Your Guide to Indian Visa Passport Requirements: Scanning Essentials
Background
No matter which Indian Visa Type you are applying for, at a minimum you need to upload your passport as part of the application. The link to upload your passport is made available to you after the payment has been successfully made and verified by us. Additional details on which documents are required for various types of India Visa are mentioned here . These documents are different depending on the Type of Indian Visa you are applying.
For all applications filed here at Online Indian Visa only the electronic copies of the documents are required. There is no need for paper documents or physical documents for an Indian Visa online. You can provide these documents in 2 ways. First method is to upload these documents online on this website after the payment has been made. A secure link is sent by email to enable you to upload the document. Second method is to send us an email, if for whatever reason upload of your passport is not successful for your India Visa application online. Moreover, you are free to send our help desk the passport document in any file format including but not limited to, PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG, TIFF or any other file format.
If you are not able to upload the passport scan copy or photograph of your passport for India Visa application online (eVisa India) then you contact our help desk using the Contact Us form.
It is not necessary that you take scan image using scanner device for your passport, you are free to use a mobile phone, tablet, PC or a professional scanner or camera. The requirement is that your passport need to be legible and clear.
This guide will walk you through the India Visa Passport Requirements and Indian Visa Passport Scan Specifications. Regardless of the purpose of visa, whether it is India eTourist Visa, India eMedical Visa or India eBusiness Visa, all these Indian Visa applications online (eVisa India) require scan copy of your passport biodata page.
Meeting India Visa Passport Requirements
This guide will provide you with all instructions to meet passport scan copy specifications for your India Visa online (eVisa India).
Should my name match as per my passport for India Visa Passport Requirements?
The important data on your passport must match exactly, this does not only apply to your first name, but also applies to these fields in the passport:
- Given name
- Middle name
- Data of birth
- Gender
- Place of birth
- Passport place of issue
- Passport number
- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
Do you need a Passport Scan copy for Indian Visa application online (or Indian e-Visa)?
Yes, all types of Indian Visa application filed online require a passport scan copy. It does not matter whether your purpose of visit is recreation, tourism, meeting family and friends, or for a business purpose, arriving at a conference, conducting tours, recruiting manpower or coming for a medical visit. Passport scan copy is a mandatory requirement for all Indian Visas online completed using the eVisa India facility.
What type of Passport Scan copy is required for Indian e-Visa?
The passport scan copy needs to be clear, legible and not blurry. All 4 corners of your passport must be clearly visible. You must not cover passport with your hands. All details on the passport including
- Given name
- Middle name
- Data of birth
- Gender
- Place of birth
- Passport place of issue
- Passport number
- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
- MRZ (2 strips at the bottom of passport known as Magnetic Readable Zone)
What is the Indian Visa passport scan size?
The Government of India requires that your passport scan copy is clearly visible. As a guidance we recommend that 600 pixels by 800 pixels in height and width is required.
Can you explain more about India Visa passport scan requirements?
There are 2 zones in your passport:
- Visual Inspection Zone (VIZ): This is looked at by the Immigration Officers at the Government of India offices, Border Officers, Immigration Checkpoint officers.
- Machine Readable Zone (MRZ): Read by passport readers, machines at the time of airport entry and exit.
Can I come on my Diplomatic Passport to India using Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
Unfortunately, you cannot come to India on Diplomatic passport using the eVisa India or Indian Visa online facility. You need to provide an ordinary passport for availing the benefits of electronic visa for India.
Is it allowed to use Refugee passport for visa to India using India Visa online (eVisa India)?
No, Refugee passports are not allowed you cannot come to India on Diplomatic passport using the eVisa India or Indian Visa online facility. You need to provide an ordinary passport for availing the benefits of electronic visa for India.
Can I use Travel Document other than Ordinary Passport for obtaining India Visa online (eVisa India)?
You cannot use urgently issued passport that is only 1 Year validity for lost/stolen passport or Refugee, Diplomatic, Official passport. Only Ordinary passport is allowed for eVisa India facility of Government of India for online visa to India.
Should I take the scan of first or first 2 page of my passport for India Visa online (eVisa India)?
You can take the scan of either page 1 or page 2 page but only the page with biographic details containing your photograph of face, name, date of birth, passport expiry and issue date is also sufficient.
All 4 corners of your passport must be visible to avoid reject for you India Visa application online, for eVisa India facility.
The first page which us usually blank and often says 'This page is reserved for official observations’ is optional. This page usually has a lower quality photo in the corner.
Is it mandatory for the file to be of type PDF, for my Passport Scan copy before upload for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
No, you can upload your passport photo any file format including PDF, PNG and JPG. If you have any other format like TIFF, SVG, AI and so on, then you can contact our help desk and provide your application number.
Is it mandatory for my Passport Scan copy to be of eChip Passport before upload for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
No, it does not matter whether your passport is eChip enabled or not, you can take the photo of your passport biography page and upload it. EChip Passport are useful at the airports for speeding up your airport check in and exit. There is no benefit of an eChip passport for India Visa application online (eVisa India).
What should I enter as my place of birth in my application, should it match my Passport Scan copy for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
Note that you MUST enter your place of birth exactly same as per your passport. If your passport has place of birth as London, then you must enter London in your passport application rather than a suburb in London and vice-versa.
A number of travellers make mistake in trying to enter a more precise location of their place of birth, this is actually detrimental to the outcome of your India Visa application. Indian Immigration officers appointed by the Government of India will not be aware of every suburb / town in the world. Kindly input exactly the same place of birth as mentioned in your passport. Even if that place of birth has now disappeared or does not exist or merged with another town or now known by a different name, you must enter exactly the same place of birth as mentioned in your passport for India Visa application online (eVisa India).
