Passport Photo vs Visa Photo: Are They the Same Size? (2026 Comparison)
Passport and visa photos are NOT always the same size. India uses 3 different specs. US uses one. This guide compares passport, visa, OCI, and e-visa photo requirements side by side.
The short answer: it depends on the country. For the US, passport and visa photos are the same size. For India, they are not — and this is where most people get caught.
India has three different photo specifications for three different documents: the passport (Passport Seva portal), the visa, and the OCI card. A photo made for one will be rejected by another. Most people do not realize this until they have already been rejected, because most online guides either treat them as identical or do not mention the difference at all.
This guide lays out the exact specifications side by side for India, the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia so you know exactly what each document requires before you start.
India: Three Documents, Three Different Specs
This is where the confusion lives. India has the most fragmented photo requirements of any country PhotoPass supports.
Indian Passport (Passport Seva Portal)
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 630 × 810 pixels |
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
| File format | JPEG only |
| File size | Under 250 KB |
| Background | Plain white |
| Face coverage | 80–85% of frame height |
| Aspect ratio | 7:9 (rectangular, not square) |
This is the specification for the Passport Seva 2.0 portal, effective since September 2025. The 630 × 810 pixel requirement is unique to India's digital upload system. Most countries use a square format — India does not. If you upload a 2 × 2 inch (square) photo to Passport Seva, it will be rejected immediately with a dimensions error.
Indian Visa (In-Person Application)
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Background | Plain white or light-colored |
| Face coverage | 50–69% of frame height |
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1) |
For in-person Indian visa applications submitted through BLS International or VFS Global, the photo specification is 2 × 2 inches — the same as a US passport photo. This is different from the Passport Seva spec above. A 630 × 810 pixel photo formatted for Passport Seva will not work for an in-person visa application, and vice versa.
Indian e-Visa (Online Application)
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 350 × 350 pixels (minimum) to 1,000 × 1,000 pixels (maximum) |
| File format | JPEG |
| File size | 10 KB to 1 MB |
| Background | Plain white |
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1) |
The e-Visa application at indianvisaonline.gov.in uses a different specification again. The photo must be square, between 350 × 350 and 1,000 × 1,000 pixels. This is neither the Passport Seva spec (630 × 810) nor the print visa spec (2 × 2 inches). It is a third, separate format.
Indian OCI Card
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Digital size | 630 × 810 pixels (for Passport Seva portal upload) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Face coverage | 80–85% of frame height |
The OCI card adds another layer of complexity. If you are applying through the Passport Seva portal (which is the current process for OCI applications from the US), the digital photo must be 630 × 810 pixels — the same as the passport. But the physical photo you mail to VFS must be 2 × 2 inches. So you need both formats for a single OCI application.
Summary: India Photo Sizes at a Glance
| Document | Digital Size | Print Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Passport | 630 × 810 px | 35 × 45 mm | 7:9 (rectangle) |
| Indian Visa (in-person) | Varies by consulate | 2 × 2 inches | 1:1 (square) |
| Indian e-Visa | 350–1,000 × 350–1,000 px | N/A (digital only) | 1:1 (square) |
| OCI Card | 630 × 810 px (portal) | 2 × 2 inches (physical) | Both |
Using the wrong spec for the wrong document is the #1 reason for Indian passport photo rejections. See our Indian Passport Photo Requirements 2026 guide for the full breakdown.
United States: One Size for Everything
The US keeps it simple. Passport photos and visa photos use the exact same specification.
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Digital size | 600 × 600 to 1,200 × 1,200 pixels |
| File format | JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF |
| File size | 54 KB to 10 MB |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Head coverage | 50–69% of frame height (1 to 1-3/8 inches) |
| Glasses | Not allowed (banned since 2016) |
| AI editing | Not allowed (banned since January 2026) |
A photo taken for a US passport is also valid for a US visa application (B1/B2, F1, H1B, L1, K1, or any other category). The DS-160 visa application and the passport application use the same photo requirements.
The only practical difference: for online passport renewal, the State Department's tool accepts JPEG, PNG, HEIC, and HEIF formats. For DS-160 visa applications, only JPEG is accepted. If you have a compliant JPEG, it works for both.
See our US Passport Photo Requirements 2026 guide for complete specs including the new AI editing ban.
United Kingdom: Same Size, Different Background
UK passport and visa photos use the same dimensions but different organizations process them.
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Background | Plain light grey or cream (passport) / white (some visas) |
| Eyes | Open and visible |
| Glasses | Not recommended (glare causes rejections) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
UK passport photos and UK visa photos are the same 35 × 45 mm size. The key difference is in the background color: HMPO accepts light grey or cream backgrounds for passports, while some visa applications processed through VFS or TLS Contact may require a white background. When in doubt, use white — it is accepted for both.
Canada: Unique Size, Same for All Documents
Canada uses a size that no other major country uses.
