Thousands of SSC CHSL applications get stuck or rejected every year over something as small as a wrongly sized photo or signature file. The SSC application portal checks these dimensions strictly, and a mismatch can mean your form does not go through at all, or worse, gets flagged during document verification.
This article gives you the exact, current photo and signature specifications for SSC CHSL 2026 so you can upload once, correctly, and move on to actual exam preparation.
Photo Size Requirements
As per SSC's official application instructions, your photograph must be 3.5 cm (width) x 4.5 cm (height) in size, which most resizing tools translate to roughly 200 x 230 pixels. The file size must fall between 20KB and 50KB, and it must be saved in JPEG or JPG format — no PNG, PDF, or other formats are accepted.
The photo should be recent, not older than 3 months from the date of the notification, with a plain light or white background. You must face the camera directly with your full face visible, and caps, sunglasses, and spectacles are not allowed. A blurred, dark, or shadowy photo is grounds for rejection even if the file size and dimensions are technically correct.
Signature Size Requirements
Your signature must be scanned separately and sized to about 4.0 cm (width) x 2.0 cm (height), commonly resized to around 140 x 60 pixels, with a file size between 10KB and 20KB in JPEG format. Sign with black or blue ink on plain white paper — SSC does not accept typed or digital signatures.
Keep the signature in running handwriting, not block capitals, and make sure it is dark and clear enough to read after scanning. An illegible or oversized signature is one of the most common reasons SSC flags CHSL applications for correction.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
The most frequent errors candidates make are uploading a photo in PNG or WEBP format instead of JPEG, submitting a file that is oversized (a phone photo can easily be 2-3MB, far above the 50KB cap), using a colored or patterned background instead of plain white or light, and scanning a signature so small or faint that it becomes unreadable once compressed. Some candidates also upload an old photo that no longer matches their current appearance, which can cause issues at the document verification and interview stage.
How to Resize Your Photo and Signature in 30 Seconds
SignResizer is a free online tool that instantly resizes your photo and signature to the exact SSC CHSL required pixel dimensions and KB size, with no signup needed.