Pakistan passport photo rules explained
The DGI&P e-Services Portal lists the photograph requirements. The photo is 35x45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in), or 413x531 px at 300 DPI, as a JPG.
- Head size: 29-34 mm from chin to crown.
- Background: plain white.
- Glasses: allowed, but with no glare.
- Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
- File size: the online upload accepts up to 5 MB (5120 KB).
Upload limits worth knowing
The portal's own verify tool accepts JPG or PNG files up to 350 KB. The widely quoted 20 KB limit is outdated, so you do not need to compress the photo heavily. A normal 413x531 px JPG fits comfortably.
How to take it at home with a phone
Find a plain white or very light wall and face it, with soft light coming from the front. Stand about a step away from the wall so shadows do not land behind your head. Ask a friend to hold the phone at eye level and take the shot from a short distance, not too close.
Look straight at the lens, keep your mouth closed and your expression neutral. Leave room above your head and around your shoulders so the tool can crop to the right proportions.
Processing
The photo is processed in your browser and is never uploaded. It is cropped to 35x45 mm, the background is replaced with plain white and the head size is checked against the 29-34 mm range.
Common reasons for rejection
- A background that is off-white, grey or has shadows.
- A head smaller or larger than 29-34 mm.
- Glare on glasses that hides the eyes.
- A head covering that is not religious, or hides the face.
- A file saved in the wrong format instead of JPG.
- An old photo that does not match your current appearance.
Uploading to the portal
This is a digital-upload submission, so download the JPG and upload it on the DGI&P portal. Use the portal's verify tool first if you want a quick check. If you apply at an office instead, the photograph is taken live there.
If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.
Keeping the file practical
Since the portal allows up to 5 MB, there is no reason to shrink the picture aggressively. Do not rename a screenshot or a different file type to .jpg, because the file itself should be a real JPG. After downloading, open the file once to confirm the face is sharp and the white background is even, then upload it in the DGI&P e-Services form.