Indian Stamp Photo Size: Dimensions, Pixels and Passport Photo Comparison
Understand Indian stamp photo dimensions, print pixels and passport-photo differences, including the 2026 PAN Form 93 update.
Requirements checked against the official sources linked below on October 24, 2026.
Quick Answer
Indian stamp photo size is an informal label, not one official measurement. A commonly advertised small portrait size is 20 × 25 mm: 2 × 2.5 cm, about 0.79 × 0.98 inches, or approximately 236 × 295 pixels at 300 pixels per inch. Always use the actual dimensions on your application.
Important PAN update: do not use an old Form 49A guide for a new PAN application. New applications from April 1, 2026 use the new PAN forms. For an Indian individual, Form 93 labels its photograph boxes 4.5 × 3.5 cm. The older Form 49A specified 3.5 × 2.5 cm. Neither figure makes 20 × 25 mm a universal PAN-photo size. Match the current form and its portrait photo box.
“Passport size” is also an imprecise studio label. The photograph required by a passport office, an exam application and a visa portal may have different dimensions and submission rules.
What “Stamp Size Photo” Actually Means
In everyday Indian photo-studio usage, “stamp size” describes a small portrait, roughly reminiscent of a postage stamp. Commercial suppliers use the name for different products. The name alone does not identify the required width, height, background, photo age or upload limit.
Ask for a specific width and height in millimeters, rather than just ordering “stamp size.” For online applications, record the pixel dimensions and file-size limit instead.
Stamp Photo Dimensions, Inches and Pixels
The table lists width before height for portrait layouts. PAN form labels are explained separately below.
| Portrait format | Centimeters | Inches, approximately | Pixels at 300 PPI, approximately | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 25 mm | 2 × 2.5 cm | 0.79 × 0.98 | 236 × 295 | Commonly advertised stamp-size product; not a government-wide rule |
| 25 × 30 mm | 2.5 × 3 cm | 0.98 × 1.18 | 295 × 354 | Another commercially used small-photo format |
| 25 × 35 mm | 2.5 × 3.5 cm | 0.98 × 1.38 | 295 × 413 | Portrait dimensions associated with the older PAN form label of 3.5 × 2.5 cm |
| 35 × 45 mm | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 1.38 × 1.77 | 413 × 531 | Portrait layout corresponding to the current Form 93 photo-box label of 4.5 × 3.5 cm |
These pixel counts are print-resolution conversions, not official digital-upload requirements. An application portal can require a different pixel size regardless of the print dimensions.
PAN Photos: Current Form 93 vs Older Form 49A
The Income Tax Department's transition guidance identifies Form 93 as the new PAN application for an individual who is an Indian citizen, replacing that applicant's use of Form 49A for new applications from April 1, 2026. Other applicant categories use different forms.
The official Form 93 has two recent-colour-photo boxes labeled 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm. Match their portrait orientation. The older Form 49A showed 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm, which explains the smaller dimensions still repeated in older articles.
Check the exact current application method before printing: a paper form, an online application requiring supporting documents and a paperless process may handle photographs differently. Follow the current form's signature or thumb-impression instructions; do not apply a mark to both photographs by assumption.
Stamp Size vs Passport Size: What Is the Difference?
Stamp-size portraits are generally smaller than the photographs people call passport size. However, neither everyday label replaces the issuing authority's specification.
| Question | Stamp-size photo | Passport or application photo |
|---|---|---|
| Is there one universal size? | No | No; the document and issuing authority determine it |
| Typical ordering problem | Different studios use different dimensions | “Passport size” is reused for unrelated forms |
| What should you check? | Exact width, height and purpose | Country, document, application route and current instructions |
| Can a small photo simply be enlarged? | Enlargement can expose blur | Use a clear original and crop without stretching |
For actual Indian passport applications, use Passport Seva or the Indian mission handling your case. An exam form asking for a portrait is not evidence of the passport authority's rules.