Can I take photo of my passport using my mobile phone or camera for India Visa online (eVisa India) an upload it?
Yes, you can take the photo of biography page of your passport and upload it or email it to us.
What if I don’t have a scanner handy, how can I upload my passport scan copy for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
You can take a high quality picture of your passport. There is not mandatory requirement to have the passport scan copy for your India Visa application online taken from the professional scanning machine. As long as all details on your passports are readable and all corners of your passport biography page are visible, it is acceptable from your mobile phone.
What if I have the photo of my passport but don’t know how to convert to PDF for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
If you have the photo of your passport take from iPhone or Android phone, then you can email to us if the file is too large for upload. There is no requirement for the passport scan to be in PDF format either.
Is there a minimum size for my passport scan that is required for Indian Visa application online (eVisa India)?
There is no minimum size requirement for your passport scan copy supporting for application for Visa to India online (eVisa India).
Is there a maximum size for my passport scan that is required for Indian Visa application online (eVisa India)?
There is no maximum size requirement for your passport scan copy supporting for application for Visa to India online (eVisa India).
How do you upload your Passport Scan copy for India Visa application online (eVisa India)?
After you have answered the questions for your India Visa application and made payment, our system will send you a link to upload your passport scan copy. You can click on the “browse button” and upload the passport scan copy from your phone or laptop / PC for your India Visa application online (eVisa India) application.
What should be the size Passport Scan copy for Indian Visa application?
If you are planning to upload the file on this website than the default size allowed for your passport scan copy for India Visa online application (eVisa India) is 1 Mb (Megabyte).
In case your passport scan copy is in fact, larger than 1 Mb, then you are requested to email the same to our help desk using the Contact Us form.
Do I need to visit a professional for Scan Copy of my Passport for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
No, you do not need to visit a professional scanner, stationary place or establishment for your India Visa online application (eVisa India), our help desk can appropriately amend the passport scan copy and advise if it meets the requirements of Immigration Officers. This is an additional benefit of applying for an India Visa online rather than in paper / conventional format.
How can I check whether size of my passport scan copy that it is less than 1 Mb (Megabyte) before upload it on this website for Indian Visa online (eVisa India)?
To check the size of your passport when you are using a PC, you can right-click the picture and click on Properties.
Then you can check the size on your PC from the General Tab.
What if my passport is expiring within 6 months from the date of my entry, does it meet the requirements for India Visa online application (eVisa India)?
No, you can file your application but must provide us a new passport. We can keep your application on hold while you have requested for issue of new passport.
You will not lose your position on the queue. Government of India requires that your passport is valid for 6 months from the date of entry into India.
What if my passport does not have 2 blank page, it is required for Indian Visa application (eVisa India)?
No, 2 blank pages is not a requirement for India Visa application online (eVisa India). 2 blank pages are required by the border officers to stamp entry/exit at the airport.
You can still apply for an Indian Visa online (eVisa India) and apply for a new passport in parallel.
What if my passport has expired and my eVisa India is still valid?
If your Indian Visa issued by Government of India is still valid, then you can still travel on the electronic Indian Visa as long as you carry, both an old passport and a new passport during your travel. Optionally, you can also apply for a new electronic Visa for India in case the immigration officers in your home country do not allow boarding.
India Passport Scan Specifications – Visual Guide
Clear and legible Passport scan copy, Coloured print – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Colour NOT Black and White – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Colour NOT Mono Colour – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Clear NOT Dirty or Smudged Image – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Clear NOT Noisy Image – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide High Quality NOT Low Quality Image – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Clear NOT Blurred image – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Good Contrast NOT Dark image – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Even Contrast NOT Too Light – India Visa Passport Requiremen
Provide Landscape NOT Portrait, wrong orientation – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide clear MRZ (2 strips at the bottom cut off) – India Visa Passport Requirement
Provide Aligned Images NOT Skewed – India Visa Passport Requirement
Passport Image too light – India Visa Passport Requirement
Flash on passport – India Visa Passport Requirement
Passport Image too small – India Visa Passport Requirement
Passport image too blurry – India Visa Passport Requirement
Acceptable image – India Visa Passport Requirement
India Visa Passport Scan Copy Requirements – Complete Guide
- Important: Do NOT cut photograph from passport and upload it as your face photograph. Upload a different photograph of your face.
- The passport image that you provide for your India Visa Application should be clear.
- The passport tone quality should be continuous.
- Image of your passport which is too dark will not be accepted for Indian Visa Application.
- Images that are too light in share are not allowed for Visa to India online.
- Dirty Images of your passport are not accepted for Visa for India Online (eVisa India).
- India Visa Application started online requires that you provide passport image which has all 4 corners visible.
- You should have 2 blank pages in your passport. 2 blank pages are not a requirement of Indian Visa online but airport immigration staff who need to stamp your passport for entry and exit to and from your country of origin.
- Your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date of entry into India.
- Data in your India Visa online application should match the scan copy of your passport including middle name, data of birth, surname/s exactly as per passport.
- Your passport place of birth and application place of birth mentioned in your Indian Visa application must match.
- You can have a different passport scan copy photograph of your face from the photograph of your face that you upload for your India visa application.
- You can send passport scan copy in any file format including PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, SVG.
- You should avoid flash on your passport for your Indian Visa application.
- You must have Visual Inspection Zone (VIZ) and Magnetic Readable Zone (MRZ), 2 strips at the lower part of biography page of passport clearly visible.
- Send your passport scan copy in high resolution for your India Visa application.
Ensure that you have checked the eligibility for your India eVisa.
United States citizens, United Kingdom citizens, Spanish citizens, French citizens, German citizens, Israeli citizens and Australian citizens can apply online for India eVisa.
Please apply for a India Visa 4-7 days in advance of your flight.