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print size | 50 × 70 mm |
| Background | Plain white |
| Head coverage | 31–36 mm from chin to crown |
| Expression | Neutral |
| Guarantor | One photo must have guarantor's signature on back |
Canadian passport photos and Canadian visa photos use the same 50 × 70 mm specification. This size is unique to Canada — it is larger than the US format (51 × 51 mm) and the European format (35 × 45 mm). Photos taken at US drugstores (CVS, Walgreens) in the standard 2 × 2 inch format will not work for Canadian applications.
Australia: Standard Size, Same for All
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Background | Plain white or light-colored |
| Head coverage | 32–36 mm from chin to crown |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
Australian passport and visa photos use the same 35 × 45 mm format — the same dimensions as UK photos. A photo compliant with Australian requirements will generally also work for UK applications, and vice versa.
The Complete Cross-Country Comparison
| Country | Passport Size | Visa Size | Same? |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 35 × 45 mm / 630 × 810 px | 2 × 2 inches / varies | No |
| United States | 2 × 2 inches / 600–1,200 px | 2 × 2 inches / 600–1,200 px | Yes |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm | Yes |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 50 × 70 mm | Yes |
| Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm | Yes |
India is the only country in this list where passport and visa photos use different specifications. This is also why India has the highest rate of photo upload rejections — people use guides that list one size without specifying which document it applies to.
Common Mistakes When Using the Wrong Spec
Mistake 1: Using a 2 × 2 inch photo for Indian Passport Seva
The Passport Seva portal requires 630 × 810 pixels (7:9 ratio). A 2 × 2 inch photo is square (1:1 ratio). The portal will reject it immediately with a "dimensions not correct" error. This is the most common rejection reason for Indian passport applications submitted from the US.
Mistake 2: Using an Indian passport photo for a US visa
If you already have a 630 × 810 pixel photo formatted for Passport Seva and try to submit it for a US visa (DS-160), it will fail because US visas require a square format between 600 × 600 and 1,200 × 1,200 pixels.
Mistake 3: Using a US passport photo for a Canadian application
US passport photos are 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). Canadian passport photos are 50 × 70 mm. The US photo is too small and the wrong aspect ratio. CVS and Walgreens in the US typically only print 2 × 2 inch photos and cannot produce the Canadian format.
Mistake 4: Assuming "passport size" is universal
"Passport size photo" means different things in different countries. In India, it historically meant 35 × 35 mm. In the US, it means 2 × 2 inches. In the UK, it means 35 × 45 mm. There is no universal "passport size." Always check the specific requirements for the specific document you are applying for.
How to Get the Right Photo for Each Document
The safest approach is to use a tool that knows the specification for each document type. When you select "India Passport" vs "India Visa" vs "OCI Card" in PhotoPass, the tool loads the exact specification for that document — different dimensions, different pixel sizes, different face coverage ratios. One photo upload, correct formatting for whichever document you need.
If you need photos for multiple documents (for example, an Indian passport renewal AND an OCI card), you will need to process the same photo twice — once for each specification. A single formatted photo cannot be used for both because the dimensions are different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my US passport photo for a US visa application?
Yes. US passport photos and US visa photos have identical specifications (2 × 2 inches, white background, same head size ratio). A photo compliant with one is compliant with both.
Can I use my Indian passport photo for an Indian visa application?
No. Indian passport photos for the Passport Seva portal are 630 × 810 pixels (7:9 ratio). Indian visa photos for in-person applications are 2 × 2 inches (1:1 ratio). These are different sizes. You need a separate photo for each.
Can I use my Indian passport photo for an OCI card application?
Partially. The digital upload to the Passport Seva portal uses the same 630 × 810 pixel spec for both passport and OCI. But VFS requires 2 × 2 inch physical photos to be mailed separately. So you need the digital file in 630 × 810 format AND printed photos in 2 × 2 inch format.
Are UK and Australian passport photos the same size?
Yes. Both use 35 × 45 mm. A photo compliant with UK requirements will generally work for Australian applications, though background color preferences may differ slightly (UK accepts light grey, Australia prefers white).
Why does India use a different size from every other country?
The 630 × 810 pixel specification was introduced with Passport Seva 2.0 in September 2025 to comply with updated ICAO 9303 biometric standards. The 7:9 aspect ratio allows for the 80–85% face coverage that ICAO requires for automated facial recognition. Other countries meet ICAO compliance through different cropping approaches within their existing formats.
What happens if I submit the wrong size photo?
For digital uploads (Passport Seva, DS-160, e-Visa portals), the system will reject the photo immediately with a dimensions error. For mailed applications (VFS, BLS), the application will be returned with a request for new photos, adding weeks to your processing time.
Last updated: April 2026. This guide covers passport and visa photo specifications for India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Always verify current requirements with the relevant government portal before submitting your application.