Prepare Documents for Any Online Application
Each portal asks for its own sizes and formats. Work through the checklist, look up your exam in the size table, and prepare the files in your browser.
By the GreenPDFs team
The 4-step checklist
- Photo: resize it to the exact pixels and KB with the Photo & Signature Resizer.
- Signature: sign in black ink on white paper, then compress it to 10–20 KB or use your exam preset.
- Certificates: turn photos into a PDF with JPG to PDF, or join several PDFs with Merge PDF.
- Size limit: bring each PDF under the limit (100KB, 200KB, 500KB and so on) with Compress PDF.
Size table by exam and portal
Summarised from the latest notices and official portal instructions. Confirm the figures in your own notice.
| Exam / portal | Photo | Signature | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC (CGL, CHSL, JE…) | Captured live in the application | JPG 10–20 KB, about 6 × 2 cm | As per notice |
| UPSC CSE | JPG 20–200 KB + live photo | 3 signatures in one image, 20–100 KB, 350–500 px | Photo ID 20–200 KB |
| IBPS (PO, Clerk, RRB, SO) | 200 × 230 px, 20–50 KB | 140 × 60 px, 10–20 KB | Thumb 240 × 240 px 20–50 KB; declaration 800 × 400 px 50–100 KB |
| NEET UG | Passport 10–200 KB; postcard 4 × 6 in 10–200 KB | Check bulletin (preset 10–30 KB) | As per bulletin |
| PAN card (Protean/NSDL, UTIITSL) | Differs by portal (the resizer has presets for both) | Differs by portal | PDF as per portal |
| National Scholarship Portal | As per scheme | As per scheme | PDF or JPEG, each up to 200 KB (compress to 200KB) |
| Passport Seva (GPSP 2.0) | As per instructions | Not applicable | Supporting documents as PDF; missions abroad state a 1 MB total |
Combine certificates into one PDF
If a portal wants all your certificates in one file under a limit, use Merge PDF and type the limit in the size box. The files are merged and compressed together. Our guide on combining certificates into one PDF goes through it step by step.
Common rejection reasons
- The file is over the maximum KB, or under the minimum.
- The format is wrong: HEIC or PNG where JPG is required, or JPG where PDF is required.
- The scan is hard to read because of blurred text, shadows or cut-off edges.
- The signature is in capital letters, or the photo has a cap, dark glasses or a busy background.
- The PDF has a password. Remove the password before uploading.
Why prepare documents privately
Application documents include your Aadhaar, marksheets and caste and income certificates. GreenPDFs processes them inside your browser and never uploads them to a server. You can read more in Is it safe to use online PDF tools?
Frequently asked questions
What size should my signature be for SSC?
JPG, 10–20 KB, about 6 × 2 cm in the recent notices. The photo is captured live.
What is the NEET photo size in KB?
The passport and postcard photos are 10–200 KB each, JPG.
How do I combine certificates into one PDF under 200KB?
Use Merge PDF and type 200 in the size box.
Why was my upload rejected even though the size was right?
Check the format (JPG or PDF), whether it is readable, the background, and whether the file has a password.
Do SSC and UPSC still need a photo file?
SSC captures the photo live. UPSC captures a live photo and also asks for a photograph file.
Is it safe to process Aadhaar here?
Yes. The files stay on your device.