SSC CHSL Photo and Signature Size 2026: KB, Pixels, Format
SSC CHSL does not need an uploaded photo, since it is captured live through a webcam or the mySSC app. Only the signature is uploaded, as a JPG/JPEG between 10KB and 20KB, about 6.0cm wide by 2.0cm tall, the same rule used across the SSC portal.
SSC CHSL uses the same signature rule as SSC CGL: a JPG or JPEG file between 10KB and 20KB, about 6.0cm wide by 2.0cm tall. There is no photo upload either. The application module captures your photograph live through a webcam or the mySSC app while you fill the CHSL form.
One portal, one rule, several exams
SSC runs CGL, CHSL, GD Constable and several other exams through the same ssc.gov.in portal and the same One Time Registration system, so the photo and signature mechanics are identical across all of them. We confirmed the exact wording in the official CHSL notice: candidates are required to upload the scanned signature in JPEG/JPG format between 10 and 20KB, with the image dimension about 6.0cm wide by 2.0cm tall, and applications with blurred or miniature signatures are liable to be rejected summarily.
If you have already read our SSC CGL photo and signature size guide, the mechanics below will look familiar; this page focuses on what is specific to CHSL 2026: its dates, its applicants and the upload problems they commonly hit.
| Document | Format | File size (KB) | Dimensions | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | JPG/JPEG | 10KB to 20KB | About 6.0cm (width) x 2.0cm (height) | Rejected if blurred or miniature |
| Photograph | Captured live (no file upload) | Not applicable | Full frontal face inside the camera frame | No cap, mask or glasses/spectacles |
| OTR documents (only if you do not give an Aadhaar number) | As per portal instructions | As per portal instructions | - | Proof of name, date of birth, address and gender, plus a photograph, uploaded at OTR |
Source: SSC Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination 2026 notice, ssc.gov.in (published 7 September 2026). Applications run from 7 September to 7 October 2026 (23:00), with the correction window from 14 to 16 October 2026. Para 9.6 says about 6.0cm x 2.0cm for the signature, while Annexure-IV of the same notice says about 4.0cm x 2.0cm; either way it is a wide, short crop of 10-20KB.
Resize your signature to the exact SSC range with the SSC signature and photo resizer, or use the general signature resizer if you already have a clean scan and just need to hit the KB target.
Why CHSL applicants specifically get tripped up
CHSL attracts a very large number of first-time applicants straight out of school or college, many of whom have never filled an SSC-style form before and expect to upload a passport-style photo the way older government forms used to work. Because the live capture step only appears after OTR is complete, candidates sometimes give up midway looking for a "photo upload" button that does not exist on this form, when the real next step is simply to allow camera access and follow the framing prompts.
Step by step: signature and photo for CHSL
- Complete OTR on ssc.gov.in, ideally with Aadhaar-based authentication, well before the 7 October 2026 closing date.
- Log in on ssc.gov.in or the mySSC app (Android, from the Google Play Store) and open the CHSL 2026 application form.
- Fill in your personal, educational and category details, which pull through from your OTR profile for some fields.
- When the form reaches the photo step, allow camera access and capture your photo following the on-screen guide: good light, plain background, no cap or glasses.
- Upload your scanned signature at 10-20KB, JPG format, about 6.0cm x 2.0cm.
- Review the preview screen carefully, since CHSL gets a very high volume of applications and support queries are slow to resolve during the closing days.
Getting the signature file exactly right
Sign in dark ink on plain white paper, photograph it with even lighting and no shadow across the ink, then crop tightly so only the signature and a thin margin remain. A signature scanned too small in physical size on the paper often cannot be resized up to hit 10KB without looking blocky, so sign at a reasonably large size on paper first, then crop and compress down to the target range rather than trying to enlarge a tiny signature.
If your first upload attempt is rejected for file size, you do not need to sign again. Re-crop and recompress the same source photo of your signature until it lands in the 10-20KB window.
Common CHSL-specific mistakes
- Trying to upload a photo file when the form only expects a live capture; there is no photo upload field to find.
- Missing the OTR step entirely and then running out of time when the CHSL application window is about to close.
- Signing with a very light or gel pen that scans faintly, which then compresses into a signature that looks "miniature" or unclear even though the file size is technically in range.
- Not checking camera permissions on a shared family computer or cyber cafe system before starting the timed application session.
- Applying from a mobile browser with an unstable connection during the live capture step, which can cause the camera preview to freeze partway through.
Why a signature upload usually fails
The notice itself only sets the rules: JPG/JPEG, 10KB to 20KB, a wide and short signature, not blurred or miniature. In practice most failed uploads come down to one of three things: the file is above 20KB, the file is below 10KB, or the crop is nearly square instead of a wide rectangle. If the portal will not accept a file that looks like a JPG, check that it is not a HEIC, PNG or WebP image that was simply renamed; open it in an editor and export it again as JPG before you resize.
Preparing documents alongside the photo and signature
CHSL applicants also often need to keep scanned category certificates, educational marksheets or disability certificates ready in PDF form for later stages such as document verification. Keep these as clean, reasonably sized PDF files well before the deadline rather than scrambling to scan and compress them at the last minute alongside your signature upload. For everything else you may need to prepare alongside your CHSL form, the government form tools collection covers resizing, compressing and converting in one place, so you are not hunting for five different websites during a stressful application week.
Tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is the SSC CHSL photo and signature rule different from CGL?
No. Both exams run on the same ssc.gov.in portal and OTR system, so the signature must be a JPG/JPEG between 10KB and 20KB at about 6.0cm x 2.0cm, and the photo is captured live in both cases.
Where do I upload my photo for SSC CHSL?
There is no photo upload field. The application module captures your photograph live through a webcam, or through the mySSC app on an Android phone, while you fill the form.
What if my signature scan looks too light after compression?
Sign with a darker pen and photograph it in even light before cropping. A faint signature can look miniature or blurred even if the file size is within the 10-20KB range.
Do I need to redo OTR for every SSC exam?
No. Once you complete One Time Registration on the new ssc.gov.in portal, it remains valid for other SSC exams you apply to later.
Can I use the same signature file for CGL and CHSL?
Yes, as long as it already meets the 10-20KB, JPG, about 6.0cm x 2.0cm requirement, the same file can be reused across SSC exams on the same portal.
Sources
- Staff Selection Commission, Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination 2026 Notice (checked 2026-09)
Rules and limits change. Always check the latest official notification or portal before you submit a form.
