Passport Size Photo Resizer
"Passport size" is the most commonly referenced photo standard in India: a 3.5cm × 4.5cm print, which at a standard 300 DPI print resolution works out to roughly 413×531 pixels. This tool uses a slightly different, widely-used pixel preset — 200×230px — because a large share of government exam forms specify raw pixel dimensions directly rather than a physical cm size at a given DPI, and 200×230px is a size commonly requested on this basis. The tool crops your photo to this exact ratio (no stretching or distortion) and then compresses it to your target KB range.
JPG, PNG, or WEBP. Processed entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded anywhere.
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This preset is pre-filled with 200×230px, a dimension commonly requested for this size band on Indian government exam forms. Requirements change between notifications and differ exam to exam, so before you submit, double-check the exact pixel dimensions and KB range against your specific exam's current official notification — you can override the width, height, and KB fields above if your form asks for something different.
3.5×4.5cm at different DPI values
Because "passport size" is defined as a physical measurement (centimeters), its pixel equivalent depends entirely on the DPI (dots per inch) you calculate it at — this is a source of real confusion, since two "correct" passport photos can have completely different pixel dimensions:
- At 200 DPI: 3.5cm × 4.5cm ≈ 276 × 354px
- At 300 DPI (standard print quality): 3.5cm × 4.5cm ≈ 413 × 531px
- Raw pixel specs some exams use instead: a flat 200×230px or similar figure, defined directly in pixels with no DPI calculation involved at all
This is exactly why "passport size" alone is not a sufficient answer for an exam form. Two forms can both correctly say "passport size photo" and still expect different pixel files — one calculating from the physical 3.5×4.5cm standard at a given DPI, another simply stating a raw pixel size like 200×230px that loosely approximates the same shape without doing that math at all. Always check your specific exam's stated pixel dimensions (not just "passport size" as a phrase) and, separately, its KB size limit — see our exam requirements section and this site's other KB-specific resizer pages once you know both numbers.
Face centering and coverage
Beyond the frame size, several bodies — UPSC and CUET among the more frequently cited — expect the face to occupy roughly 75-80% of the photo's height, centered in the frame with the top of the head not touching the top edge and the shoulders visible at the bottom. This tool crops to your chosen aspect ratio around the center of your uploaded image, but it does not automatically detect or reframe around your face — so before uploading, crop or reframe your source photo (using your phone's photo editor, for example) so your face is already reasonably centered and appropriately sized within the frame.
Passport-for-travel vs. passport-size-for-exam-form
These are two different things that share a confusing name. A photo for an actual Indian passport application has its own official specification set by the Ministry of External Affairs / Passport Seva, including background color and biometric-style framing rules. A "passport-size photo" requested on a government exam or job application form is a separate, much looser convention — it simply signals "a formal headshot roughly this shape," and the exam's own notification is what actually governs the exact pixel dimensions, KB range, and background color required. Don't assume a photo that satisfies passport rules will automatically satisfy an exam form's rules, or vice versa — check the specific form.
FAQ
Is a "passport size photo" enough on its own for my exam form? No — "passport size" only describes the general shape and framing. You also need to match your specific exam's stated KB size limit and, often, its exact pixel dimensions, which can differ from the classic 3.5×4.5cm calculation. Check your notification for both numbers.
Which DPI should I use — 200 or 300? If your exam states a pixel dimension directly, use that number and ignore DPI entirely — DPI only matters when you're converting a physical cm measurement into pixels yourself. If your exam just says "3.5×4.5cm" with no pixel figure, 300 DPI (≈413×531px) is the standard print quality assumption, but some older or simpler online forms use 200 DPI instead — when in doubt, the form's own upload validator (if it rejects your file) is the most reliable signal.
Does this tool auto-detect and center my face? No — it crops to the aspect ratio you set, centered on your uploaded image. Frame or pre-crop your source photo so your face is already well-centered before uploading for best results.
Can I use this same photo for an actual passport application? Not necessarily — a real passport application has its own official specification (background, framing, and biometric rules) separate from what a job or exam form asks for. Check Passport Seva's own current guidelines separately if you need a photo for an actual passport.