How it works
Step-by-Step Guide
Create a compliant passport or OCI photo in under 2 minutes.
1
Choose document type
Select Indian Passport or OCI Card at the top of the tool. Each document has different photo specifications — the tool adjusts automatically.
Tip: Indian passport needs rectangular 630×810 px. OCI needs square 600×600 px with light background.
2
Pass the security check
Complete the reCAPTCHA checkbox to verify you're human. This only happens once per browser session — you won't be asked again until you close the tab.
Tip: If the checkbox doesn't appear, try refreshing the page or disabling your ad blocker temporarily.
3
Upload your photo
Click "Choose Photo" and select a portrait photo from your device. Supports JPG, PNG, and WEBP in any size or resolution.
Tip: The best results come from photos taken in good natural light against a plain wall. See photo tips below.
4
AI processes your photo
Our AI automatically detects your face, centers the crop, validates ICAO requirements, and applies the correct background. Takes about 3–5 seconds.
Tip: A second AI pass runs silently to detect your exact hair line for better headroom. The preview updates automatically.
5
Review the checklist
Check the validation results — green means pass, yellow means warning, red means the photo may be rejected. Address any red items before proceeding.
Tip: Red items like glasses or tilted head require a new photo. Yellow warnings like slight tilt are usually acceptable.
6
Adjust crop if needed
If the automatic crop doesn't look right, click "Adjust Crop Manually" to drag and resize the crop box. The aspect ratio is locked automatically.
Tip: Leave about 8% space above your hair. Eyes should be roughly 35–50% from the top of the photo.
7
Pay & download
Click "Proceed to Payment" and pay $4.99 via PayPal. After payment, download your digital photo and 4×6 print sheet instantly.
Tip: The watermark disappears after payment. Download both the digital file (for online upload) and the print sheet (for VFS packet).
8
Print & submit
Print the 4×6 sheet at a drugstore or photo lab at 300 DPI. Cut along the dashed lines. Upload the digital file to Passport Seva or ociservices.gov.in.
Tip: Walgreens, CVS, and Costco all print 4×6 photos at 300 DPI for under $0.35.
Before you upload
How to Take a Good Photo
The quality of your output depends heavily on the photo you upload. Follow these tips for the best results.
Good lighting
Natural light from a window facing you. Avoid shadows on your face or background.
Plain background
Stand against a plain white, cream, or light grey wall. Keep distance from the wall to avoid shadows.
Neutral expression
Look directly at the camera. Keep your mouth closed and expression neutral — no smiling.
Recent photo
Use a photo taken within the last 6 months. Your appearance must match the photo.
No glasses
Indian passport rejects ALL glasses (ICAO 2025). OCI allows clear glasses without glare only.
No hats or head coverings
Religious head coverings are allowed if worn daily, but must not cast shadows on the face.
No blurry photos
Use the rear camera of your phone (not selfie camera) for sharper, higher resolution photos.
No heavy filters
Do not use beauty filters, Snapchat filters, or edited backgrounds. Use original unedited photos only.
Know the difference
Indian Passport vs OCI Card Photo
These are two completely different photo specifications. Never use the same photo for both.
| Specification | 🛂 Indian Passport | 🪪 OCI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Digital size | 630 × 810 px Rectangle | 600 × 600 px Square |
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm | 51 × 51 mm (2×2 in) |
| Background | Plain white Required | Light color NOT white |
| File size | Under 250 KB | Under 200 KB |
| Glasses | Not permitted ICAO 2025 | Clear glasses OK (no glare) |
| Portal | mportal.passportindia.gov.in | ociservices.gov.in |
| Print copies needed | 2 copies (35×45mm) | 2 copies (51×51mm) |
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of photo should I upload? ▾
Upload a recent, clear portrait photo taken against a plain background. The photo should show your full face looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. A selfie in good natural light works well. Avoid group photos, sunglasses, heavy filters, or hats. The rear camera of your phone gives better results than the front-facing selfie camera.
Will my photo be accepted by Passport Seva or VFS? ▾
VFSPhotoReady produces photos that meet published ICAO 2025 and VFS Global specifications. However, final acceptance is always decided by the government authority or VFS officer. We cannot guarantee acceptance. Always verify current requirements at mportal.passportindia.gov.in before submitting. If your photo is rejected, contact us at support@vfsphotoready.com and we will reprocess it free of charge.
The AI crop cut off my hair — what do I do? ▾
Our AI runs a second silent pass using MediaPipe to detect your exact hair line and adjust the crop. This usually takes 2–3 seconds after the initial preview appears. If the crop still isn't right, click "✂️ Adjust Crop Manually" to drag and resize the crop box yourself. The aspect ratio is locked to the correct format automatically.
Why does it say my glasses will cause rejection? ▾
Under ICAO 2025 standards effective from 2024, Indian passport photos must not contain any glasses — prescription or sunglasses. This is a hard requirement enforced by both Passport Seva and VFS Global. For OCI applications, clear glasses without glare are allowed but still risky. The safest choice for both is to remove glasses before taking your photo.
What does the watermark mean? ▾
The watermark ("VFSPHOTOREADY.COM") appears on the preview to protect the image before payment. After you complete PayPal payment, the watermark is removed and you download a clean, full-quality JPEG suitable for submission. The watermark is never on the downloaded file.
How do I use the AI background removal? ▾
Toggle the "AI Background Removal" switch in the preview section. A free preview shows you the result before you pay. The add-on costs $1.00 extra ($5.99 total). The AI removes your existing background and replaces it with the correct color — white for Indian passport, light cream for OCI. Note: results are best when the original photo has good contrast between you and the background.
Where do I print the photo sheet? ▾
Print the downloaded 4×6 inch sheet at any drugstore or photo lab at 300 DPI. Good options include Walgreens (under $0.35), CVS, Costco, or any photo printing service. Tell them to print it as a standard 4×6 photo print at actual size (do not scale to fit). Then cut along the dashed lines with scissors.
Can I get a refund? ▾
Payments are non-refundable once your photo has been processed and made available for download, since the digital product is delivered immediately. However, if you experience a technical issue, are unable to download your photo, or are not satisfied with the result, email us at support@vfsphotoready.com and we will reprocess your photo free of charge or issue a refund at our discretion.
Is my photo stored on your servers? ▾
No. Your photos are processed entirely within your web browser. Only a compressed thumbnail is sent to AWS Rekognition for face detection (not stored). If you use AI background removal, your photo is sent to remove.bg for processing. After you close or refresh the page, all photo data is permanently cleared from your browser's memory. We do not retain copies of your photos.
What file format is the download? ▾
Both downloads are JPEG format. The digital photo (630×810 px for passport, 600×600 px for OCI) is under the required file size limit. The print sheet is a 4×6 inch JPEG at high resolution suitable for printing at 300 DPI.
I got an error — what should I do? ▾
First try refreshing the page and uploading again — most errors are temporary. If face detection fails, try a photo with better lighting and a clearer view of your face. If the problem persists, email support@vfsphotoready.com with a description of the error and we'll help you within 24 hours.
Ready to create your photo?
Takes under 2 minutes. ICAO 2025 compliant. No account needed.
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