Two Election Commission sources decide whether your voter ID photo goes through: the Form 6 guidance says how the photo must look, and the upload box on voters.eci.gov.in sets the file rules. This guide puts both in one place.
Quick answer
- Size: 4.5 cm high × 3.5 cm wide
- Photo: recent, good-quality, unsigned, in colour, on white
- Face: eyes open, both edges of the face visible
- Upload file: JPG or JPEG, up to 2 MB; no pixel size or DPI is set
What Form 6 asks for
The ECI Form 6 guidance asks for a recent, good-quality, unsigned colour passport photo measuring 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm wide, with a white background, open eyes and both edges of the face visible. The file rules come from the photo upload box itself, which reads “Document size maximum 2MB, .jpg, .jpeg” (checked 13 Oct 2026). Neither source gives a pixel size, a DPI or a minimum file size.
Form 6 is the form for new voters. Other voter forms can have their own photo boxes, so open the form that matches your case rather than carrying these dimensions across.
Why voter ID photos get refused
An error at the moment of upload is nearly always the file: a PNG or HEIC instead of a JPG, or a file over 2 MB. A refusal later comes from the photo itself, measured against Form 6's wording:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Background is not white | Retake against a white wall, or replace the background |
| Eyes closed or half-closed | Retake with both eyes open |
| Hair, a turned head or a tight crop hides the side of the face | Face the camera straight on and leave room on both sides |
| Name or signature written on the photo | Use an unsigned photograph |
| Wrong shape | Crop to 4.5 cm high × 3.5 cm wide |
You may see pixel sizes and small KB limits quoted for voter ID photos elsewhere. Neither Form 6 nor the upload box sets one, so a clear JPG under 2 MB is all the upload needs; a smaller file is fine as long as the face stays sharp.
How to make the photo
Take a recent colour photo against a white wall in soft light, facing the camera. If the wall isn't plain, the background removal tool replaces it with white in your browser. Then the voter ID photo resizer crops it to the 3.5 : 4.5 portrait shape and saves a JPG at or under 2,000,000 bytes, so it fits the 2 MB limit however the portal counts a megabyte. Nothing is uploaded.
PAN, driving-licence and Aadhaar photos follow different rules; the government ID photo guide sets all four side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What is the photo size for a voter ID (EPIC) application?
ECI's Form 6 guidance asks for a recent, good-quality, unsigned colour photograph measuring 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm wide, on white. Online, the upload box takes JPG or JPEG files no bigger than 2 MB; no pixel size or DPI is set.
Why is my voter ID photo getting rejected on the NVSP portal?
If the upload itself fails, it is usually the file: a PNG or HEIC instead of a JPG, or a file over 2 MB. If the photo is refused later, check it against Form 6's wording: unsigned, colour, white background, eyes open and both edges of the face visible.
Is the voter ID photo size the same across all states?
Yes. Form 6 is an Election Commission of India form, filed on one national portal, so the 4.5 cm by 3.5 cm photo and the upload limit are the same in every state.