An upload error on the last day of an application is stressful. Most rejections come from the same handful of causes.
- File too large. Compress it to the stated KB limit.
- File too small. Some portals also set a minimum. Raise the quality or use a resizer that pads the file.
- Wrong pixel size. Resize to the exact width and height asked for.
- Wrong format. Convert PNG or WebP to JPG.
- Stretched image. Crop instead of stretching, so the face keeps its proportions.
- Bad background. Use plain white or light, with no shadows.
- Typed signature. It must be your handwriting.
- Re-saved file. Opening and re-saving in another app can change the size.
- Old rules. Guides from last year may be out of date. Follow the current notification.
Tools that help
Use the exam photo and signature resizer for named exams, compress to a target KB for any limit, and the image converter for format changes.
How to fix each problem
Size problems. Open the exam page or the compress tool, enter the limit and download the result. Do not open and save the downloaded file in another app, because that can change the size again.
Shape and pixels. A portrait photo of 200 x 230 is almost square. If you shrink a landscape photo to those numbers without cropping, faces look squashed. Crop first, then resize.
Background and light. Stand a step away from the wall to avoid your own shadow on it, and face a window. Phone portrait modes that blur the background can leave strange edges, so turn them off.
Signatures. Use plain white paper and a dark pen. If a stylus or typed signature is not allowed by the form, a scanned handwritten signature is the safe choice.
A quick checklist before you click upload
- File type is JPG or JPEG.
- Pixel size matches the form, if the form states one.
- KB size is inside the window, with a small margin.
- The picture is sharp, not stretched and not filtered.
- You are using the notice for this year, not a copy from an older cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the portal accept the file but reject it later?
Review staff may check the picture itself: face visibility, background, handwriting. A correct file size does not guarantee approval.
Can I upload from my phone?
Yes, as long as the file comes from a tool that exports the right size. Check the size in your file manager afterwards.
Which tool should I use first?
If your exam is listed on the exam photo resizer, use that. Otherwise use compress to a target KB, then resize to the required pixels.