What pixel size for OCI upload?

Between 350 x 350 and 900 x 900; this tool exports 602 x 602 (51 mm at 300 DPI), accepted everywhere.

Why does the portal reject my file?

Usually the file exceeds 200 KB. Reduce the quality slider until the displayed KB is under the limit - the export loop here does that automatically.

No - the official specification asks for a plain LIGHT background that is explicitly not pure white. Very light grey or off-white is the safe choice.

OCI and Indian visa portals ask for a square photo of at least 350 x 350 pixels and at

most 900 x 900; 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inch, 602 x 602 px) is the standard print size. The

official photograph specification sets the head, from crown to chin, between 25-35 mm

on the 51 mm frame - about 49-69 percent - and, unlike most countries, requires a plain

LIGHT background that is explicitly NOT pure white: off-white or very light grey

photographs pass, stark white ones can be bounced. Upload files are capped at 200 KB

on the OCI services portal, so compress the JPEG after cropping - the export loop here

does that automatically. OCI applications upload two separate images, the photo and

the signature, and both have their own size caps; the 200 KB limit here applies to the

photo. Crop square with generous headroom - the 49-69 percent band is wider than the

US 50-69 percent face rule would suggest, but the face must not touch the frame.

Photographing against a wall in direct sun creates a bright centre and dark corners

that fail the background check. Flatten hair that covers the ears - biometric matching

wants the ear-to-ear contour. Do not compress below about 40 percent JPEG quality to

hit the cap; heavy artefacts around the eyes cause the portal's quality check to bounce

the file. Keep the printed 51 x 51 mm copies for the physical submission, signed across

the front where instructed.