# OCI Card Photo Maker, 51x51 mm Square

Country: India

Document: OCI Card

Page language: en

Page: [OCI Card Photo Maker, 51x51 mm Square](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/in/ociCard/)

Requirements last verified: 2026-04-17

## Photo specifications

These are document-specific values from the page data. Printed and digital requirements may apply to different application routes; consult the guide and sources below.

| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo dimensions | 51 × 51 mm |
| Photo paper | Glossy or matte |
| Digital pixel dimensions | 600 × 600 px (see guide/source for applicability and minimum vs exact sizing) |
| Maximum pixel dimensions | 900 × 900 px |
| Digital file format | JPEG |
| Maximum digital file size | 200 KB |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months |

## Appearance and composition

- Background: Plain light-coloured background (the official OCI spec asks for a light background, not strictly pure white). Plain white is widely accepted.
- Head size: ~80% of photo height (face covers most of the frame)
- Glasses: Not permitted.
- Even lighting; no harsh shadows.
- Filters, beauty modes and retouching are forbidden.
- Color photo.
- Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons; check the source for conditions.
- Uniforms are restricted; check the source for exceptions.
- No earphones or wireless devices.

## Common rejection reasons

- Wrong photo size — Must be exactly 51×51mm (2×2 inch) square format

- File too large — ociservices.gov.in upload limit is 200KB JPEG (not 300KB); 900×900 px is the maximum

- Wrong background — Must be a plain light-coloured background; patterns, dark, or shadow-heavy backgrounds are rejected

- Wearing glasses — Glasses are not permitted in OCI card photos

- Head size too small — Face must cover roughly 80% of the frame

- Photo too old — Must be taken within the last 6 months

- Expression not neutral — No smiling, mouth must be closed

## Source for the document requirements

[Source linked by the document page](https://ociservices.gov.in/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf)

The complete guide below includes additional sources and application-specific qualifications when available.

## Create a photo with One Dollar Passport Photo

The service sizes, crops and checks a photo for the selected document. Its output settings are service choices, not additional government requirements.

- Digital photo download: $1 USD.
- Print-ready sheet download: $5 USD. Printing is separate.
- Optional human expert review: +$4.99 USD.

[Open the photo tool](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/in/ociCard/)

Complete Guide

## OCI card photo: the 51×51mm requirements and where to get one

OCI card photos use a 2×2 inch square format with a light background and a 200KB upload cap. What the spec is, how to shoot it, and where to get one.

Written by

Jake

Community & Writing, One Dollar Passport Photo

Reviewed by

Lisa

Expert Reviewer, One Dollar Passport Photo

Fact-checked & verified

May 17, 2026

## The official requirements

An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card photo is a **51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square** — the same shape as a US passport photo, not the 35×45 mm portrait used for an Indian passport. The full spec:

-   **Size:** exactly 51×51 mm (2×2 inch), square
-   **Background:** plain light-coloured — the official OCI spec asks for a _light_ background, not strictly pure white; plain white is widely accepted
-   **Head size:** face covers roughly 80% of the frame
-   **File:** JPEG, **200 KB maximum**, up to 900×900 pixels
-   **Expression:** neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open
-   **Glasses:** not allowed
-   **Recency:** taken within the last 6 months

The 200 KB cap is specific — some third-party guides quote 300 KB, but the ociservices.gov.in upload limit is 200 KB.

## How to take a compliant photo

The capture is standard; the square crop and the large head size are the OCI-specific points:

1.  Stand 6–8 feet in front of a plain light or white wall, far enough out to cast no shadow.
2.  Light yourself evenly from the front.
3.  Have someone else take the shot, looking straight at the camera.
4.  Crop to the **square 51×51 mm** frame — a 35×45 mm passport crop is the wrong shape. The face should fill about 80% of the frame, larger than a standard passport headshot.
5.  Export a JPEG under 200 KB — or use a tool that crops to 2×2 inches and exports inside the size cap.

## Why photos get rejected

OCI applications bounce a predictable set of problems. Each one, and the fix:

-   **Wrong size** — must be exactly 51×51 mm square. A 35×45 mm passport photo will not work.
-   **File over 200 KB** — the upload limit is 200 KB, not 300. Re-compress.
-   **Wrong background** — must be a plain light-coloured background; dark or patterned backgrounds, or heavy shadows, are rejected.
-   **Glasses worn** — not permitted in OCI photos. Take them off.
-   **Head too small** — the face must fill roughly 80% of the frame.
-   **Expression not neutral** — no smiling, mouth closed.
-   **Photo too old** — must be within the last 6 months.

## What to wear (and not wear)

There is no formal dress code, but a few choices reliably cause trouble.

**Avoid:** glasses of any kind, hats and non-religious head coverings, and headphones. Because the background is light, a white or very pale top can blend into it — wear a darker, solid color.

**Fine:** ordinary everyday clothing, light everyday makeup, and religious head coverings worn daily with the full face visible.

## Where to get your photo

OCI applicants are usually outside India, so the practical options are a local studio or an online tool:

| Where | Cost | 51×51mm square sizing | Digital file | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Local photo studio | varies locally | Ask for “2×2 inch / US passport size” | Often | Confirm the square shape |
| Online tool (this site) | $1.00 | Yes — exact 51×51 mm crop | Yes — under 200 KB | One step to a compliant file |

Because the OCI photo matches the US 2×2 inch size, a studio abroad that does US passport photos will produce the right shape — ask for “2×2 inch”, not “Indian passport size”, which is the different 35×45 mm. An online tool crops to 51×51 mm and exports an under-200 KB file directly.

## Submitting your photo

OCI card applications are filed online through the OCI Services portal, then completed at an Indian Mission, Post, or FRRO.

**Online application** — You upload the photo as a JPEG (square, up to 900×900 px, 200 KB maximum). A file over the cap is refused at upload.

**At the Mission / FRRO** — Bring printed copies of the same 51×51 mm photo to your appointment, as the office may attach one to the physical file.

### Sources & References

This guide is fact-checked against official government publications and updated regularly to reflect the latest requirements.

1.  \[1\]
    
    [OCI Services — Photo Specification](https://ociservices.gov.in/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf)
    
    ociservices.gov.in