Studio passport photo services in India charge ₹50–₹150 per set of 4–6 prints. A home inkjet printer on photo paper costs roughly ₹3–₹8 per print at the same quality — a full sheet of 8 photos for under ₹20. The challenge isn't the printing; it's getting the tile layout and dimensions exactly right before you send the file to the printer. Here is the complete approach.
Quick answer
- Create the sheet: easyPhoto Print Sheet — tiles your photo at 35×45 mm on A4 or 4×6 inch at 300 DPI, with cut guides.
- Paper: glossy or semi-gloss photo paper, 200–250 gsm.
- Printer settings: photo quality, 300 DPI, borderless if possible. Disable “fit to page” scaling.
- Cut: use scissors or a craft knife along the printed guide lines. Each 35×45 mm photo is ready to use.
What are the standard passport photo print dimensions in India?
The Ministry of External Affairs specifies a 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall photo for Indian passports. This is a global standard shared with PAN cards (physical submission), most Indian exam portals, and the majority of visa applications. The only common exceptions are US passports (2×2 inch / 51×51 mm) and UK / Schengen visas (35×45 mm — same size, but different background colour requirements).
| Document | Print size | At 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Passport | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| PAN Card (physical) | 25×35 mm | 295×413 px |
| Most Indian exam forms | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| US Passport | 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) | 600×600 px |
| UK / Schengen Visa | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| Baby / Infant Passport (India) | 35×45 mm (same size) | 413×531 px |
How many photos fit on a sheet?
The answer depends on the paper size and margin settings. A 4×6 inch sheet (the most common photo print size in India) and an A4 sheet both work. The print sheet tool auto-calculates the layout and generates a single JPEG at 300 DPI with faint cut guides — so you don't have to calculate margins or tile the images manually.
Step-by-step: print passport photos at home
- Prepare the photo: start with a properly cropped and compliant photo. If you haven't taken the photo yet, the passport photo maker crops to the correct head-size and background automatically. If you already have a photo, the background remover can apply a white background first.
- Generate the print sheet: open the print sheet tool, upload your photo, select the paper size (A4 or 4×6 inch) and layout (4 or 6 photos). Download the JPEG — it is sized at exactly 300 DPI for the chosen paper.
- Load photo paper: use glossy or semi-gloss photo paper, 200–250 gsm. Avoid plain A4 paper — the colours appear washed out and the surface is too matte for most offices to accept.
- Printer settings: set the media type to “Photo Paper” or “Glossy Paper”. Set quality to “Best” or “High”. If your printer supports borderless printing, enable it. Disable “fit to page” / “scale to fit” — this is the most common mistake; scaling shrinks the 35×45 mm photos to the wrong size.
- Print and cut: print one test page first to confirm colour and size. Measure one photo: it should be exactly 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall. Cut along the printed guide lines using scissors or a craft knife and ruler.
Common printing mistakes and how to avoid them
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Fit to page" is on in the print dialog | Set to "Actual size" or "100%" — never scale the sheet or photos will be undersized |
| Plain A4 paper used instead of photo paper | Use glossy or semi-gloss 200+ gsm — passport offices notice the difference |
| Printer set to draft / economy mode | Set quality to Best or High for correct colour and sharpness |
| Photo cropped incorrectly before tiling | Use the passport photo maker first to ensure the head fills 70–80% of the 35×45 mm frame |
| Cut lines off by 1–2 mm | Use a craft knife + metal ruler for clean cuts; scissors can slip on small formats |
| Background appears off-white when printed | Calibrate your monitor or add a slight brightness boost in the print settings |
Are home-printed photos accepted at passport offices?
Yes — the MEA passport photo guidelines specify the photo characteristics (size, background, head position, recency), not the printing method or vendor. A home-printed photo that meets the spec is equally valid. The practical check: hold the photo up to the light — the image should not be visible through the paper (too thin = poor quality). On quality photo paper this is never an issue.
For exam forms, most portals (UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI) require the digital upload and also instruct candidates to paste a physical photo on the printed acknowledgement slip. The exam photo size guide covers the per-portal physical and digital specs side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What size should I print passport photos at home?
The standard Indian passport photo print is 35×45 mm. For a 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) photo paper — the most common print format in India — you can fit 8 photos on one sheet using the 2×4 layout at 300 DPI. Use easyPhoto's print sheet tool to tile and download a print-ready JPEG automatically.
Can I print passport photos at home with a normal inkjet printer?
Yes, provided you use photo paper (glossy or semi-gloss, 200–250 gsm) and set the printer to photo quality at 300 DPI. Borderless printing gives cleaner edges. Standard plain paper gives washed-out colours that most counters and offices will not accept as a valid passport photo.
How many passport photos fit on an A4 sheet?
At 35×45 mm per photo with 2 mm margins, you can fit up to 18 photos on one A4 sheet (6 columns × 3 rows). However, most home printers can't print fully to the edge of A4, so a 4×6 grid (12 photos, 3 columns × 4 rows) with margins is more reliable. The print sheet tool offers both A4 and 4×6 inch layouts.
Do home-printed passport photos get accepted at the passport office?
Yes — the Passport Seva portal and MEA guidelines do not require photos to be taken or printed in a studio. The photo must meet the specification: 35×45 mm, colour, white or off-white background, frontal face, matte or semi-gloss paper. Home-printed photos that meet these requirements are accepted.
What DPI should passport photos be printed at?
300 DPI is the standard for passport photos and is accepted by all Indian government offices. At 300 DPI, a 35×45 mm photo is 413×531 pixels. Most home inkjet and laser printers can produce acceptable quality at 300 DPI on photo paper. Never print at less than 200 DPI — the pixelation is visible on small prints.