A Thailand e-visa photo must be a recent colour JPG/JPEG file of at least 350 x 450 pixels (600 x 800 pixels or higher recommended), between 200 KB and 2 MB in size, on a plain white background, uploaded to the official portal thaievisa.go.th (Royal Thai Embassy photo guidance, accessed 2026-07-21). Get the size, background and file type right and the upload passes on the first try; those three things cause most rejections.
This guide is maintained by Zurich Kotak General Insurance, an IRDAI-registered general insurer in India and part of the Zurich Insurance Group. It covers the photo only; for the full document set see Thailand tourist visa requirements , and to file the application see how to apply for the Thailand e-visa . For everything else, start with our Thailand visa for Indians hub.
Thailand e-visa photo specification at a glance
The Thai e-visa upload is defined by pixel dimensions and file size, not by a printed measurement, so a phone photo cropped to spec works if it meets the numbers below. The specification:
Attribute | Requirement |
File format | JPG / JPEG only (PNG, PDF, HEIC rejected) |
Minimum dimensions | 350 x 450 pixels (width x height) |
Recommended dimensions | 600 x 800 pixels or higher, for a sharp image |
File size | Between 200 KB and 2 MB |
Resolution | 300 DPI or higher recommended |
Background | Plain white only (no cream, grey, patterns or shadows) |
Face proportion | Head and face fill roughly 70 to 80 percent of the frame, chin to crown visible |
Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera |
Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
Not allowed | Glasses, non-religious headwear, hats, heavy editing |
Some sources also cite a physical print size of 4 x 6 cm (used on paper application forms) or the international 35 x 45 mm; for the e-visa you upload a digital file, so the pixel and file-size figures above are what the portal actually checks (Snap2Pass; go2 Thailand, both accessed 2026-07-21). Confirm the exact numbers on the live upload screen at thaievisa.go.th before you submit, as portal specs can change.
Common reasons a Thai visa photo is rejected
Nearly every rejected Thai e-visa photo fails on one of three things: a background that is not pure white, a file outside the 200 KB to 2 MB range, or dimensions below the 350 x 450 pixel minimum. The recurring problems:
· Off-white background. Cream, light blue, grey or a visibly textured wall are all rejected. Shoot against a clean white wall with even light and no shadow.
· File too large or too small. A raw phone photo can exceed 2 MB; over-compressing to save space can drop it below 200 KB. Resize to around 600 x 800 pixels and save as JPEG to land inside the band.
· Wrong dimensions or aspect. Square crops and 4 x 6 cm prints scanned at low resolution fall below the pixel minimum. Crop to portrait at 350 x 450 pixels or larger.
· Face too small or too large, or partly hidden. Keep the head and shoulders centred with the face at 70 to 80 percent of the frame; remove glasses and keep hair off the eyes.
· Old or edited photo. Use a photo taken within six months, with no beautifying filters or heavy retouching.
How to take and crop the photo yourself
You do not need a studio: a plain-background phone photo, cropped to 350 x 450 pixels or larger and saved as a JPEG under 2 MB, meets the Thai e-visa specification. Stand about a metre from a white wall in even daylight, face the camera with a neutral expression, and have someone take the shot at eye level so your head is straight. Then crop to portrait so the face fills most of the frame, resize to roughly 600 x 800 pixels, and export as JPEG. Check the final file size sits between 200 KB and 2 MB before you upload it with the rest of your tourist visa documents .
Travelling to Thailand? Get covered before you fly. A compliant photo clears the visa step; travel insurance for Thailand clears the medical bills and cancellations a visa never covers.
The visa is only the first step
Getting the photo and visa right lets you board; travel insurance is what protects the trip once you land. Zurich Kotak’s Smart Travel policy for an Asia destination like Thailand is offered on the Excel and Prime tiers, with a sum insured up to USD 500,000 on Prime and a maximum entry age of 70 [insert current tier limits from fact sheet], covering emergency medical treatment, trip cancellation for listed reasons and lost baggage, with claims handled by Europ Assistance India on a cashless or reimbursement basis. Sort the photo, complete the application, and take cover before you commit to non-refundable bookings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the correct Thailand visa photo size?
A: For the e-visa you upload a colour JPG/JPEG of at least 350 x 450 pixels (600 x 800 pixels or higher recommended), between 200 KB and 2 MB, on a plain white background (Royal Thai Embassy, accessed 2026-07-21). Some paper forms use a 4 x 6 cm print, but the online portal checks pixel dimensions and file size.
Q: What background does a Thailand visa photo need?
A: Plain white only. Cream, grey, blue or patterned backgrounds are rejected, and shadows on the wall behind you count as a non-white background, so shoot against a clean white surface with even lighting (Snap2Pass, accessed 2026-07-21).
Q: What file format and size does the Thai e-visa photo need?
A: JPG or JPEG only, between 200 KB and 2 MB; PNG, PDF and HEIC files are rejected by the portal. Resize to around 600 x 800 pixels and save as JPEG to stay inside the size band (Royal Thai Embassy, accessed 2026-07-21).
Q: Can I take the Thailand visa photo on my phone?
A: Yes. A phone photo taken against a white wall in even light, cropped to at least 350 x 450 pixels with the face at 70 to 80 percent of the frame and saved as a JPEG under 2 MB, meets the specification. Remove glasses and keep the expression neutral.
Q: Why does the Thai e-visa portal keep rejecting my photo?
A: Almost always because the background is not pure white, the file is outside the 200 KB to 2 MB range, or the dimensions are below 350 x 450 pixels. Fix those three first, and make sure the photo is recent, unedited and shows your full face from chin to crown.
