📋 OCI Card — Official Photo Specifications
Print Size
51 × 51 mm
Shape
Square (2×2 inch)
Digital Size
200–900 px square
File Size
Under 200 KB
Format
JPEG only
Background
Light color — NOT white
⚠️ OCI background is NOT white. The official ociservices.gov.in FAQ explicitly states "plain light color background (not white)." Using a white background — as required for Indian passport — may cause OCI rejection. Always verify at ociservices.gov.in before submitting.
Critical Differences
OCI Photo vs Indian Passport Photo — Not the Same
This is the most common mistake applicants make — using their Indian passport photo for OCI or vice versa. The two documents have completely different photo requirements.
⚠️ Never use the same photo for both OCI and Indian Passport
| Specification | 🪪 OCI Card | 🛂 Indian Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Print Size | 51×51 mm Square | 35×45 mm Rectangle |
| Digital Size | 200–900 px (square) | 630×810 px (rectangle) |
| Background | Light colored NOT white | Plain white ✓ |
| File Size | Under 200 KB | Under 250 KB |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1 (square) | 7:9 (portrait) |
| Glasses | Allowed (but risky) | Not permitted (ICAO 2025) |
| Portal | ociservices.gov.in | mportal.passportindia.gov.in |
Full Checklist
OCI Photo — Complete Requirements
Square format — 51×51 mm
Must be perfectly square. Even 1 pixel difference in width vs height will be rejected by the portal.
Light background — NOT white
Plain light-colored background. Cream, off-white, or light grey. The portal explicitly rejects pure white.
Neutral expression
Mouth closed, no smile. Look directly at the camera lens.
Eyes open
Both eyes must be fully open and clearly visible.
Head covers 80% of frame
Face from chin to crown should cover about 80% of the photo height (25–35 mm).
Glasses — allowed but risky
Unlike passport photos, glasses are not explicitly banned for OCI. But removing them is always safer to avoid rejection.
Sharp and in focus
Photo must be clear with no pixelation, blurring, or dot patterns.
Recent photo — within 6 months
Photo must be taken within the last 6 months. Your appearance must match the photo.
Common Mistakes
Why OCI Photos Get Rejected
Using passport photo for OCI — 35×45 mm rectangular passport photo is the wrong size and wrong background color for OCI
White background — OCI explicitly requires light-colored background, NOT white. This is the opposite of passport requirements
Rectangular digital file — even 1 pixel difference between width and height causes the ociservices.gov.in portal to reject the upload
File over 200 KB — OCI digital file limit is 200 KB, stricter than Indian passport's 250 KB limit
Smiling expression — neutral expression with mouth closed is required for OCI just like passport
Create Your OCI Card Photo Now
AI-powered square 600×600 px photo with light background — verified against official ociservices.gov.in specs. Indian passport photo also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
OCI Photo Size — Common Questions
What is the OCI card photo size? ▾
The OCI card photo size is 51×51 mm (2×2 inches) — a square format. This is different from the Indian passport photo which is 35×45 mm (rectangular). For digital upload to ociservices.gov.in, the photo must be square with dimensions between 200×200 px and 900×900 px, in JPEG format, under 200 KB.
What background color is required for OCI photos? ▾
OCI card photos require a plain light-colored background — NOT white. The official ociservices.gov.in FAQ specifically states "plain light color background (not white)." This is the opposite of Indian passport photos which require a white background.
Is OCI photo the same as Indian passport photo? ▾
No. OCI and Indian passport photos have completely different requirements. OCI requires a square 51×51 mm photo with a light-colored (not white) background. Indian passport requires a rectangular 35×45 mm photo with a white background. Never submit the same photo for both applications.
Can I wear glasses in an OCI photo? ▾
Glasses are not explicitly banned for OCI photos unlike Indian passport photos (where all glasses are rejected under ICAO 2025). However, glasses are still risky for OCI and may cause rejection at some consulates. Removing glasses is always the safer choice.
What are the digital photo requirements for ociservices.gov.in? ▾
For ociservices.gov.in digital upload: the photo must be perfectly square (equal width and height — even 1 pixel difference will be rejected), between 200×200 px and 900×900 px, JPEG format, under 200 KB, with a plain light-colored background. Always verify at ociservices.gov.in for the latest requirements.
Related Guides