Uploading a non-square photo aspect ratio
Use a 1:1 aspect ratio crop so that width and height are exactly equal before uploading to ociservices.gov.in.
Overseas Citizen of India Guide
OCI Card Photo Requirements & Signature Upload Guide
Official 2026 guidelines for OCI application photos and signature uploads. Covers 2x2 inch physical photos, 1:1 ratio 20-500 KB digital uploads, and 3:1 signature files.
Prepare This PhotoMHA OCI Services & VFS Global - 6 min read
Upload Checklist
Background must be plain, solid white with zero shadows or patterns.
Face height from bottom of chin to crown of head must occupy 70% to 80% of the image.
Eyeglasses are strictly prohibited—remove all glasses prior to photography.
Head coverage is allowed only for religious purposes and must not cast facial shadows.
Both ears and full forehead should be visible whenever possible.
Common Errors and Fixes
File size exceeding 500 KB limit
Compress the JPG image to stay between 20 KB and 500 KB while keeping dimensions at or above 600 x 600 pixels.
Invalid signature box aspect ratio
Crop the signature to a 3:1 width-to-height rectangle (e.g. 600 px wide by 200 px high) under 200 KB.
Step-by-Step Workflow
1
Take a High-Resolution Photo Against a White Background
Stand in bright, uniform lighting against a flat white wall to avoid shadows behind the head or on the face.
2
Crop Image to 1:1 Square (600 x 600 px)
Ensure equal width and height with face measuring 70-80% of total height.
3
Prepare Signature File (3:1 Ratio)
Sign on clean white paper with a black pen, crop to a 3:1 ratio under 200 KB.
Final Safety Check
Do not alter your facial features
Government photo rules commonly reject altered, filtered, or beautified images. Use the studio for compliance checks, crop, export, and background preparation only. Follow the official source for your final application route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Printed OCI photos are 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Online OCI upload photos require a 1:1 square ratio (minimum 200x200 px, recommended 600x600 px) between 20 KB and 500 KB.
The digital signature file must be in JPEG format with a 3:1 aspect ratio (e.g., 600 x 200 px) and file size between 10 KB and 200 KB.
Rejections occur due to non-square photo ratios, background shadows, wearing glasses, or file sizes outside the 20-500 KB range.