Indian visa portal: 'Only JPEG files can be uploaded' error fixed

The Indian visa portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in only accepts JPEG photos, and its own instructions state that a popup with 'Only JPEG files can be uploaded' appears for any other format. The usual culprit is an iPhone photo saved as HEIC, or a PNG export. Convert the photo to JPEG, crop it square, keep it between 350 x 350 and 1000 x 1000 pixels and between 10 KB and 300 KB, then re-upload.

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Why iPhone photos trigger this

iPhones save photos as HEIC by default, and many tools export PNG. The Indian government's own upload instructions (the VSS image guide PDF on indianvisaonline.gov.in) show this exact popup for non-JPEG files. Converting the file is enough: on iPhone, share the photo to Files as JPEG or change camera settings to Most Compatible; on any computer, export or save-as JPEG.

The full file spec, from the official instructions

JPEG format only. Square aspect ratio. Dimensions between 350 x 350 and 1000 x 1000 pixels. File size between 10 KB and 300 KB, per the government's instruction PDF for visa registration. Note that limits reported on the e-Visa flow can differ from the regular visa registration flow, so treat the figures on the exact page you are applying through as final.

The minimum matters as much as the maximum: a heavily compressed file under 10 KB is rejected too. Export at normal quality and only compress if you are over the ceiling.

Beyond the format: what the photo must show

The photo must be a recent, front-facing portrait on a plain light background with your full head visible. Getting the format right but the photo wrong means a rejection later in processing rather than at upload, which costs far more time. Check the photo itself free below.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert an iPhone HEIC photo to JPEG for the Indian visa portal?

Share the photo to the Files app or email it to yourself, which converts it to JPEG, or set Camera > Formats to Most Compatible and retake. Any photo editor's save-as or export function also works.

What size photo does indianvisaonline.gov.in accept?

A square JPEG between 350 x 350 and 1000 x 1000 pixels, between 10 KB and 300 KB, per the portal's official instruction guide for visa registration.

Why was my photo rejected when it is a JPEG?

Check the other limits: it must be square, within the pixel window, and within the size range including the 10 KB minimum. Renaming a file's extension to .jpg without converting it also fails; use a real export.