Passport Size Photo vs Exam Photo: mm, Pixels & KB
A printed passport photo and an exam upload photo follow different rules. Learn how millimetres, pixels, DPI and KB relate, and how to turn one into the other.
By Venkatesh · Updated
Many candidates assume the passport-size photo they had printed at a studio is also what an exam portal wants. It usually isn't. A printed passport photo is measured in millimetres; an exam upload is measured in pixels and kilobytes (KB). Mixing up the two is one of the most common reasons an upload is rejected.
The Short Version
| Feature | Printed passport photo | Exam / job portal upload |
|---|---|---|
| Measured in | Millimetres (e.g. 35×45 mm) | Pixels (e.g. 200×230 px) |
| What matters | Physical size on paper | Pixel width, height and file size |
| File size | Not relevant | Strict KB range (e.g. 20–50KB) |
| Format | Glossy/matte print | JPG/JPEG file |
| Checked by | A person looking at the print | Software on the portal, then a person |
Millimetres, Pixels and DPI
DPI (dots per inch) links the two worlds. It tells a printer how many pixels to squeeze into one inch of paper. Photo labs print at about 300 DPI, so a 35×45 mm photo needs about 413×531 pixels:
- 35 mm ÷ 25.4 × 300 ≈ 413 px wide
- 45 mm ÷ 25.4 × 300 ≈ 531 px tall
Exam portals do not print anything, so for an upload DPI does not matter at all — only the pixel width, pixel height and file size do. A 200×230 px photo is the same file whether its metadata says 72 DPI or 300 DPI. If a form mentions DPI, it is usually just a hint about the expected pixel count; follow the pixel and KB numbers.
Why a Studio Photo Often Fails Online
- Too many pixels. A phone photo is usually 3000–4000 pixels wide; a scanned studio print can be 1000+ pixels. The portal wants a small, exact size.
- Too many kilobytes. A 2–5 MB file is 50–100 times bigger than a typical 20–50KB limit.
- Wrong shape. The portal may want a different aspect ratio than 35×45 mm. For example, a square 1:1 box or a 3:4 box. Stretching a photo to fit makes faces look wide or thin, so it must be cropped, not stretched.
- Scan quality. Scanning a print adds paper texture, glare and colour casts. A fresh digital photo against a plain wall is almost always better.
Turning One Into the Other
From a digital photo to an exam upload:
- Take a front-facing photo in daylight against a plain light wall.
- Open the exam's page in the exam directory, or use Resize Image in KB and enter the pixel size and KB limit from your notification.
- Crop so your face and the top of your shoulders fill the frame, then download and check the size shown.
From a digital photo to prints: use the Passport Size Photo Maker. It makes a 300 DPI photo (for example 413×531 px for 35×45 mm) and an A4 or 4×6 inch sheet you can print at any photo shop. Ask for "actual size" printing, not "fit to page".
Things That Are the Same
Both kinds of photo usually expect a recent photo (often taken within the last 3–6 months), a neutral expression, both ears and eyebrows visible, no caps or dark glasses, even lighting and a plain light background. If your exam also wants your name and the date of photo printed on it, see Add Name & Date on Photo.
Always Check the Notification
Sizes change between recruitment cycles, and different posts under the same body can use different rules. Treat any preset — including ours — as a starting point and confirm the pixel size, KB range and background colour in the official notification before you upload.