630×810 Pixel Photo for Indian Passport: How to Get the Exact Size Right

If you have searched for "630×810 pixels" you are probably staring at a Passport Seva error message right now. The portal rejected your photo, and you are not sure why.

Here is the short answer: the Passport Seva portal requires your digital photo to be exactly 630 pixels wide and 810 pixels tall. That is a 7:9 rectangular ratio — not a square. If you uploaded a 2×2 inch photo (which is square, 1:1 ratio), it will be rejected every time. If your photo is 631×810 or 630×811, it can also be rejected. The portal is that strict.

This guide explains exactly what the 630×810 requirement means, why it is different from every other passport photo format, and how to get a photo that passes on the first upload.

What Does 630×810 Pixels Actually Mean?

Pixels are the tiny dots that make up a digital image. When the Passport Seva portal says 630×810, it means:

• Width: exactly 630 pixels
• Height: exactly 810 pixels

This is equivalent to 35×45 millimeters when printed at 457 DPI, or approximately 35×45mm at standard 300+ DPI printing.

The aspect ratio is 7:9 — a tall rectangle, not a square. This matters because most "passport photo" services default to a 2×2 inch square (1:1 ratio), which is the US passport standard. India uses a different standard.

Why Does Passport Seva Use This Unusual Size?

India's passport photo specification follows the ICAO 9303 standard for biometric travel documents, which recommends 35×45mm for printed passport photos. The 630×810 pixel digital version is the Passport Seva portal's specific implementation of this standard for online uploads.

Most other countries that use 35×45mm photos (UK, most of Europe, Australia) do not specify an exact pixel count for digital uploads. India's Passport Seva portal is one of the few systems that enforces exact pixel dimensions. This is why the 630×810 requirement catches so many applicants off guard — it is a uniquely strict enforcement.

Why Your Photo Keeps Getting Rejected

There are five common reasons a photo fails the 630×810 check on Passport Seva:

1. Wrong aspect ratio

You uploaded a square photo (2×2 inches = 1:1 ratio). The portal needs a rectangle (7:9 ratio). This is the single most common rejection. A square photo cannot be resized to 630×810 without either stretching or cropping — both of which cause problems.

2. Wrong pixel dimensions

Your photo is close but not exact — for example 640×820 or 600×800. The portal checks the exact pixel count. Even being off by a few pixels causes rejection.

3. File too large

The maximum file size is 250 KB. Modern smartphone cameras produce photos that are 3–8 MB. You need to compress the JPEG without reducing the pixel dimensions below 630×810.

4. Wrong file format

The portal only accepts JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg). PNG, HEIC, WebP, and other formats will be rejected.

5. Wrong file name

File names with special characters, spaces, or unusual extensions can cause upload failures. Rename your file to something simple like photo.jpg before uploading.

How to Get a 630×810 Pixel Photo

You have three options:

Option 1: Professional Photo Service

Go to Walgreens, CVS, or Staples and specifically ask for an "Indian passport photo, 35×45mm, digital file." Do not ask for a generic "passport photo" — you will get a 2×2 inch US-spec photo. Not all locations can produce the Indian spec. Staples has reportedly updated their systems for 35×45mm. Cost: $10–20.

The problem with this approach: many store employees are unfamiliar with the Indian specification. You may need to verify the pixel dimensions yourself after receiving the file. Right-click the file, check properties, and confirm it shows exactly 630×810.

Option 2: Manual Editing

1. Take a photo with your phone or camera.
2. Open it in an image editor (MS Paint, Photoshop, GIMP, Canva).
3. Resize to exactly 630×810 pixels — make sure to uncheck "maintain aspect ratio" if the source photo is a different ratio, then manually crop to fit.
4. Save as JPEG.
5. Check that the file size is under 250 KB.

The problem with this approach: if you resize without maintaining the correct proportions, the photo will be stretched or compressed. The portal may accept the dimensions but the face proportions will look wrong, and the photo may fail the biometric checks for face coverage (which must be 80–85% of the frame under ICAO 2025 rules). Getting the face coverage right while hitting exact pixel dimensions is difficult manually.

Option 3: Online Passport Photo Tool

Use a tool specifically designed for Indian passport specifications. Upload your phone photo, and the tool automatically crops to the correct aspect ratio, positions the face at the right coverage percentage, removes or replaces the background, and outputs the file at exactly 630×810 pixels under 250 KB.

