Indians in the USA: passport and ID photos

An example photo of a fictional person
Example: a fictional person

In the USA, VFS Global is the only service provider for Indian passport and OCI applications, mostly by post, at its consular application centres (VFS Global: Indian consular application centres in the USA). You take the photos yourself. From 1 September 2025 Indian missions accept only ICAO photos: colour, white background, the face 80 to 85% of the frame, no glasses. (Embassy of India, Washington: ICAO photograph guidelines)

Every photo you need, and who takes it

From each office's own website, checked October 2026. Lines marked Check are ones the office doesn't fully settle. Rules change, so confirm before you apply.

Renew an Indian passport from the USA

  1. Fill in the form on Passport Seva with the photo and signature uploaded, and print it. (VFS Global USA: adult re-issue of passport checklist (May 2026))
  2. Register online with VFS Global before you post the application. (VFS Global USA: adult re-issue of passport checklist (May 2026))
  3. Post the original passport with copies of its first five and last two pages, two photos, colour address proof and proof of your US status. (VFS Global USA: adult re-issue of passport checklist (May 2026))

Tip: A US passport photo allows off-white and a smile. The Indian photo wants white and a neutral face, so take a new one.

Make it at home. Free while we launch. After that, one payment of $7.99 covers one person's photo in every size on this page. The Indian passport pack, with the prints and page copies, is $7.99. Picproved checks the size, background, head size and face rules before you save, and your photo stays on your phone. The office still makes the final decision. Make your India Passport photo

For life in the USA

DocumentSize
United States Green card and USCIS forms (I-485, I-90, I-765, N-400) photo50.8×50.8 mm, 600×600 px, white or off-white
United States Passport (print or online renewal) photo50.8×50.8 mm, 600×600 px, white or off-white

Indian document packs

Questions

Which photos do Indians in the USA need?
Indian passport renewal: the upload: you take it. Indian passport renewal: two printed photos: you take it. Passport signature: you take it. OCI card: you take it. OCI signature: you take it. Indian e-Visa (no OCI yet): you take it.
Can I take my Indian photo at home in the USA?
Yes for Indian passport renewal, Passport signature, OCI card, OCI signature, Indian e-Visa (no OCI yet). Picproved checks the size, background and face rules before you save. The office still makes the final decision.

Indians in other countries