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Indian passport photo rejected on GPSP 2.0? What to check and how to fix it

As of October 25, 2026, Indian passport applications filed in the U.S. need an ICAO-compliant photo uploaded on the GPSP 2.0 portal before the application is mailed or submitted to VFS Global, and without that upload the application is not accepted. The ICAO guidelines linked by the Embassy of India in Washington set the photo at 630 x 810 pixels, in color, on a white background, with the face taking up 80% to 85% of the photo, glasses off, eyes open, mouth closed and no changes made with software. SelfieToPassport turns a phone photo into a 630 x 810 pixel JPEG, with a free preview and $6.95 for the file.

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The short version

  1. SelfieToPassport: a 630 x 810 px Indian passport JPEG from a phone photo, free preview, $6.95.
  2. Upload an ICAO-compliant photo on GPSP 2.0 before you mail or submit the application to VFS Global.
  3. Make it 630 x 810 pixels, in color.
  4. Frame a close-up of the head and top of the shoulders, the face filling 80% to 85% of the photo.
  5. Use a white background with no shadows.
  6. Take glasses off; look straight at the camera with eyes open and mouth closed.
  7. Do not alter the photo with computer software.

The photo upload on GPSP 2.0

Since September 1, 2025, Indian missions in the U.S. accept only ICAO-compliant photos with passport applications.

On the GPSP 2.0 portal you upload the photo, a scanned signature and the supporting documents before mailing or submitting the application to VFS Global. Without those uploads the application is not accepted.

The rules

  • The Embassy of India in Washington requires passport applicants to upload an ICAO-compliant photo, a scanned signature and every supporting document on the GPSP 2.0 portal before sending the file to VFS Global; without those uploads the application is not accepted. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • The Consulate General of India in San Francisco posted the same GPSP 2.0 notice on November 21, 2025, including the upload of an ICAO-compliant photo before the application is mailed or submitted to VFS. cgisf.gov.in
  • On its passport services page, the Consulate General of India in Chicago states that only ICAO-compliant photographs have been accepted with passport applications since September 1, 2025. cgichicago.gov.in
  • Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates has required ICAO-compliant photographs for passport applications since September 1, 2025. mportal.passportindia.gov.in

Size and framing

The ICAO guidelines linked by the Embassy in Washington set the photo at 630 x 810 pixels, in color. They give no file format or file size.

Frame a close-up of the head and the top of the shoulders, with the face taking up 80% to 85% of the photo and the whole head showing from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, centered and not tilted.

The rules

  • The ICAO guidelines linked by the Embassy of India in Washington set the passport photo at 630 x 810 pixels, in color. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • India’s ICAO photo guidelines for passport applications call for a close-up of the head and the top of the shoulders, with the face taking up 80% to 85% of the photograph. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • The whole head, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, has to appear in an India passport photo. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • In an India passport photo, the head sits in the center of the frame without a tilt. indianembassyusa.gov.in

Background, glasses, pose and edits

Use a white background with no distracting shadows. Take glasses off to avoid reflections, and wear a head covering only for religious reasons, with the face showing from chin to forehead and edge to edge.

Look straight at the camera with your eyes open, no hair across them and your mouth closed. Do not alter the photo with computer software.

The rules

  • An India passport photo needs a white background. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • Glasses should be taken off for an India passport photo, so that no lens reflection or distracting shadow shows on the face or background. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • Only religious head coverings are permitted, and the chin, forehead and both sides of the face must still be clearly visible in the India passport photo. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • India’s ICAO photo guidelines ask for a full-face, front view with the eyes open and no hair falling across them. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • The applicant has to look directly at the camera in an India passport photo. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • India’s passport photo guidelines rule out an open mouth. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • Computer software must not be used to alter a photo for an India passport application, the Embassy of India’s guidelines say. indianembassyusa.gov.in

Common mistakes, and what happens after you apply

The guidelines ask for the photo to be taken from 1.5 meters away, not too close, with even light: no shadows or flash reflections on the face, no red eye and no blur.

After you send the application, VFS Global emails you if a document is missing, and you have 21 business days to send it before the application is rejected. The Embassy then verifies and approves the application and prepares the passport.

The rules

  • The India passport photo guidelines ask for the picture to be taken from 1.5 meters away, so the camera is not too close. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • Uneven light, shadows or flash glare on the face and red eye all go against the ICAO rules India applies to passport photos. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • A blurred picture does not meet India’s passport photo guidelines. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • When a document is missing, VFS Global emails the applicant, who has 21 business days to send it before the passport application is rejected. indianembassyusa.gov.in
  • The Embassy of India verifies a passport application, approves it, prepares the passport and returns it to VFS Global. indianembassyusa.gov.in

How to fix the photo

SelfieToPassport crops and resizes the photo in your browser to 630 x 810 pixels and saves it as a JPEG. It does not retouch the face or replace the background, and you see the result in a free preview before you pay $6.95.

  1. Retake the photo against a plain white wall, with even light and glasses off, from about 1.5 meters away.
  2. Frame a close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders, facing the camera.
  3. Resize to 630 x 810 pixels and save as a JPEG.
  4. Upload it on GPSP 2.0 with your scanned signature and supporting documents.
  5. Mail or submit the application to VFS Global.

FAQ

What size is the Indian passport photo for applications in the U.S.?

630 x 810 pixels, in color, under the ICAO guidelines linked by the Embassy of India in Washington. Source: official page "Guidelines for ICAO Compliant Photographs for Passport Applications", checked on Oct 25, 2026.

Can I wear glasses in my Indian passport photo?

No. The guidelines ask for glasses to be taken off to avoid reflections. Source: official page "Guidelines for ICAO Compliant Photographs for Passport Applications", checked on Oct 25, 2026.

Do I upload the photo before sending my application to VFS Global?

Yes. The ICAO-compliant photo, a scanned signature and the supporting documents go on the GPSP 2.0 portal first; without those uploads the application is not accepted. Source: official page "Important Notice - Migration to a New Version of Passport Seva Portal (GPSP 2.0) — Embassy of India, Washington D.C.", checked on Oct 25, 2026.

Where this information comes from

Every rule on this page comes from a page published by the U.S. Department of State and the companies named, read on the date shown. We rewrite each rule in plain words and link to the page it came from. Each rule has a review deadline; one that passes it without a new check comes off the page.

Something here out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official page.