Passport Size Photo Size in cm (India): 3.5 × 4.5 cm, Inches & Pixels
Passport size photo measurement in cm: 3.5 cm wide × 4.5 cm high (35 × 45 mm). "Passport size" simply means this small portrait format that studios in India print by default.
| Photo type | cm | mm | inches | pixels (300 DPI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport size (India, common) | 3.5 × 4.5 | 35 × 45 | 1.38 × 1.77 | 413 × 531 |
| 2 × 2 inch (US / some visas) | 5.08 × 5.08 | 51 × 51 | 2 × 2 | 600 × 600 |
| Stamp size (approx., varies) | 2 × 2.5 | 20 × 25 | 0.79 × 0.98 | 236 × 295 |
| Bank exam upload (IBPS / SBI) | digital only, preferred size | 200 × 230, 20–50 KB | ||
Width × height. If your form or notification states another size, follow the form.
Make one correct India passport-size photo in the browser with the passport & visa photo maker, or print a sheet of 30 (35 × 45 mm) with the passport photo sheet maker.
"Paste a recent passport size photograph." This line appears on school admission forms, college forms, job applications, ID cards and many government documents. But what size is "passport size"? In India the answer is not always the same, which is why it confuses so many people.
Create a 3.5 × 4.5 cm passport photo, or cut many photos from one sheet.
The two sizes you will meet most often
1. 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm (35 × 45 mm)
This is what most photo studios in India print when you ask for "passport size photos", and it is what most school, college and general application forms mean. It is a portrait (taller than wide) photo.
2. 2 inch × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm)
A square format. It is used by some passport and visa applications, including several foreign visa applications. Requirements for the Indian passport itself, and for visas, are published on the official passport and embassy websites and can be updated, so check the current guidelines there when you are applying for these documents.
If a form or notification gives a different size, follow that. Some forms also ask for "stamp size" photos, which are smaller (commonly around 2 × 2.5 cm), but this too varies.
What does "passport size" mean?
"Passport size" is a common name for a small, front-facing portrait photo with a plain light background. In India it almost always means 3.5 × 4.5 cm. It is not one legal standard: the Indian passport and foreign visas publish their own rules, and online exam forms set their own pixel and KB limits. Need the exact pixels? Use the resizer preset for 3.5 × 4.5 cm. For the square US size see 2x2 passport photo size; for bank exams see IBPS PO and SBI PO photo size.
Converting cm to pixels
When you need a digital file for an online form, the size is often given in pixels. If it is given in cm, convert using:
pixels = (size in cm ÷ 2.54) × DPI
DPI (dots per inch) is the print resolution. 300 DPI is standard for good-quality prints; 200 DPI is sometimes used for smaller files.
| Physical size | At 200 DPI | At 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 × 4.5 cm | ≈ 276 × 354 px | ≈ 413 × 531 px |
| 2 × 2 inch (5.08 × 5.08 cm) | 400 × 400 px | 600 × 600 px |
| 2 × 2.5 cm (stamp size, approx.) | ≈ 157 × 197 px | ≈ 236 × 295 px |
These numbers are simple maths, not official requirements. Many online exam forms specify their own pixel size directly (for example something around 200 × 230 pixels), along with a KB range. Use the form's numbers when given.
What a good passport-style photo looks like
- Recent – many forms say taken within the last few months.
- Front-facing, looking straight at the camera, with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
- Plain, light background, usually white or off-white, with no patterns or objects.
- Face clearly visible from the top of the hair to the chin, with both ears ideally visible, and the face taking up a large part of the frame.
- Even lighting with no shadows on the face or background.
- No dark glasses; many forms also ask for no spectacles or for glasses without glare. Caps and hats are generally not allowed except for religious reasons.
- Not edited – no filters, no background changes, no beauty mode.
Taking a passport-style photo at home
A studio is best, but a phone photo can work for many online forms if done carefully:
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or light wall.
- Face a window for soft daylight. Avoid overhead light that casts shadows under the eyes.
- Ask someone else to take the photo from about 1–1.5 metres away at eye level, then crop. Selfies distort the face.
- Crop to the correct ratio: 3.5 × 4.5 is a 7:9 ratio; 2 × 2 inch is square.
- Resize to the required pixels and check the KB. See how to reduce photo size to 20–50 KB.
Converting printed photos into digital files
Schools often already have printed passport photos pasted on forms or sheets. Instead of asking every student for a new digital photo, you can scan the sheet and cut each photo out. Crop Desk does this in bulk and saves numbered files. Scan at a good resolution (300 DPI is a safe choice) so the cropped photos stay sharp. Read the full method in how to crop many photos and signatures from one sheet.
Quick summary
- "Passport size" in India commonly means 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
- Some passport and visa applications use 2 × 2 inch – check the official site.
- Convert cm to pixels with (cm ÷ 2.54) × DPI.
- Online forms usually give their own pixels and KB – those override everything else.
Related: photo and signature size for exam forms · common rejection reasons
Exam photo & signature size table (India)
| Exam | Photo | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| NEET UG (NTA) | JPG 10–200 KB, white background, face ~80% | JPG 10–100 KB |
| SBI PO | 200 × 230 px, 20–50 KB | 140 × 60 px, 10–20 KB |
| SBI Clerk | 200 × 230 px, 20–50 KB | 140 × 60 px, 10–20 KB |
| IBPS PO / Clerk | 200 × 230 px, 20–50 KB | 140 × 60 px, 10–20 KB |
| SSC | Live photo captured in the form | JPEG 10–20 KB, about 6 × 2 cm |
| RRB | Live photo captured in the form | JPG 30–49 KB, at least 140 × 60 px |
| UPSC | JPG 20–200 KB | JPG 20–100 KB, 350–500 px |
Sizes are from the latest notices we checked; boards can change them every cycle, so confirm with the official notification before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
Is passport size the same as 2x2?
No. An Indian passport size photo is 3.5 × 4.5 cm (35 × 45 mm), while a 2x2 photo is 2 × 2 inches (5.1 × 5.1 cm) and is used for U.S. passports and visas.
Are all passport photos the same size?
No. India and the UK use 35 × 45 mm, the USA uses 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) and Canada uses 50 × 70 mm. Always check the country you are applying to.
What is passport size photo width and height in inches?
3.5 × 4.5 cm is about 1.38 inches wide and 1.77 inches high.
What is the size of a passport picture in cm?
In India a passport size photo is usually 3.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm high (35 × 45 mm). A US passport photo is different: 5.08 × 5.08 cm (2 × 2 inches).
What is passport photo size in inches?
3.5 × 4.5 cm is about 1.38 × 1.77 inches. The US passport size is exactly 2 × 2 inches.
What is stamp size photo size in cm?
There is no single standard, but stamp size photos are commonly about 2 × 2.5 cm (20 × 25 mm). Check the form, as some ask for slightly different sizes.
How many pixels is a passport size photo?
At 300 DPI, 3.5 × 4.5 cm is about 413 × 531 pixels; at 200 DPI it is about 276 × 354 pixels. Online forms often specify their own pixels, such as 200 × 230 px for IBPS and SBI.
What is the ID picture size in India?
Most Indian ID forms (passport, PAN, Aadhaar updates, exam forms) use the passport size photo of 3.5 × 4.5 cm. Online forms add a KB limit, for example 20–50 KB for SBI and IBPS.
What is the photo size for NEET and SBI PO?
NEET asks for a JPG of 10–200 KB with a white background; SBI PO and SBI Clerk ask for 200 × 230 px at 20–50 KB. Details: NEET photo size, SBI PO photo size.