Photo for the Overseas Citizenship of India

What is an India OCI Card and How Can I Get One?

Simply put, an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card is actually a type of residency that citizens of Indian origin and their spouses are able to live and work in India. The OCI card is a lifelong visa that provides all the advantages any permanent resident in India has. However, kindly note that this document is not available for everyone to apply.  

If you want to get an OCI card, then you need to apply to have one. In most cases, there are two main ways to get an OCI card, one is you can apply online via the website; another is that you can apply the traditional way via a paper application. Either way, you have to submit a biometric photograph during your application.

On top of that, taking photos for an OCI card also need to meet some specific requirements. The requirement for the OCI photo is strictly based on the International Standards Organization and ICAO specifications. So, keep reading this page to learn more details about the requirements for your OCI card photograph. 

Must-know OCI Card Photo Requirements By India

Before applying for an OCI card, you need to know the OCI card photo requirement to respond perfectly:

• Your recent passport photo must be taken within the last 6 months, showing your current appearance.
• The photograph to be attached to the application should be square shaped 2 x 2 inches in size or 51 x 51 mm, covering 80% of the face.
• The photo must be in color, against a plain light colored background, and show your whole face and front view.
• The photo should present your full head from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin.
• The photo should be plain and without any marks.
• The photograph has to be printed on glossy photo paper only.
• You should not wear a uniform except religious attire that is worn on a daily basis.
• You can wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, a wig, or similar articles for your picture if necessary.
• Dark glasses or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses are forbidden unless for medical reasons. 
• Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline. Head coverings are not allowed except for religious reasons.

What will happen if you fail to complete the OCI card photo requirement? If the photograph does not meet the specification mentioned above, the OCI application will remain on hold until you send a new acceptable photo. To solve this problem, you can turn to the online photo editor tool for help, which helps resize, adjust, crop, and verify photos in just a few clicks!

What are the OCI Photo Specification?

To get an OCI ID card, we are here to help you avoid any possible application rejection by giving all the photo requirements as well as the most commonly made mistakes. Now, let’s take a closer look:

• Quantity: You need to attach 2 printed photos to the paper application for an OCI card, or you can simply upload one digital photo for online submission. 
• Size: The size of an OCI photo is 2 x 2 inches or 51 x 51 mm and the digital photo should not be more than 200KB. The size of the head should measure 1 inch to 1-8 inches or 25 to 35 mm with the face covering 80% of the photo.
• Format: The format of OCI photo required JPEG/JPG. The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels and the maximum dimensions are 900 x 900 pixels.
• Validity: The OCI photo must be a recent photo taken within the past 6 months that shows your current appearance. 
• Quality: The picture for your OCI needs to meet: in high resolution and of good quality; in full color, against a plain light colored background; printed out on glossy photographic paper. The OCI photo cannot be: Torn, creased, stained; or altered through the use of Photoshop; with any pattern or blurred; overexposed, or underexposed.
• Lighting: The light should be even and both sides of the face should be balanced and lighted to avoid shadows. Natural daylight is recommended when taking OCI photos. Make sure there are no shadows or reflections on your face.
• Background: The background for an OCI picture must be plain light colored, meanwhile, with no people or objects visible.
• Head: Look directly at the camera and your head should be in the middle of the photo and has to be shown in full view, from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin and both ears. Make sure your hair doesn’t cover your eyes.
• Facial Expression: Make sure that your eyes are open, your mouth is closed, and not showing teeth. Keep a neutral facial expression with no smiling or frowning.
• Glasses: It is acceptable for you to wear glasses in the OCI photo provided they are not sunglasses or tinted glasses. Just remember to make sure the frame won't cover any part of the eye, and the glasses won't cause any flash reflection. 
• Head Coverings: Head wearings are allowed for religious purposes only, and should not cover any part of your face.

What are the Common Mistakes When it Comes to Shooting OCI Photo?

Some of the most common seen mistakes when taking OCI card pictures includes:

• The wrong background color and size.
• Shadows or patterns on the picture.
• The photo was damaged or over or underexposed.
• The face was covered by objects.
• Open mouth and closed eyes. 

By following all those simple requirements, we give you our word that your applications will surely get accepted on the very first submission. 

How to Take OCI Photo at Home with the Help of Mobile Phone?

If you are trying to shoot the OCI photo on your own with a phone, here is what you need to be aware of beforehand:

• In full compliance with the guidelines described above.
• Choose the right place and well prepare yourself.
• Ask someone for help and take a perfect picture for you.
• Use a smartphone or a digital camera as your tool.
• Stand one step away from the background and 1.5 m away from the camera according to the eye level.
• Take as many shots as you want.

Upload the photo on our site and the visa photo makers online will take good care of the rest.

Make India OCI Visa Photos Online - AiPassportPhotos Saves You Time and Money

You can find whatever you need through our online website, be it the India 2 x 2 inches passport photos or 51 x 51 mm OCI visa photos, we help better deliver your expectation and demands. Just take a photo with your phone against any background, and upload it to us for further processing and validation. Instantly get a professional and printable photo template through your emails! 

Passport and visa photo online will prepare your photo for your OCI application. We help replace the inappropriate background with the right one if needed; trim your photo to the correct OCI size photo and verify other elements, just to make sure that the photo is acceptable with compliance guaranteed.  

The easiest, fastest, and cost-effective way to make digital passport photos, visa photos, driving license photos, and other ID photos with just a few licks and within mere seconds! The passport and visa photo creator has helped many people around the world and others in remote areas to make a passport size photo that is perfect for passport and visa size photos for any documents.