PhotoPass does exactly this for $2.99. You upload a photo from your phone, it auto-crops to 630×810 with correct face positioning, handles the white background, and runs a compliance check before you download. The entire process takes under three minutes.

630×810 vs Other Indian Document Photo Sizes

This is where most guides fail you — they do not mention that India uses different photo sizes for different documents:

Document	Pixel Dimensions	Aspect Ratio	Format
Indian Passport (Passport Seva)	630×810 pixels	7:9 (rectangle)	JPEG, under 250 KB
Indian Visa (e-Visa online)	350×350 to 1000×1000 pixels	1:1 (square)	JPEG
OCI Card	200×200 to 1500×1500 pixels	1:1 (square)	JPEG

A photo made for one will not work for the others. If you are applying for multiple Indian documents simultaneously (common for NRIs), you need separate photos for each.

Other Requirements Beyond Pixel Size

Getting the dimensions right is necessary but not sufficient. Your 630×810 photo must also meet these requirements:

• White background — plain, uniform white. No patterns, shadows, or off-white tones.
• Face coverage — your face (chin to top of head including hair) must occupy 80–85% of the 810-pixel height. That means your face takes up roughly 648–689 pixels of vertical space. This is a very tight crop with minimal space above your head.
• No glasses — completely banned since September 2025 under ICAO enforcement. Even frameless anti-glare glasses cause rejection.
• No digital editing — Passport Seva Program 2.0 (launched February 2026) actively checks for AI-generated backgrounds, beauty filters, skin smoothing, and color correction that alters skin tone.
• File size — under 250 KB, JPEG only.
• Expression — neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at camera.

Common Error Messages Related to 630×810

If the Passport Seva portal shows any of these errors, the pixel dimensions or photo quality is the likely cause:

• "Image size is not correct. Dimensions should be 630*810 pixels." — Your photo is not 630×810. Check the exact dimensions.
• "isMobileDeviceDetected failed" — The portal detected the photo was taken on a mobile device but the upload method triggered a mobile browser issue. Try uploading from a desktop browser.
• "postureCheck failed" — Your head is tilted or rotated. Retake the photo looking straight at the camera.
• "distortionCheck failed" — The photo has lens distortion, likely from being taken too close to the camera. Stand at least 1–1.5 meters from the camera.

For a complete guide to every Passport Seva error code, see our detailed post on Passport Seva Photo Upload Errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Passport Seva require exactly 630×810 pixels?

It is India's digital implementation of the ICAO 9303 standard for 35×45mm biometric photos. Most other countries do not enforce exact pixel counts, but Passport Seva performs a strict pixel-level check on every upload.

Can I use a 2×2 inch photo and resize it to 630×810?

No. A 2×2 inch photo is square (1:1 ratio). Resizing it to 630×810 (7:9 ratio) will stretch the image vertically, distorting your face proportions and likely failing the biometric checks.

What if my photo is 631×810 or 629×810?

It will likely be rejected. The portal checks exact pixel dimensions. Even being off by a single pixel can cause a rejection. Always verify the exact dimensions before uploading.

Is 630×810 the same as 35×45mm?

Yes, approximately. 630×810 pixels at 457 DPI equals exactly 35×45mm. At the more common 300 DPI, it prints slightly larger. The pixel dimensions are what the Passport Seva portal checks — the millimeter equivalent is for printed photos.

Can I use the same photo for Passport Seva and an OCI application?

No. Passport Seva requires 630×810 pixels (rectangular). OCI requires a square photo between 200×200 and 1500×1500 pixels. They are completely different formats.

How do I check the pixel dimensions of my photo?

On Windows, right-click the file, select Properties, then the Details tab — look for Width and Height. On Mac, open the file in Preview, then go to Tools → Show Inspector. On iPhone, open the photo in the Photos app and swipe up to see dimensions.

Quick Summary

The Passport Seva portal requires exactly 630×810 pixels for digital photo uploads. This is a rectangular 7:9 ratio, not the square 2×2 inch format used for US passports. The photo must be JPEG, under 250 KB, with a white background and 80–85% face coverage. Photos made for Indian visas or OCI cards (which use a square format) will not work for Passport Seva. The easiest way to get the exact size right is to use PhotoPass — upload a phone photo, get a compliant 630×810 file in under three minutes for $2.99.

Last updated: April 2026. Reflects Passport Seva portal requirements and ICAO standards enforced since September 2025.