You are on the last step of the form, the deadline is close, and the portal rejects your photo with a message that explains nothing. Here is what each of the common errors actually means.
“File size should be between 20 KB and 50 KB”
Your file is too large or too small. A photo from a phone camera is typically 2 MB to 5 MB, roughly a hundred times over the limit.
Fix: compress the image until it lands inside the range. Watch the lower limit too, because compressing too hard puts you under the minimum, which is also rejected.
“Invalid image dimensions” or “Dimension mismatch”
The pixel size does not match what the portal expects. Uploading a square crop when it wants 200 x 230, or a 3000 pixel wide original, both trigger this.
Fix: resize to the exact pixel dimensions in the notification. Not approximately, exactly.
“Invalid file format” or “Only JPG allowed”
Your file is a PNG, a HEIC, or a WEBP. HEIC is the usual culprit, because newer iPhones save in that format by default and portals almost never accept it.
Fix: convert to JPG. If you are on an iPhone, you can also change Settings, Camera, Formats to Most Compatible so future photos save as JPG.
“File name is invalid”
Some portals reject filenames containing spaces, brackets or special characters. A file called IMG_2043 (1).jpg can fail where photo.jpg succeeds.
Fix: rename the file to something simple like photo.jpg or signature.jpg with no spaces.
“Please upload a valid photograph”
This is the vaguest error and usually means the portal’s own checks failed. Common causes are a photo that is too dark, too blurry, has a busy background, or has no clearly detectable face.
Fix: retake it in daylight against a plain light wall, with your face filling most of the frame.
The upload button does nothing at all
Not always your file. Try these in order:
- Switch browsers, Chrome usually behaves best with government portals
- Turn off any ad blocker or VPN
- Try a laptop rather than a phone, some portals handle mobile uploads badly
- Try outside peak hours, portals are heavily loaded near a deadline
“Photo capture failed” or no upload option appears
Several commissions have moved to capturing your photograph live through the portal during the application. If there is no upload button at all, this is why, and there is no file for you to prepare.
Have good lighting and a plain background ready before you start, and remove any cap, mask or spectacles.
Fixing size and dimensions together
Most errors on this list come down to size, dimensions, or format. Our photo resizer sets all three at once, names the file correctly, and runs entirely in your browser so nothing is uploaded.