Visa application documents — matching the PDF size and photo rules
2026-10-05
Online visa portals tend to set a format and a size cap for each document. Getting rejected at the upload step often means starting the form again, so it is worth preparing the files first.
Check before you begin
- Accepted formats — some portals take PDF only, others also allow JPG
- Maximum size per file — 2 to 5 MB is common
- Whether each document is uploaded separately or merged into one file
- Photo dimensions, which differ by country
Meeting the size cap
A scanned bank statement or employment letter can run several megabytes per page. Compress in steps until it sits under the cap, checking that text and official stamps stay sharp.
If the portal wants one combined file, merge first and compress afterwards. Doing it the other way round lets the merge push the size back up.
Photo dimensions
Resize image lets you type exact pixel values. If the requirement is given in millimetres, 1 mm is about 11.8 pixels at 300 dpi, so 35 by 45 mm works out to roughly 413 by 531 pixels.
Size is only part of it. Background colour, head proportion and how recent the photo must be all vary by country and visa type, so check the specific embassy guidance too.