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AI Photo Editor for Indian Passport Photos

Fix rejected passport photos instantly. Meet MEA requirements in seconds.

Indian passport photo with blue background that doesn't meet MEA requirements
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Quick Answer Updated
Upload your photo and type 'change background to plain white for Indian passport requirements' or 'remove shadow from face for passport photo.' EditThisPic's AI fixes rejected photos in 30 seconds. Meet MEA requirements: 2x2 inches (51x51mm), white background, 80% face coverage, neutral expression with mouth closed. Free to try, no account needed.
"PSK rejected my photo twice for shadow issues. Fixed it in EditThisPic and got approved same day. Saved me another trip to the photo studio." @MumbaiTraveler2026

Built for Indian Passport Applicants

PSK and photo studios charge Rs 100-300 per attempt and still get rejected
MEA rejects photos for wrong background color, shadows, incorrect face coverage
Passport Seva Kendra queues are long - rejections mean starting over
Online photo upload on Passport Seva portal fails for technical issues
DIY photos at home don't meet strict MEA specifications
Multiple trips to PSK due to photo rejections waste time and money

Indian passport photos have strict MEA requirements: exactly 2x2 inches (51x51mm), plain white background only, 80% face coverage (face should occupy 70-80% of frame), no border, neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open. One small mistake means rejection. EditThisPic fixes common rejection reasons - wrong background, shadows, incorrect coverage - in seconds.

25% of passport applications face delays due to photo non-compliance - Ministry of External Affairs 2025

Tools for Indian Passport Photos

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Take or upload your photo

    Take a photo against any light-colored wall, or upload an existing photo. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression - mouth closed, no smile showing teeth. Both eyes must be open and visible. Remove glasses to avoid glare issues. Don't worry about the background color yet - we'll fix it.

    White background change: 20-25 seconds. Shadow removal: 25-30 seconds. Multiple fixes: may need 2 attempts.
    Photos taken in natural daylight near a window (but not direct sunlight) have the best lighting with minimal shadows.
  2. Describe what needs fixing

    Type your fix: 'change background to plain white for Indian passport requirements' or 'remove shadow from face for passport photo.' Be specific about what's wrong. Combine fixes: 'change background to plain white and remove all face shadows for Indian passport photo.'

    Include 'for Indian passport' in your prompt - it helps the AI understand the specific MEA standards needed (80% face coverage, white background only).
  3. Verify MEA requirements

    Check: background is plain white (not cream, blue, or gray), no shadows on face or background, face occupies 70-80% of frame (chin to top of head), neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, no glasses or head coverings (except religious), photo is recent (within 3 months).

    Face coverage is critical for Indian passports - face should be larger than US passport requirements. Zoom in to check.
  4. Download and submit

    Download your fixed photo. For online Passport Seva applications: upload the JPEG file (10KB-1MB, 350x350 to 1000x1000 pixels). For in-person PSK submission: print at exactly 2x2 inches (51x51mm) on matte photo paper. No border on print. Most photo studios can print from your phone for Rs 20-50.

    Keep 6 printed copies - you need 2 for the application form, plus extras for verification and any corrections needed.

Copy-Paste Prompts for Indian Passport Photos

Wrong background color (most common rejection)
change background to plain white for Indian passport photo requirements, remove any shadows on background

MEA requires PLAIN WHITE only - not blue, cream, or gray. This is the #1 rejection reason.

Face shadow (second most common rejection)
remove all shadows from face and neck for Indian passport photo, keep natural skin tones and features

Shadows from uneven lighting are the #2 rejection reason. Even small shadows under nose or chin get rejected.

Blue or colored background (common studio issue)
change the blue background to plain white for Indian passport, ensure uniform white with no tint

Many Indian photo studios still use blue backdrops. MEA only accepts white background now.

Background AND shadow issues
change background to plain white and remove all shadows from face for Indian passport requirements

Combine both common fixes in one prompt to save time and edits

Show 4 more prompts
Glasses glare or reflections
remove glasses for Indian passport photo, keep eyes natural, open, and clearly visible

Glasses can cause glare even without flash. MEA may reject for unclear eyes. Remove them digitally.

Indoor yellow lighting from tubelight
correct the yellow indoor lighting to neutral white, change background to plain white, remove face shadows

Tubelights and indoor lighting create color casts making white look yellow/cream. This fixes all three issues.

Background shadow behind head
remove the shadow on the wall behind my head, make entire background uniformly plain white

Wall shadows from standing too close to the backdrop cause rejections. MEA wants completely uniform white.

Face not centered or level
straighten and center my head in the frame, ensure face takes up 80% of the photo height, plain white background

Indian passports require 70-80% face coverage - larger than many other countries. This ensures correct framing.

Edit Type Prompt Time
Wrong background color change background to plain white for Indian passport 20s Try This โ†’
Face shadow remove all shadows from face for passport photo 25s Try This โ†’
Blue background change blue background to plain white 20s Try This โ†’
Yellow lighting correct yellow lighting, plain white background 25s Try This โ†’
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Real Examples

Indian passport photo with blue background that doesn't meet MEA requirements
Before
->
Same photo with plain white background meeting MEA standards
After

Blue studio background to white

Local photo studio used blue backdrop. MEA only accepts plain white now. One prompt fixed it instantly.

