India eVisa photo requirements for UK applicants
The exact photo and passport scan specifications the Indian authorities expect - and the simple mistakes that cause most British applications to be delayed or rejected.
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The India eVisa photo specification
A rejected or delayed application almost always comes down to the photograph. Get it right first time by matching every point below:
- Shape: square, with a 1:1 ratio (equal width and height). This is different from the rectangular UK passport photo.
- Background: plain white or very light, with no pattern, shadow or objects behind you.
- Face: centred and facing the camera directly, filling most of the frame, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- Lighting: even, with no shadows across the face or background, and no glare on glasses.
- Head covering: none, except for religious reasons - and even then the full face must be clearly visible.
- Format: a clear, in-focus colour digital image, normally JPEG, at a good resolution.
The single most common failure is the background. A plain white wall in daylight, with you standing a step away from it to avoid a shadow, solves most problems instantly.
Can you use a phone photo?
Yes, a smartphone photo is acceptable if it meets the specification - but a selfie taken at arm's length often fails on framing or lighting. The reliable method is to have someone else take the photo: stand about a metre in front of a plain white wall, face the window or a soft light source, keep a neutral expression, and make sure your whole head and the top of your shoulders are in the square frame. Do not use filters, beauty modes or heavy editing.
Passport scan requirements
Alongside the photo you will upload a scan of your UK passport's personal details page. It must be:
- The full bio-data page, with all four corners visible in the image.
- In clear colour, with every line of text legible and no glare or blur.
- From a passport valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival in India.
- From a passport with at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.
For the complete list of what to prepare before you apply, see our India eVisa requirements page.
Common reasons photos get rejected
- Coloured, patterned or dark background instead of plain white.
- Face too small, too large or off-centre in the frame.
- Shadows behind the head or across the face.
- Glare or reflection on glasses - remove glasses if in doubt.
- A rectangular photo instead of a square 1:1 image.
- Low-resolution, blurred or over-compressed images.
- Smiling or mouth open - keep a neutral expression.
A quick pre-submission checklist
Before you upload, confirm: the photo is square, the background is plain white, your face is centred and evenly lit, both eyes are visible, there is no glare on glasses, and the image is sharp. Then check your passport scan shows the whole page clearly. Getting these right is the fastest way to a smooth approval - see our processing time guide for what happens next.
Photo and document questions
A recent square (1:1) colour photo of your full face on a plain white background, neutral expression, both eyes open, no head covering except for religious reasons, and a clear in-focus JPEG.
It can work if it meets the specification, but selfies often fail on framing or lighting. A photo taken by someone else against a plain white wall in good light is far more reliable.
A clear colour scan of the personal details page showing all four corners, with legible text and no glare. The passport must be valid for at least six months from arrival and have at least two blank pages.
Usually a non-white or busy background, wrong face size, shadows, glare on glasses, a non-square photo, or a blurred low-resolution image. Fixing these before you apply avoids delays.