Where Stamp Size Photos Are Used
Small portraits may be requested for school, office or other application records. Treat each request separately. Do not assume a stamp-size photo is suitable for PAN, Aadhaar, a driving licence or an examination simply because a commercial website lists those uses.
Exam instructions can change the capture method itself. For example, the SSC's 2026 Combined Hindi Translators examination notice describes live photograph capture during the application. It does not support a universal instruction to upload a previously scanned 20–50 KB portrait for every SSC application. Read your specific examination notice.
How to Convert Millimeters to Inches and Pixels
- Inches = millimeters ÷ 25.4.
- Print pixels = inches × pixels per inch.
- At 300 PPI, 20 mm is approximately 236 pixels and 25 mm approximately 295 pixels.
A 20 × 25 mm portrait has a 4:5 ratio. A 25 × 35 mm portrait has a 5:7 ratio. A 35 × 45 mm portrait has a 7:9 ratio. Crop the original to the needed shape; stretching changes the face.
How to Print Stamp Size Photos
- Confirm the current form and its exact photo-box dimensions.
- Start with a sharp original, even lighting and a background that meets that form's rules.
- Crop to the required ratio while retaining adequate headroom.
- Place the correctly sized portraits on a print sheet with room for cutting.
- Select the actual paper size and print at 100% or actual size. Disable fit-to-page and automatic enlargement.
- Use suitable photo-quality paper when required by the application.
- Measure a test print with a ruler before cutting the remaining copies.
- Attach and sign photographs only as the current form instructs.
A 4 × 6 inch sheet measures 101.6 × 152.4 mm. With a simple grid and no margins, 20 × 25 mm rectangles fit five across and six down: 30 photos. Real printers need margins and cutting gaps, so the usable count may be lower. This is layout arithmetic, not an application requirement.
Preparing a Photo for an Online Upload
Read the portal's requirements for pixel dimensions, file format and KB or MB limits. A physical measurement or a DPI setting alone does not establish upload compliance.
If the application requires live capture, follow that process. If it permits a file upload, retain the original, export a copy and inspect the final saved file. Avoid repeatedly compressing an already compressed image. Do not add a date, signature or other text unless that specific application requests it.
Prepare Your Photo With PhotoOmni
Start with your application instructions, then use PhotoOmni's document selector to check whether the exact document and format you need are supported. Do not substitute a passport template for a PAN or stamp-size requirement. Review the final file or print against the application before submission.
FAQ
What is the stamp size photo size in India? It is an informal name. A commonly advertised size is 20 × 25 mm, but your application may require another measurement.
What is a 20 × 25 mm stamp photo in pixels? Approximately 236 × 295 pixels at 300 PPI. Use a portal's own pixel requirements for digital uploads.
What is a stamp size photo in inches? 20 × 25 mm is approximately 0.79 × 0.98 inches.
What photo size does a new Indian PAN application need? The current Form 93 for Indian individuals labels its photo boxes 4.5 × 3.5 cm. Use its portrait boxes and the instructions for your application method. Do not rely on the older Form 49A figure.
Can I use a 20 × 25 mm photo for PAN? Do not assume so. That commercial stamp-size format does not match Form 93's labeled photo boxes.
Is 35 × 45 mm always a passport photo? No. It is a photo format used by multiple documents. Size alone does not establish compliance with any particular passport or form.
How many stamp photos fit on a 4 × 6 sheet? Up to 30 photos measuring 20 × 25 mm fit in a simple margin-free grid. Printer margins and cutting gaps reduce the usable count.
Official Sources
- Income Tax Department: PAN forms and applicant categories
- Current Form 93: official photograph boxes
- Income Tax Department: transition to new forms from April 1, 2026
- Older Form 49A, for historical comparison
- SSC 2026 examination notice: live photograph capture
Commercial size labels in this guide are descriptive, not official specifications. Always follow the current form or portal.
About the Author
PhotoOmni Editorial Team publishes guides to passport and visa photo requirements, digital image preparation and printing. PhotoOmni also offers paid photo services; this guide is published by PhotoOmni. Always follow the issuing authority’s current instructions.