OCI Card Photo Requirements
Applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card? Your photo is an essential component of OCI applications. Your photo must meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Moreover, you should be considerate of the specifications provided by the Indian government and the relevant Indian Embassy, Consulate, or application service provider. An incorrectly sized photo, unsuitable background, or poor image quality may lead to rejection or delays.
Whether you are applying for a new OCI card, applying for a minor, or submitting an OCI miscellaneous services application, you should submit your photo that meets the specific requirements to get your OCI application approved.
- 1Photo
- 2
- 3
- 4
Upload your OCI photo
Upload a clear, front-facing photo and we'll help prepare it for your OCI application.
or drag them here · up to 4 photos · JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC up to 15 MB each
Check the latest official requirements for your jurisdiction before submitting.
OCI Photo Specification and Digital Requirements
For the online OCI application, the photograph generally needs to be square, with equal height and width. According to the relevant ICAO standards, the OCI photo specification includes a minimum physical-equivalent size of 51 × 51 mm, at least 80% face coverage, and digital dimensions between 200 × 200 and 900 × 900 pixels. The digital image must be in JPEG/JPG format, with a maximum file size of 200 KB under those published specifications.
Physical Print Specifications
- Size: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
- Head height: Should cover 70-80% of the frame
- Background: Plain and light-colored
- Pose: Full frontal face view with shoulders clearly visible
- Facial Expressions: Keep eyes open and mouth closed
- Quantity: You should provide two identical photos for physical submission
Online Submission Specifications
- File Format: JPEG or JPG
- Dimensions: Between 200 x 200 pixels and 900 x 900 pixels.
- Quality: High-resolution, continuous tone colored photo
Some mission-specific or VFS instructions may specify different technical limits, so always check the latest checklist for your jurisdiction.
Important OCI Photo Requirement Guidelines
- Photo dimensions: Use a square photograph that meets the size requirements for your application. For OCI applications from outside, typically, the accepted format for physical photos is 2x2 in or 35x45 mm.
- Background: Use a plain, light-colored background.
- Face coverage: Your face should cover approximately 70-80% of the photo. Additionally, your face should be centered.
- Facial position: Face the camera directly, keep your head centred, and keep your eyes open.
- Lighting and clarity: Use even lighting and a sharp image without distracting shadows or blur.
- Recent appearance: Choose a recent photo that reflects your current appearance.
- Printed photograph: If a physical photograph is required, ensure it follows the relevant mission or VFS printing instructions.
- Matching photographs: Where required, the digital photograph uploaded online must match the photograph attached to the printed application.
Get Your OCI Photo Ready Online
Need help preparing your OCI application photograph? Upload your picture and let us help with resizing, background preparation, and photo formatting according to the applicable specifications.
Prepare your photo before submitting your OCI application
Note
Important: OCI photo requirements can vary by application type and jurisdiction. Always verify the latest official requirements before uploading or printing your photograph.