GATE 2027 Photo and Signature Size: KB, Pixels, Format
For the current GATE cycle (GATE 2027, conducted by IIT Madras), the photograph must be a JPEG between 5KB and 600KB, sized between 200x260 and 530x690 pixels, on a plain white background with the face covering 60-70% of the frame. The signature must be a JPEG between 3KB and 300KB, sized between 250x80 and 580x180 pixels, in black or dark blue ink.
FixDoks is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body, exam board or recruitment agency. Requirements change, so always confirm them in the latest official notification.
For the current GATE cycle, GATE 2027, conducted by IIT Madras, the photograph must be a JPEG between 5KB and 600KB, sized between 200x260 and 530x690 pixels. The signature must be a JPEG between 3KB and 300KB, sized between 250x80 and 580x180 pixels, in black or dark blue ink. GATE runs on the GOAPS application portal, which is organised by a different IIT or IISc each year, so always confirm the current year's page before you upload.
GATE photo and signature specification
| Document | Format | File size (KB) | Dimensions | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPEG/JPG | 5 to 600 | Min 200x260px, max 530x690px; width-to-height ratio 0.66 to 0.89 (passport size, 3.5cm x 4.5cm) | Plain white background, frontal view, face covers 60-70% of the frame, no cap, hat or sunglasses; normal vision spectacles allowed; head covering allowed only for religious reasons with the face fully visible |
| Signature | JPEG/JPG | 3 to 300 | Min 250x80px, max 580x180px, height-to-width ratio between 1:2.75 and 1:3.75 | Black or dark blue ink only, signed by the candidate personally, not in all capital letters, not just initials, and not a digital signature; should fill 70-80% of the image after cropping |
Source: GATE 2027 candidate portal, Photograph and Signature guidelines page, organised by IIT Madras (checked September 2026). GATE's organising institute changes most years, so a future cycle's exact page name will differ even though the broad rules tend to stay similar.
Resize your photo with the photo resizer and clean up your signature with the signature resizer to fit these ranges before you upload on GOAPS.
Resize Photo to 100 KB
Same settings as the full tool page.
Runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device. Open the full Resize Photo to 100 KB page
Step by step: preparing both files
- Take a recent, plain colour photo against a white background, facing the camera directly with your face filling roughly 60-70% of the frame.
- Remove any cap, hat or sunglasses; normal prescription glasses are fine as long as your eyes are clearly visible without glare.
- Resize the photo with the photo resizer to land inside 200x260 to 530x690 pixels and 5-600KB.
- Sign on plain white paper with black or dark blue ink, in your normal signature, not in capital letters or just your initials.
- Crop the signature tightly so it fills 70-80% of the image, then resize with the signature resizer to land inside 250x80 to 580x180 pixels and 3-300KB.
- Upload both files on the GOAPS portal and check the preview before submitting.
The face coverage rule most people get wrong
GATE's guidance is specific about the face taking up 60-70% of the photo, which is noticeably larger and closer than a standard passport photo where the head is a smaller part of the frame. A photo taken at arm's length that looks fine for a passport application can look too small and get flagged here. Crop in closer than you might expect, keeping the full head and a little space above it, rather than the whole shoulders and torso.
The signature's aspect ratio, not just the pixel range
Unlike a simple minimum and maximum pixel size, GATE's signature rule also fixes the shape: the height-to-width ratio must fall between 1:2.75 and 1:3.75, meaning a wide, short rectangle rather than a square or a tall shape. If your cropped signature comes out too square or too elongated, adjust the crop before resizing, since getting the pixel count right does not help if the ratio itself is outside this range.
Sign your name at a natural size on the paper rather than very small in one corner, then crop tightly around it. A signature that is stretched to fit a wide rectangle from a tiny original often looks distorted after resizing.
Why a digital or typed signature will not work
The guidelines are explicit that the signature must be signed personally in ink and not be a digital signature, initials, or written in capital letters. This matters because the GATE page warns that a candidate whose signature does not match the one signed at the exam could be disqualified, so sign the way you will sign on exam day.
If your upload keeps getting rejected
- Check the aspect ratio, not just KB and pixels. Both the photo and the signature have shape rules in addition to size rules.
- Re-check the background. A slightly off-white or shadowed background on the photo is a common reason for a flagged upload.
- Confirm the format is genuinely JPEG. A file renamed to .jpg without actually being re-saved as JPEG can still fail.
- Do not upload a scanned printout of a digital photo. Use the original digital photo file resized correctly instead.
GATE 2027 dates and the DigiLocker step
The GATE 2027 site (IIT Madras) lists regular registration on GOAPS closing on 27 September 2026 and the extended window, with late fee, closing on 5 October 2026. The exams are on 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21 February 2027, admit cards from 4 January 2027, and results on 19 March 2027. The site marks all dates as liable to change.
New for 2027: registration through a verified DigiLocker account is mandatory for Indian nationals, and all later communication is tied to that DigiLocker account. The photo you upload is the one printed on your admit card and scorecard, so there is no second chance to swap it later.
If you take two papers under the allowed two-paper combinations, it is one application with one photo and one signature, so check the preview once carefully before paying.
Common mistakes
- Using an old passport-style photo where the face is too small for GATE's 60-70% framing rule.
- Signing in capital letters or block letters, which the guidelines explicitly disallow.
- Getting the pixel count right but the aspect ratio wrong on the signature.
- Wearing sunglasses or a cap in the photo, even briefly for a quick selfie-style shot.
- Assuming next year's GATE page will have the exact same URL, since the organising institute usually changes.
Tools for this
Frequently asked questions
What is the GATE photo size in KB?
For GATE 2027, the photograph must be a JPEG between 5KB and 600KB, between 200x260 and 530x690 pixels, with a width-to-height ratio of 0.66 to 0.89, on a plain white background with the face covering 60-70% of it.
What is the GATE signature size?
The signature must be a JPEG between 3KB and 300KB, sized between 250x80 and 580x180 pixels, with a height-to-width ratio between 1:2.75 and 1:3.75, in black or dark blue ink.
Can I wear glasses in my GATE photo?
Yes, normal spectacles for vision correction are allowed. Sunglasses, coloured glasses, caps and hats are not.
Can I sign my GATE signature in capital letters?
No, the guidelines specifically say the signature should not be in all capital letters, should not be just initials, and must not be a digital signature.
Does the organising institute for GATE change every year?
Yes, a different IIT or IISc organises GATE most years, so the exact portal name and page can change, though the broad photo and signature rules tend to stay similar between cycles.
Why was my GATE photo rejected even though the file size was correct?
Size within range is not the only check. The face coverage percentage, background colour and pixel aspect ratio are checked too, so review each of these if an upload keeps failing.
Sources
- GATE 2027, Photograph and Signature (IIT Madras) (checked 2026-09)
- GATE 2027 home page: important dates and DigiLocker registration (IIT Madras) (checked 2026-09)
Rules and limits change. Always check the latest official notification or portal before you submit a form.