The PPSC rules (verified)
| Rule | Photograph | CNIC picture |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPG | JPG |
| File size | Less than 25 KB at the upload step (the guidelines say "not more than 60KB"); our presets stay under 25 KB | Less than 25 KB at the upload step (guidelines: 60 KB) |
| Size | At least 4.5 cm high × 3.5 cm wide | At least 54 × 86 mm (the card's size) |
| Content | Professionally taken, colour, white background, only you with no other objects, full head and shoulders, looking at the camera, neutral expression | Front side of your CNIC, "properly scanned", clear and legible |
| Not allowed | Caps, glasses, covered face, a photo cut down from a larger picture | Not stated, beyond "clear and legible" |
Sources: PPSC Photograph Guidelines PDF (29 April 2024) and PPSC Online Application Procedure PDF (3 October 2022, section 3, step 9: "maximum size of the image should be less than 25KB size"), both linked from PPSC's own site and read directly; last checked 28 October 2026. Neither gives a signature-file rule.
How to make your PPSC photograph
- Use a recent colour photo taken professionally for the purpose: front-facing, against a white background, only you in it, head and shoulders in the frame.
- Tap Choose image above. The PPSC photograph preset is already selected.
- Tap Apply preset, check the preview, then Download result.
- For the CNIC, choose a scan of the card's front, pick PPSC CNIC picture, apply it and download.
What the presets give: tested
| Test file | Preset | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait against a plain wall (26 MP, 2:3 shape) | PPSC photograph | 413×531 px, 24,469 bytes; narrow white bars at the sides, nothing cut |
| Indoor selfie (24 MP, 2:3 shape) | PPSC photograph | 413×531 px, 24,775 bytes; narrow white bars at the sides, nothing cut |
| Printed page cropped to card shape (stand-in for a CNIC) | PPSC CNIC picture | 1016×638 px, 24,230 bytes; headings and normal text readable, the smallest print soft |
Desktop Chromium, 28 October 2026; under a second each. Results stay under 25,000 bytes, which passes "less than 25KB" whichever way the portal counts a kilobyte.
413×531 pixels is 3.5×4.5 cm at 300 DPI, a common print resolution (PPSC itself states no DPI). PPSC states a minimum size, so larger is also fine as long as the file stays under 25 KB. The file records 300 DPI, so Word, print dialogs and any portal that reads the DPI see it as 3.5×4.5 cm.
PPSC says "you cannot use photos that have been cut down from larger pictures", and an applicant whose photo breaks the rules may not be allowed to sit the exam. So the photograph preset never crops: it fits your whole photo into the 3.5:4.5 frame and fills any gap at the sides or top with white. Start from a photo a photographer took in passport proportions (3.5×4.5) and the result fills the frame with no visible bars.
The CNIC picture
PPSC asks for the CNIC's front side, "properly scanned", at least 54 mm high by 86 mm wide: a landscape card. The CNIC preset makes a landscape image of exactly that shape (1016×638 pixels, the card's size at 300 DPI) and fits the whole scan inside it without cutting anything off. If the picture is upright (portrait), the preset warns you to rotate it first, because the card would otherwise fill only a narrow strip.
- Best: scan it. A flatbed scanner, or a phone scanner app (such as the scan feature in Google Drive or the iPhone Notes and Files apps), gives an even, flat image. Crop to the card's edges.
- If you can't scan: lay the card flat on a dark, plain surface in daylight, photograph it straight on with no flash glare, crop to the card's edges, and make sure it's the right way round.
- Check the downloaded file: your name and CNIC number must be readable. At 25 KB the card keeps its full 1016×638 pixels, so normal-size text stays readable; very small print can soften.
Common reasons PPSC uploads fail
- Going by the 60 KB in the guidelines. The upload step says each image must be less than 25 KB, so a 40 KB photo can be rejected. Stay under 25 KB, as the presets do.
- Background not white: no tool can fix that reliably. Retake the photo against a white wall.
- Glasses or a cap: both are listed as not allowed.
- A PNG or HEIC renamed to .jpg: upload the preset's downloaded file, which is a real JPEG.
Applying to FPSC as well? Its photo rule is different: under 30 KB with no size rule. All Pakistani and Indian exam forms we cover are on job and exam form photos.
Official sources
We read these pages directly. Rules change, so check the current version before you submit.
- PPSC: Photograph Guidelines (PDF, 29 Apr 2024)
- PPSC: Online Application Procedure (PDF, 3 Oct 2022; section 3, step 9)
Frequently asked questions
Is the PPSC photo limit 25 KB or 60 KB?
Both appear in PPSC's own documents: the Photograph Guidelines say not more than 60 KB, and the Online Application Procedure says each image must be less than 25 KB at upload. Under 25 KB meets both, which is what our presets make.
What pixel size is 3.5×4.5 cm?
413×531 pixels at 300 DPI, which is what the preset makes. PPSC states this as a minimum, so a larger photo is also fine if it stays under 25 KB.
Does the preset crop my photo?
No. Because PPSC rejects photos cut down from larger pictures, the preset fits the whole photo into the frame and fills any gap with white. Start from a photo in passport proportions.
What are the CNIC picture rules?
The front of your CNIC, properly scanned, clear and legible, JPG, less than 25 KB at upload (the guidelines say 60 KB), at least 54 mm high by 86 mm wide (the card's own size).
Why is the CNIC picture landscape?
Because the card is: 86 mm wide and 54 mm high. The preset keeps that shape so nothing on the card is cropped.
Does PPSC need a signature upload?
The Photograph Guidelines cover only the photograph and the CNIC picture. Check your specific job advertisement for anything else.
Can I wear glasses in the PPSC photo?
No. PPSC lists glasses, caps and covered faces as not allowed.
Can I crop my photo from a group picture?
No. PPSC doesn't accept a photo cut out of a larger picture. Take a separate passport-style photo.
Is my photo uploaded to PixKB?
No. Everything happens in your browser, and the files are saved to your device.