Photo for an Indian visa and OCI card
Published
India
India requires a square 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) photo for both the visa and the OCI card. The 35 × 45 mm Swiss passport photo is not accepted, as VFS Global in Bern explicitly points out. This page covers the requirements for the e-Visa, the paper application and OCI, the upload limits and the procedure from Switzerland.
Key facts
- Format: square, 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches), colour
- Head height (chin to crown): 25 to 35 mm, head centred
- Light or white background, without shadows
- No glasses for the e-Visa
- e-Visa: JPEG between 10 KB and 1 MB, square
- OCI: 200 × 200 to 900 × 900 pixels, 200 KB maximum
- The Swiss 35 × 45 mm format is not accepted
Create your India visa photo now – CHF 8.90 digital, CHF 14.90 with prints by post
What are the photo requirements?
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | Square, 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches) |
| Head | 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown, centred in the photo |
| Background | Plain light or white, no shadows, no border |
| Pose | Facing the camera, head straight, looking into the lens |
| Face | Eyes open, no hair over the eyes, neutral expression |
| Glasses | Not allowed for the e-Visa; otherwise only without reflections and without tinted lenses |
| Head covering | Only for religious reasons, the face remains visible |
| Editing | No retouching, no unnatural skin tones |
| Children | Relaxed rules apply to children under ten; babies under one year old do not need to have their eyes open |
Good to know: The official sources contradict each other on the background. The OCI FAQ asks for a light, “non-white” background, whereas VFS Global in Bern explicitly requires white for OCI, and the embassy says “white or light”. A white background is accepted by VFS in Bern.
e-Visa: the fastest route for Swiss travellers
Swiss citizens can apply for the e-Visa on indianvisaonline.gov.in, no earlier than 120 days and no later than four days before arrival. The e-Visa is available for tourism, business, medical treatment, study and family visits, among other purposes.
You upload the photo as a file:
- JPEG, at least 10 KB, at most 1 MB
- Equal height and width, i.e. square
- Full head from hairline to chin, centred
- White or light background, no glasses
The Photo Express file is square, measures 1200 × 1200 pixels and has a white background. It is therefore suitable for the e-Visa upload.
| e-Visa | Fee for Swiss citizens |
|---|---|
| e-Tourist 30 days | USD 10 (April to June) or USD 25 (July to March) |
| e-Tourist 1 year | USD 40 |
| e-Tourist 5 years | USD 200 |
| e-Business | USD 120 |
Bank charges of around 3% are added.
Paper application at VFS Global in Bern
Since 1 July 2025, VFS Global has handled all consular services of the Indian Embassy in Bern: VFS Global, Weststrasse 2, 3005 Bern.
For the paper application you need two 50 × 50 mm colour photos. Glue one to the first page of the form and attach the second with a paper clip. In the online form, which you complete beforehand, you also upload the photo as a square JPEG between 10 and 300 KB.
| Paper application via VFS | Total amount |
|---|---|
| Tourist visa up to 1 year | CHF 109 |
| Tourist visa 1 to 5 years | CHF 197 |
| Business visa up to 1 year | CHF 127 |
If you live in the canton of Geneva, Vaud, Valais or Neuchâtel, it is best to check with the Consulate General in Geneva beforehand which office is responsible for you.
You pay the visa, OCI and service fees directly on the official portal or to VFS Global. Photo Express is not a visa agency: we only supply the photo and do not submit applications.
OCI card: upload and prints
For the OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India), you upload your photo and signature on the ociservices.gov.in portal:
- Square, at least 200 × 200 and at most 900 × 900 pixels
- JPEG, 200 KB maximum
- The face fills around 80% of the image, no border
In addition, VFS Global in Bern requires printed photos: two 51 × 51 mm prints for a new OCI card, one for a reissue. A new OCI card costs CHF 263 at VFS in Bern; processing takes eight to ten weeks according to the embassy, and at least three months according to VFS. Since 30 June 2026, the OCI card has also been available in electronic form as the e-OCI.
The Photo Express file is 1200 × 1200 pixels and therefore too large for the OCI upload. For the portal you need a scaled-down copy of no more than 900 × 900 pixels and 200 KB. With the print option, you receive the 51 × 51 mm prints directly by post.
When do I need a new photo for my OCI card?
- Up to your 20th birthday, and once after your 50th birthday, you upload a new photo online with every new passport. This is free of charge within three months.
- After your 20th birthday, the card is reissued once, with your first new passport.
- Foreign spouses upload a new photo with every new passport.
The most common reasons for rejection
- Swiss 35 × 45 mm passport photo instead of a square one
- File too large for the portal in question: 1 MB for the e-Visa, 300 KB for the paper application, 200 KB and 900 pixels for OCI
- Glasses on the e-Visa photo, reflections or tinted lenses
- Shadows on the face or behind the head
- Busy background or a head that is not centred
- Blurred, pixelated or retouched images
Photo Express automatically checks the crop, head size, background and sharpness before you pay. If an authority rejects your photo because of insufficient photo quality, we refund the full amount.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Swiss passport photo for India?
No. India requires a square 51 × 51 mm photo. VFS Global in Bern explicitly rejects standard Swiss passport photos.
Can I wear glasses in the photo?
Not for the e-Visa. For OCI, untinted lenses without reflections are allowed, but a photo without glasses is the safer choice.
Which photo do I need for the e-Visa?
A square JPEG file between 10 KB and 1 MB with a white or light background, without glasses. A print is not required.
How many printed photos do I need?
Two for the paper application and two for a new OCI card; one for the reissue of an OCI card.
Does Photo Express apply for the visa for me?
No. Photo Express is a photo service, not a visa agency or an authority. We supply the photo in the right format. You submit the application yourself to the responsible representation or on the official portal, and you pay the visa fees there.
How much does the photo cost at Photo Express?
CHF 8.90 for the digital file, CHF 14.90 for printed photos sent by post to a Swiss address, digital file included. You pay only after you have seen the result.
Take the photo and prepare your application
Choose the “India Visa / OCI” format, take the picture with your phone and download the file for the e-Visa, or have the prints for VFS sent to your home. No account, no waiting, processing in Switzerland.
