India OCI Card Photo — at home in 60 seconds
OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) Card - registration / re-issue
Take it with your phone against a plain, light wall. We crop it to the exact size (2×2 in) and check the head size, position and background against the published rules.
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
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Quick answer
An India OCI Card Photo must be 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm) when printed, or a digital file of 200–900 px, aspect 1:1 (up to 200 KB, JPEG), with the head 25–35 mm from chin to top of head, with a background that is plain light colour (not white) per ociservices FAQ or white per Embassy of India USA FAQ / VFS, taken within the last 6 months. A photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets these rules.
- Printed photo
- 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm)
- Digital file
- 200–900 px · aspect 1:1 · up to 200 KB · JPEG
Verified October 3, 2026 from Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Photo requirements
Summarised from the official sources below.
- Printed photo
- 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm)
- Digital file
- 200–900 px · aspect 1:1 · up to 200 KB · JPEG
- Head size (chin to top of head)
- 25–35 mm (49–69 % of the photo height)
- Eye line from the bottom
- 28–35 mm (55–69 %)
- Background
- Plain light colour (not white) per ociservices FAQ, white per Embassy of India USA FAQ / VFS. CONFLICT: ociservices.gov.in FAQ says 'plain light color background (not white)'; MHA Photo-Spec PDF says 'plain light colored background'; Embassy of India USA OCI FAQ and VFS Australia checklist say white / white or light-coloured. Safest: very light grey/off-white, clearly lighter than clothing. Hex is a suggestion, not official.
- Expression
- Natural, neutral, eyes open, mouth closed, full face front view, both edges of face visible.
- Glasses
- Glare on eyeglasses avoided by slight head tilt; no tinted or dark glasses; frames must not cover the eyes.
- Head covering
- Not permitted except for religious reasons; chin to top of forehead and both face edges must be visible.
- Babies and children
- Babies under one year need not have eyes open; for children under 10 face height and eye position can be relaxed; child must be alone (no chair backs, toys, other people), mouth closed.
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Online application
- Photo + signature uploaded on ociservices.gov.in (Part A), then documents via the mission/VFS/FRRO.
More rules (5)
- Square photo; face covering about 80% of the frame (OCI FAQ) / 70-80% (VFS Australia).
- Photo must not be the same as the one already in the passport (Embassy of India USA FAQ).
- Clothing should not be white or pure white; colored attire such as a medium blue shirt suggested.
- SIGNATURE upload: JPEG/JPG, max 200 KB, aspect ratio 1:3 (height:width, i.e. 3x wider than tall), min 200x67 px, max 900x300 px, legible on plain white background (Embassy of India USA OCI FAQ). Third-party sites cite 1500x500 px / 500 KB - not confirmed officially.
- Physical print (if required by the mission/VFS checklist): 2x2 in, glossy photo paper, not stapled or taped.
Print at home or at a kiosk
Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size), never “Fit to page”, on photo paper. Each sheet has a 50 mm ruler so you can check the size.
How to take it at home
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain, light wall, facing a window.
- Hold the phone at arm’s length or ask someone to help. The live guide checks distance, light and head position.
- Get your digital file and print sheet. Print at 100% or upload the file.
Price
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo.
Photo Acceptance Guarantee — rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
Why people choose Ovalight
Made for the moment you need a photo that just works.
- Money back if it’s rejected Rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
- Free to try Take and check your photo for free. You pay once, only when you like the result.
- Your photo stays on your phone Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
- Checked against the official rules Every rule comes from the issuing authority’s own website, last verified on October 3, 2026.
- Free retakes for 24 hours Not happy with it? Retake the same document up to 3 times within 24 hours.
- Secure payment, no subscription Pay once through Stripe. We never see your card details.
Official sources
Verified on October 3, 2026
- OCI FAQs (Q9: specifications of the photograph to be uploaded) — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
- Requirement of photograph for OCI Registration (Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf) — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
- OCI FAQ (photo + signature upload specs) — Embassy of India, Washington DC
- OCI Checklist (Australia, updated Mar 2026) — VFS Global for High Commission of India, Canberra
Questions
What size is a India OCI Card Photo?
Printed: 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm). Digital: 200–900 px · aspect 1:1 · up to 200 KB · JPEG.
Can I take my India OCI Card Photo at home?
Yes. The photo is not taken at the office and no registered photographer is required, so a photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets the rules on this page.
What background is required?
Plain light colour (not white) per ociservices FAQ, white per Embassy of India USA FAQ / VFS. CONFLICT: ociservices.gov.in FAQ says 'plain light color background (not white)'; MHA Photo-Spec PDF says 'plain light colored background'; Embassy of India USA OCI FAQ and VFS Australia checklist say white / white or light-coloured. Safest: very light grey/off-white, clearly lighter than clothing. Hex is a suggestion, not official.
Can I smile?
Natural, neutral, eyes open, mouth closed, full face front view, both edges of face visible.
Can I wear glasses?
Glare on eyeglasses avoided by slight head tilt; no tinted or dark glasses; frames must not cover the eyes.
Can I wear a head covering?
Not permitted except for religious reasons; chin to top of forehead and both face edges must be visible.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last 6 months.
What about babies and children?
Babies under one year need not have eyes open; for children under 10 face height and eye position can be relaxed; child must be alone (no chair backs, toys, other people), mouth closed.
Can I print the photo at home?
Yes. Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size) on photo paper, at home or at a pharmacy or kiosk, and check the size with the 50 mm ruler.
More India documents
Other documents that use 2×2 in
Ovalight is an independent service. Only the authority that issues your document decides whether to accept a photo.