OCI photo rules in plain words
The Ministry of Home Affairs publishes a photo specifications PDF on the OCI Services site. The photo is a square of 51x51 mm (2.01 x 2.01 in) at 300 DPI, or 602x602 px as a JPG file.
- Head size: 25-35 mm from chin to crown, which the brochure gives as 1 to 1 3/8 in.
- Eye line: 28.6-34.9 mm from the bottom edge. The upper bound is partly cut off in the PDF text, so treat it as approximate.
- Background: plain and light-coloured. The MHA brochure says light colour, not white.
- Glasses: allowed, as long as there is no glare.
- Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
The background trap
Many photo guides default to pure white, but for the OCI card the brochure specifically says a light colour, not white. The tool keeps the background plain and light-coloured so that it follows this wording.
How to take it at home with a phone
Stand facing a plain wall in soft daylight, a little away from the wall so your shadow does not fall on it. Have someone take the picture from eye level, holding the phone straight, not tilted up or down. Look into the lens with a neutral expression and a closed mouth.
Keep the frame loose, with your whole head and the tops of your shoulders in view. Because the final image is square, you do not need to turn the phone sideways.
What the tool does
The picture is processed in your browser and is not uploaded. It is cropped to a square, the background is set to a plain light colour, and the head size and eye line are checked.
Why OCI photos are rejected
- A pure white background where a light colour is specified.
- A head that is too small or too large for the 25-35 mm range.
- A rectangular crop instead of a square.
- Reflections on glasses, or frames that cover the eyes.
- Shadows across the face or on the wall behind you.
- A head covering that is not worn for religious reasons, or that hides the face.
Printing and uploading
The submission is printed and digital. For a print, use 51x51 mm at 300 DPI on photo paper and check it with a ruler. For online use, download the 602x602 px JPG.
The upload pixel and KB limits, often quoted online as 200-1500 px, are not confirmed on an official page, so follow any limit the portal shows at the time. If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.
Final checks before you submit
Look at the preview and confirm that the background reads as a light colour rather than bright white, because that is the detail applicants most often get wrong. Check that the whole head, including the hair, sits inside the square with some room above it, and that the eyes are open and clearly visible. Use the same photo for the print and the upload so that both match.