Few things are more frustrating than an application form that keeps rejecting your photo without saying why. The cause is almost always one of a handful of issues. Here are the most common reasons a passport or exam photo gets rejected — and exactly how to fix each one.

1. The dimensions or pixel size are wrong

Forms expect an exact size — often 3.5×4.5 cm (about 413×531 px) or a 2×2 inch square. If your photo is the wrong shape or pixel size, it's rejected. Fix it with the Passport Photo Maker (which has the standard sizes built in) or resize in cm for an exact measurement.

2. The file size is too big — or too small

Most portals set a range, like 20–50 KB. A photo straight from your phone is far too big, while an over-compressed one can be too small. Compress a large photo down, or increase a too-small one, to land inside the allowed range.

3. The background isn't plain

Passport and most exam photos require a plain, light (usually white) background. A wall with a poster, shadows or a busy scene gets rejected. Remove the background, then use the passport maker to set a clean white one.

4. Lighting, expression or framing

Common rejections also come from harsh shadows, a tilted head, eyes not visible, caps, sunglasses, or the face being too small or too large in the frame. Use even lighting, look straight at the camera with a neutral expression, and crop so your head and the top of your shoulders fill the frame.

5. Wrong format or DPI

Some forms only accept JPG and expect 300 DPI. If you uploaded a PNG or HEIC, convert it to JPG (or HEIC to JPG), and set the resolution with change DPI if needed. Always re-read the exact requirements in the official notification — they vary by form.