Photo & signature size for online exam forms
Quick answer: Most online exam forms want a colour JPEG photo around 200×230 px, ~20–50 KB, and a signature around 140×60 px, under ~20 KB. The exact numbers differ by exam — always check the official notification — but those ranges cover most forms.
Getting your photo or signature rejected on the last day of a form is one of the most avoidable headaches in Indian exam applications. The portal almost always wants a precise file format, pixel size and a file-size limit in KB — and your phone's camera produces something far larger. This guide explains what's being asked and how to hit it exactly.
Typical requirements by exam
These are the common values you'll see. Treat them as a starting point and confirm against the notification for your specific exam and year, because boards do change them.
| Exam | Photo | Signature | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC (CGL, CHSL, MTS) | ~20–50 KB, recent colour | ~10–20 KB | JPEG |
| IBPS / SBI (bank) | 20–50 KB, 200×230 px | 10–20 KB, 140×60 px | JPEG |
| UPSC | ~20–200 KB | ~20–100 KB | JPEG |
| NEET / NTA (2026 bulletin) | 10–200 KB | 10–100 KB | JPEG |
Exact sizes for your exam
Each page below carries that exam's own photo and signature specification — the exact pixels and KB limits, with a link to the official notice and the date we last checked it — and resizes your files to those numbers on the same page.
📐 SSC · IBPS · SBI · RRB / Railways · UPSC · UPPSC · BPSC · MPPSC · RPSC · NEET · JEE Main · CUET · CTET · GATE · any other exam
What the portal is really checking
- Format: nearly always JPEG/JPG. PNG and iPhone HEIC files are commonly rejected.
- Dimensions: the width × height in pixels (e.g. 200×230). Too small looks blurry; too large may be refused.
- File size: a minimum and maximum in KB. "Under 50 KB" is common, and some forms also require "at least 20 KB".
- Background & recency: a plain light background and a recent photo. This is a content rule, not a file rule, but it gets applications rejected too.
Signature size in cm — how it maps to pixels
Notifications sometimes give a size in centimetres (a signature box of 6 × 2 cm, or a photo of 3.5 × 4.5 cm) while the upload page asks for pixels. Centimetres describe a printed size; pixels describe the file. To convert, divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, then multiply by the resolution:
- 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo ≈ 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI, or ≈ 276 × 354 px at 200 DPI
- 6 × 2 cm signature ≈ 709 × 236 px at 300 DPI, or ≈ 472 × 157 px at 200 DPI
- 2 × 2 inch photo (US visa style) = 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI
If the form states pixels, use the pixels — that is what the portal actually validates. Use the centimetre figure only when no pixel size is given.
How to resize your photo or signature
- Open the Photo & Signature Resizer.
- Choose your image.
- Type the exact pixel size and KB limit your form needs (or pick a preset).
- Download the result and upload it. It's already in JPEG and within the limit.
If you only need to shrink the file size and the dimensions are already fine, the Image Compressor can take a JPG or PNG down to an exact KB target — like 50 KB — while keeping the dimensions.
iPhone photo won't upload?
iPhones save photos as HEIC, which most exam portals can't read. Convert it to JPG first with the HEIC to JPG converter, then resize it to the size your form wants.
Frequently asked questions
What size should my photo be for an online exam form?
Most exam forms want a recent colour passport photo in JPEG, roughly 200×230 pixels, between about 20 KB and 50 KB. The exact range is in the official notification, so always confirm there.
How do I reduce my signature to 20 KB?
Resize the signature to the required pixel size (often around 140×60 px) and compress it as JPEG until the file is under 20 KB. Our resizer does both at once, without quality guesswork.
Why does the portal keep rejecting my upload?
Usually the file is too big, too small, in the wrong format (PNG/HEIC instead of JPEG), or the dimensions are wrong. Match the format, pixel size and KB limit in the notification exactly.
Can I resize my photo without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. ToolGalli's resizer runs entirely in your browser, so your photo and signature are never sent to a server.
Requirements vary by exam, board and year. Always follow the official notification for your specific application. ToolGalli is an independent utility site.