches instead.
The difference is easy to see side by side: a 51 mm square against a 35 mm wide portrait. If you already have photos from a studio, measure them before your appointment. You cannot turn a 35 × 45 mm print into a 51 mm square without reprinting it.
Worked example: pixels and copies
- At 300 DPI: 2 in × 300 = 600 pixels on each side, so the single photo is 600 × 600.
- At 600 DPI: 1200 × 1200 pixels. The printed size is still 51 mm square; only the detail and the file size grow.
- Two inches is 50.8 mm, which is why the size is usually written as 51 × 51 mm.
- On an A4 sheet, up to 15 copies fit, three across and five down.
- On a 4 × 6 inch sheet, only 2 copies fit, one above the other, because the tool leaves a quarter-inch margin and a small gap between photos. Choose A4 if you need more.
Step by step
- Take the photo against a plain white or very light wall, facing the camera, in soft daylight from a window rather than a yellow ceiling bulb.
- Open this page. The size is already set to 2 × 2 in and the background to white.
- Add the photo and press the crop button on its card. The box is square. Move and zoom until your head sits inside the dashed oval, then press Apply.
- Leave the DPI at 300 unless you have a reason to change it.
- To print, choose A4 sheet and set the number of copies, up to 15. For an online upload, choose Single photo, and turn on Also limit file size only if the form states a limit.
- Press Create photo and download. The file name ends in 600x600 so you can tell it apart from other versions.
Printing at home or at a shop
- At home, print the A4 sheet at 100 percent or Actual size on photo paper. Fit to page makes each photo slightly smaller than 51 mm.
- At a print or photocopy shop, take the A4 file on your phone or a pen drive and ask for it to be printed at actual size, without fitting it to the page.
- Measure one photo with a ruler before cutting. It should be 51 mm on each side.
- Cut along the dashed lines with a ruler and blade for clean edges.
Common problems
- The white background looks cream or grey. Indoor bulbs tint white walls. Retake in daylight, or run the photo through Remove background and fill with white, then bring it back here.
- The photo looks soft. It was probably forwarded through a messaging app, which shrinks images. Use the original from your camera or gallery.
- Only two copies appear on the sheet. You chose the 4 × 6 inch sheet. Switch to A4.
- The face is tilted or off centre. Reopen the crop editor and adjust the box before running again; nothing is final until you download.
- The online form rejects the file as too large. Keep Single photo, turn on Also limit file size and type the limit the form gives. The photo keeps its 600 × 600 pixels and its DPI; only the JPEG compression is adjusted to fit.
- A different form asks for 3.5 × 4.5 cm or a pixel size. Make a separate photo for it from the matching preset rather than reusing the passport one.
Home, studio or online service
Studios near passport offices are quick and print on the spot, but your photo stays on their computer. Online passport photo services upload it to their servers along with whatever details you enter. A front-facing photo of your face is used for identity checks, so it is worth limiting who holds a copy.
Here, the cropping and the sheet layout run in your browser and nothing is uploaded. You still need to take a clear photo, read the official instructions at https://www.passportindia.gov.in and print at actual size. If you are not confident, making the photo at home first costs nothing, and a studio is still there as a fallback.