India PAN Card Photos

What Is PAN Card photo size:

A PAN Card photo is materially different than the US passport photo that you get at Walgreens or CVS stores. US passport photo is 2x2 inches or 51 x51 mm in size. A PAN card photo is smaller in size- only 35 x25mm.
You can compare a PAN card photo to various other India-related photos below:

PAN Card photo size debate- 35x25mm or 25x35mm?

PAN Card form (Form 49A and 49AA ) instructions mention a 35x25 mm photo. As per passport photo convention, the first number is x - horizontal and the second number is y- like the y-axis - vertical. So not sure if the PAN card processing authority wants a wider photo- 35x25mm or if they mean a vertical photo. They mention 35 x25mm but the box on the PAN Card application form seems like they want a taller- 25x35mm photo. (Please note that the box on the form is not in exact size so neither of the 35x25 nor 25x35mm photos will exactly fit in the form!)

We sent photos to NSDL in both sizes and asked which photo they want. They did not reject or approve tall or wider photos. They just mentioned that the photo needs to be in 35x25mm size! Also, nowhere online nor on their forms, do they provide any samples for PAN card photos. Our inquiry at PAN card processors in India indicated that they do not care about the size of the photo, as long as the face can fit on the square box (The box is neither 25x35 nor 25x35mm. It is more like a square box which creates more confusion for applicants) on the actual PAN card that is printed.

Now based on our experience with a few thousand PAN card photo customers, we can confirm that they accept photos in either size. We have made 35x25mm (wider) photos for many customers and 25x35mm (taller) photos for the majority of customers. So far, none of our customers have come back to us and reported any rejection of photos we have created for them with the reason for being in the wrong size.

 

'Individual' applicants should affix two recent color photographs with white background (size 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm) in the space provided on the acknowledgment. The photographs should not be stapled or clipped to the acknowledgment. The clarity of the image on the PAN card will depend on the quality and clarity of the photograph affixed on the acknowledgment.

Please note that
(i) " The photo is to be like an Indian passport which shows up to shoulders. The photo should show 50 to 60% covers the head portion and the balance up to and below the shoulder line for acceptance It does not matter if the photo is slightly bigger."
(ii) the photos submitted by PAN Card applicants are scanned by NSDL in India. For scanning photos, it helps if the PAN Card photo is taken in good light and has enough contrast.
(iii) In the specs they mention a white background, but some customers have reported that the NSDL scanning prefers a slightly blue/very light blue background so unless you specify, we may create photos on a very light blue background if there is not enough contrast in the original photo.