Recruitment and exam portals in Pakistan and India ask for a photo, often a signature, and sometimes document scans, each with its own size rule. The numbers that circulate online are frequently out of date or simply wrong. These are the rules read from each commission's own guidelines, with a page for each that explains the details and applies them in one tap.
Current rules at a glance
| Form | Photo | Signature / other uploads |
|---|---|---|
| FPSC (Pakistan) | JPG, under 30 KB; no pixel or cm size specified | No separate signature upload in the online form |
| PPSC (Pakistan) | JPG, less than 25 KB at upload (guidelines: 60 KB), at least 3.5×4.5 cm, white background | CNIC front scan: JPG, less than 25 KB at upload, at least 54×86 mm |
| SSC CGL, GD and Selection Post 2026 (India) | Captured live by webcam or phone while you fill in the form; no photo file | Signature: JPG, 10–20 KB, about 6.0×2.0 cm |
| UPSC CSE 2026 (India) | Upload a photo (JPG, 20–200 KB) and also capture a live photo | Three signatures one below the other on one sheet, one JPG, 20–100 KB |
Rules change between exam cycles, sometimes exam by exam. Always compare with the notification for your exam; each page above shows the date it was checked and the source.
Getting the signature right
Sign in black ink on plain white paper, large enough to fill most of the frame, then photograph or scan it in good light. Crop close to the signature and use the signature resizer or the matching preset: it sets the dimensions and brings the file into the KB range. Very small limits such as 10–20 KB are easy to meet with a clean, high-contrast signature; a grey, shadowed photo of paper wastes bytes on the background.
Minimum sizes are rules too
Several forms set a minimum as well as a maximum (UPSC's 20–200 KB photo and SSC's 10–20 KB signature, for example). A file that's too small is rejected just like one that's too big. PixKB's presets handle both ends; for a custom range, use increase image size in KB.
Document scans
Degree certificates, domicile and experience letters are usually requested as small JPG or PDF scans. See how to scan a document for upload for settings that keep text legible at 100–200 KB, or compress a PDF to an exact size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FPSC photo size?
FPSC's online application asks for a passport-style photo in JPG format, under 30 KB. Its guidelines set no pixel or centimetre size, and the form has no separate signature upload.
Is the PPSC limit 25 KB or 60 KB?
Both are PPSC's own figures: its Photograph Guidelines say not more than 60 KB, and its Online Application Procedure says each image must be less than 25 KB at upload. Stay under 25 KB to meet both.
Do SSC and UPSC still need a photo file?
SSC's 2026 notices (CGL, GD and Selection Post) capture your photo live while you fill in the form, so there's no photo file to prepare. UPSC CSE 2026 asks for both: upload a photo (JPG, 20–200 KB) and also capture a live one. Both still need an uploaded signature file.
Why does my signature fail the minimum KB?
A clean signature on white paper compresses very well, so it can come out below the minimum. Use the preset or the minimum-size mode, which pads the file invisibly to reach the minimum.
Are my documents uploaded to PixKB?
No. Everything is processed in your browser on your device.