BLS Indian Passport Photo Specifications: Digital Upload, Printed Photos, and 630×810 Size
BLS Indian passport applicants often need two photo outputs: a 630×810 Passport Seva upload and printed photos for the BLS packet. Here is the side-by-side checklist.
If you are applying for an Indian passport through BLS International, the most important thing to understand is this: BLS is not the only photo checkpoint. Your online Passport Seva / GPSP application needs one digital photo format, while your BLS document packet may ask for printed photos in a different format.
That is why applicants get conflicting instructions. One page says 630×810 pixels. Another checklist says 2×2 inches. A studio may hand you Canadian 50×70mm prints. Those are not interchangeable.
The Two Photo Requirements Are Different
For an overseas Indian passport renewal, the online application and the BLS appointment/packet are connected, but they do not always use the same photo file.
| Where It Is Used | Format | What To Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Passport Seva / GPSP upload | 630×810 pixels, JPEG, under 250 KB | Exact dimensions, file size, face coverage, and upload attempts |
| BLS Canada printed packet | 2×2 inch / 51×51mm prints | Do not use Canadian 50×70mm passport photos |
| VFS US printed packet | 35×45mm prints where the VFS checklist asks | Do not assume US 2×2 prints are accepted |
| OCI / visa applications | 51×51mm square digital or print formats | Separate document type; do not reuse the passport upload file |
Passport Seva Digital Upload Specs
This is the file you upload on mportal.passportindia.gov.in before printing your application or submitting to BLS. The Passport Seva photo upload instructions and Indian mission GPSP V2.0 guidance both point to the same core requirements:
- Dimensions: exactly 630 pixels wide × 810 pixels tall
- Format: JPEG / JPG
- File size: under 250 KB
- Background: white, evenly lit, with no shadows
- Face coverage: roughly 80-85% of the photo area
- Camera distance: about 1.5 meters / 5 feet to avoid distortion
- Expression: natural or neutral, mouth closed, eyes visible
- Editing: no filters, beauty edits, or face alteration
The official GPSP 2.0 guidance from Indian missions also says the photo should be 630×810 pixels, white background, unaltered, taken from about 1.5 meters, and framed so the face takes up 80-85% of the photograph. If your file is 629×810, 631×810, PNG, HEIC, or over 250 KB, the upload can fail before BLS ever sees your application.
Use the 630×810 Indian passport photo guide if you need the exact crop workflow, or make the upload file with the Indian passport photo tool.
Printed Photos for BLS
Printed photo requirements depend on the country and the outsourcing partner. In Canada, Indian passport services run through BLS International, and the Consulate General of India, Toronto photo guidance lists the printed Indian passport photo as 2 inch × 2 inch / 51mm × 51mm. That is a square print, not the 630×810 rectangle and not the Canadian passport 50×70mm size.
BLS photo guidance also emphasizes a white background, clear photo quality, full face, no smiling, no glasses, and no hat or cap unless worn for religious or ethnic reasons. Your local BLS checklist is still the final rule, so check the exact checklist for your centre before printing.
The Canada Trap: Do Not Use Canadian Passport Photos
This is the most common BLS Canada mistake. Canadian passport photos are 50×70mm. Indian passport renewal through BLS Canada commonly asks for 2×2 inch / 51×51mm printed photos. They are not the same size.
If you go to Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Walmart, Costco, or a local studio, ask for Indian passport/BLS 2×2 inch prints, not Canadian passport photos. If the studio gives you a 50×70mm print with photographer stamp space on the back, that is for a Canadian passport and can be rejected for an Indian passport packet.
Best Workflow Before Your BLS Appointment
- Take one high-resolution original photo with the rear camera, straight head, white background, and no glasses.
- Create the Passport Seva upload first: 630×810 pixels, JPEG, under 250 KB.
- Upload the photo and signature on the GPSP portal before printing the final application.
- Check your BLS country/centre checklist for the printed photo size.
- Print the correct physical photos for that checklist: BLS Canada commonly uses 2×2 inch; VFS US commonly uses 35×45mm.
- Do not paste a new print over the photo that already appears on the printed Passport Seva application unless your checklist specifically tells you to.
Common BLS Photo Mistakes
- Using one photo format everywhere: the 630×810 upload and printed BLS photos can be different outputs.
- Printing Canadian passport size: 50×70mm is for Canadian passports, not Indian passport renewal through BLS Canada.
- Uploading a 2×2 scan to Passport Seva: Passport Seva needs 630×810 pixels, not a square scan.
- Using an OCI photo: OCI is square and often uses a light-colored background, while Passport Seva needs a rectangular white-background photo.
- Over-compressing the upload: under 250 KB is required, but a tiny 20 KB JPEG can look blurry and trigger quality warnings.
- Uploading from mobile: use desktop Chrome when possible to avoid Passport Seva upload/session errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BLS Indian passport photo 630×810 pixels?
The online Passport Seva upload is 630×810 pixels. The printed photos for the BLS packet may be different. For Canada BLS passport renewal, printed photos are commonly 2×2 inch / 51×51mm.
Can I use a Canadian passport photo for BLS Indian passport renewal?
No. Canadian passport photos are 50×70mm. BLS Canada Indian passport renewal commonly uses 2×2 inch / 51×51mm prints, plus a separate 630×810 digital Passport Seva upload.
Can I use the same photo for Passport Seva upload and BLS prints?
Use the same original portrait photo, but export it into the required outputs. The Passport Seva upload is 630×810 rectangular. BLS Canada printed photos are square 2×2 inch. Do not stretch one format into the other.
Is BLS the same as VFS?
No. BLS and VFS are different outsourcing partners in different countries. Canada uses BLS for Indian passport services. The US uses VFS. That is why some guides mention 2×2 inch prints and others mention 35×45mm prints.
What should I prepare first?
Prepare the 630×810 Passport Seva upload first, because the online application may not move forward until the photo and signature are accepted. Then prepare the printed photos for your BLS checklist.
Last updated: May 29, 2026. This guide separates the Passport Seva/GPSP digital upload requirements from printed BLS packet photo requirements. Always confirm your current BLS country and centre checklist before mailing or attending an appointment.