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India e-Visa and OCI photo rejected? Checks and fixes

Quick answer

Most refused files break one of a few rules: the wrong shape for the application, the wrong background colour, a file outside the size limit, glasses, shadows, or a head too small or too large in the frame.

Check my photo for free Guide me through it

Reviewed 26 Sep 2026 · India requirements

In this guide
  1. Official screenshots and examples
  2. Fix an India e-Visa upload problem
  3. If the portal has already refused it
  4. Questions

Visual guide · reviewed 9 Oct 2026

Official screenshots and examples

Compare examples for the application you are making. OCI, e-Visa and passport specifications are different; an example photo is not proof of approval.

  1. 1. Check the current OCI photo upload limits

    Open Question 9 in the official OCI FAQ. Prepare a square JPEG/JPG within its pixel and file limits. The FAQ asks for a light background that is not white.

    Public guidance / blank form · 8 Oct 2026.

    Full image Official source

  2. 2. Read current passport photo guidance

    The mission’s current page specifies an unaltered 630 × 810 pixel photograph, white background, visible eyes, neutral expression and even lighting. This is public guidance, not an authenticated upload screen.

    Public guidance / blank form · 8 Oct 2026.

    Full image Official source

Fix an India e-Visa upload problem

Read the exact portal message first. A file upload problem and a refused visa application need different next steps. Match the problem to the file you are uploading; the photo and passport PDF have different requirements.

  • Photo format is refused

    Use a genuine JPEG export of your original photo. Changing .png or .heic to .jpg does not convert the file.

    Prepare an India e-Visa JPEG photo

  • Photo dimensions or file size are refused

    Compare the square crop, pixel dimensions and actual byte size with the e-Visa requirements. A small file can still have the wrong shape.

    Check India e-Visa photo requirements

  • Passport PDF is too large or unreadable

    Use the passport PDF instructions, keep required details visible and review the smallest text after compression. The photo upload limit does not apply to this PDF.

    Compress the e-Visa passport PDF

  • An OCI photo fails after working for e-Visa

    Compare the OCI crop, background and file limit separately. Reusing a file does not make it suitable for another application.

    Check OCI photo requirements

The rules that catch people out

  • The wrong shape

    e-Visa and OCI photos are square. Indian passport and surrender photos are 630×810 pixels, a taller 7:9 shape. A file made for one application is the wrong shape for the other.

  • The wrong background colour

    e-Visa accepts white or light. OCI asks for light but not white. Passport and surrender photos need plain white. Reusing a file across applications is the usual cause.

  • Outside the file size window

    e-Visa photo: 10 KB–1 MB. OCI photo: under 200 KB. Passport photo preparation target: 20–200 KB; follow the live portal’s limit. e-Visa passport PDF: 10–300 KB. Phone photos are usually several megabytes.

  • Not a JPEG

    The photo uploads accept JPEG only. iPhone HEIC and PNG files need converting.

  • Glasses

    The e-Visa page asks for no spectacles, ICAO passport photos are taken without glasses, and taking glasses off avoids reflections in OCI photographs.

  • Shadows or a busy background

    The background must be near-uniform: no shadows, textures, furniture or other people.

  • Head too small or too large

    e-Visa and OCI photos want the head, from the top of the hair to the chin, at 25–35 mm of the 51 mm frame. Passport photos are a close-up, with the face filling about 80–85%.

If the portal has already refused it

First work out whether the portal rejected the file, the application, or a changed rule. Checking again is free, so compare the reason with your results before buying anything else.

  • 1. Keep the exact rejection wording

    Take a screenshot or copy the portal message before trying again. “File too large”, “wrong dimensions” and “photo not clear” point to different fixes; a generic “application rejected” may not be about the file at all.

  • 2. Compare it with your file's checks

    Return to the same application and mission, then compare the rejection reason with every check and the official source date. A photo that passed for e-Visa may still be wrong for passport, surrender or OCI.

  • 3. Prepare the same original again

    Use your original photograph or scans. A repeat download or byte-identical regeneration of the same purchased output is free while it is available. A different crop, specification or document set creates a new output; review its price before buying. A receipt does not restore deleted file contents.

  • 4. Check the live portal before resubmitting

    Government portals can change limits without notice. Follow the official-source link beside your result. If its rule differs from ours, don't pay again: contact us with the source and the rejection wording so the ruleset can be corrected.

  • Cleared your browser since you paid?

    Recover access to a guest purchase with your receipt email on the Get your files back page, or sign in if you bought with an account. A receipt restores purchase access, not deleted file bytes. Keep downloaded copies or explicitly save finished files in your account.

Questions

Can I fix a rejected photo by renaming it JPG?

No. Export or convert the original to JPEG, then check its crop, background and file size. Renaming the extension leaves the underlying format unchanged.

Why was my India e-Visa photo rejected?

Usually the file is outside 10 KB–1 MB, not square, not a JPEG, or shows glasses or a shadowed background. Upload it to TravelPrepKit to see which rule it fails, for free.

Why was my OCI photo rejected?

The most common OCI-specific mistake is a white background: OCI asks for a light background that is not white. The file must also be square and under 200 KB.

Can one photo work for e-Visa, OCI and passport?

No. The three differ in shape and background colour, so each needs its own file. TravelPrepKit can prepare each from the same original photograph.

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