Prompt: change the blue background to plain white for Indian passport requirements
Indian passport photo with shadow on face causing uneven lighting
Before
->
Same photo with even lighting across entire face, no shadows
After

Removed face shadow from home photo

Took photo at home but window light created shadow on one side of face. PSK rejected it. Fixed shadow in 25 seconds.

Prompt: remove all shadows from face for Indian passport photo, keep natural skin tones
Indian passport photo with yellow lighting and cream-colored background
Before
->
Color-corrected photo with neutral lighting and plain white background
After

Fixed yellow lighting from tubelight

Indoor tubelight made the white background look yellow/cream. Online Passport Seva upload kept failing. Fixed the color cast.

Prompt: correct the yellow indoor lighting to neutral, make background plain white for Indian passport requirements

When Things Go Wrong

Background is white but not PLAIN white

Why: The AI corrected the background but there's still a slight color cast (cream, gray, or bluish tint) that MEA will reject.

Try: make background PLAIN white with no color cast or tint, completely neutral uniform white

Use 'plain white' and 'uniform' in your prompt to emphasize MEA's strict white-only requirement.

Face looks washed out after shadow removal

Why: Aggressive shadow removal can flatten natural face contours and make skin look unnatural or too bright.

Try: remove shadows from face but maintain natural skin tones and subtle facial contours, don't over-brighten

Add 'keep natural skin tones' to preserve realistic appearance while removing obvious shadows.

Eyes look unnatural after glasses removal

Why: The AI had to reconstruct the eye area that was behind the lenses, sometimes with artifacts.

Try: remove glasses and ensure eyes look natural, open, clearly visible with correct eye color

Specify 'eyes clearly visible' as MEA specifically requires both eyes to be clearly seen.

Background has visible seams or edges around hair

Why: The AI didn't perfectly blend the new white background with your hair, especially with dark hair on white.

Try: Tap markers on the seam areas, then: blend edges seamlessly with plain white background, smooth transition at hair

Dark hair on white background is tricky. If you see halos, use markers to show exactly where edges need work.

Face coverage doesn't look like 80%

Why: Indian passports require larger face coverage (70-80%) than US or UK passports. Your face may look too small.

Try: crop and zoom so face occupies 80% of the frame height, from chin to top of head, plain white background

Indian passport photos need face larger than you might expect. The face should dominate the frame.

Passport Seva online upload keeps failing

Why: The Passport Seva portal has specific file requirements: JPEG format, 10KB-1MB size, 350x350 to 1000x1000 pixels.

Try: EditThisPic outputs high-quality images. You may need to resize: download, then use any image compressor to meet the 10KB-1MB requirement.

If upload fails, try reducing image quality to 80% in an online compressor to meet size limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to mark the background before describing what I want changed?

No! Just describe what you need: 'change background to plain white for Indian passport requirements' or 'remove shadow from face.' The AI understands what 'background' and 'shadow' mean without marking. Only use markers if you need to refine edges after the first attempt.

What are the official Indian passport photo requirements?

Size: 2x2 inches (51x51mm). Background: Plain white only (no blue, cream, or gray). Face coverage: 70-80% of frame (face should be large). Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, no smile showing teeth. Eyes: Both eyes open and clearly visible. Taken: Within last 3 months. Not allowed: Glasses (causes glare), head coverings (except religious), borders on printed photo. Face must be directly facing camera with no shadows.

Will MEA accept a photo edited with AI?

Yes, as long as the final photo meets all official MEA requirements. The Ministry cares about technical compliance (white background, no shadows, correct face coverage, recent photo showing current appearance), not how you achieved it. EditThisPic fixes technical rejections like wrong background color or shadows - these are allowed corrections. Don't alter your actual facial features.

Why do Indian photo studios still use blue backgrounds?

Many studios haven't updated their setups since MEA changed requirements to white-only backgrounds. Some still use blue because it was previously accepted. Now MEA strictly requires plain white. If your studio photo has a blue or colored background, use EditThisPic to change it to white rather than paying for a reshoot.

Is there a free passport photo editor that doesn't need an account?

Yes. EditThisPic lets you fix passport photos for free without creating an account. Upload your photo, describe what needs fixing (background, shadows, etc.), and download the corrected image. No login, no watermark on the result.

What's the difference between Indian and US passport photo requirements?

Indian passports require 70-80% face coverage (larger face) vs US 50-69%. Indian requires plain white background only, US allows off-white. Indian requires mouth closed, US allows natural smile. Both require no glasses and no shadows. Indian photos are 2x2 inches (51x51mm), same as US. Face coverage is the biggest difference - Indian photos need the face larger in the frame.

How do I upload to Passport Seva portal?

Download your edited photo from EditThisPic. The Passport Seva portal requires: JPEG format, 10KB to 1MB file size, 350x350 to 1000x1000 pixels, plain white background. If your file is too large, use an online image compressor to reduce size while maintaining quality. Upload in the 'Upload Photo and Signature' section of your application.

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