NTS photo requirements
The National Testing Service collects applications through its online candidate portal, where every application uses the photo on your profile. The portal’s user manual says:
| Requirement | NTS rule |
|---|---|
| Photo | Passport size |
| Background | Blue or white |
| Maximum file size | 5 MB, for all images |
| Images on the profile | Profile photo and CNIC front photo |
| File format | Not named in the manual |
| Dimensions | Not stated by NTS |
Source: Step 2 of the NTS candidate portal manual (dated 2022), linked as the user manual from the NTS candidate portal when we checked in October 2026.
The 3.5 × 4.5 cm size and the JPG format on this page are our suggested defaults, not NTS rules: 3.5 × 4.5 cm is the usual passport size in Pakistan, and JPG is accepted almost everywhere. NTS runs tests for many universities, departments and employers, and a project’s advertisement can add its own conditions. Check the advertisement and the upload screen for your test before you apply.
Why the photo matters on test day
Your profile photo isn’t only for the application. According to the NTS FAQ, staff at the test centre identify you using the photograph printed on your roll number slip together with your original CNIC or valid passport. If you don’t show the slip and your ID, or your photograph doesn’t match, you are not permitted to take the test.
So use a recent photo that looks like you do now: no old photo from school, no heavy filters, no sunglasses. Candidates under 18 must also bring their original B-Form and SSC certificate with photograph, the FAQ says.
How to add your photo in the NTS candidate portal
The portal manual describes the process from sign-up to a submitted application:
- Register at portal.nts.org.pk with your name, nationality, CNIC or passport number and mobile number (both without dashes) and your email. Enter the verification codes sent to your phone and email.
- Complete your profile on the Update Profile page. Upload your profile photo and your CNIC front photo, then add your personal details, education and experience. Changes are saved automatically.
- Apply from the Open Applications page: pick the project and post and fill in the pop-up form. Only candidates with a complete profile can apply.
- Pay the fee. Download the fee slip from My Applications and pay at a bank or through a banking or mobile wallet app. The application counts as complete only after payment.
- Once the payment status shows PAID, you can download the printable application form.
You can update a submitted application once, before the last application date: change your profile first, then click Update Application W.R.T Profile on My Applications. That is the moment to replace a poor photo.
White or blue background?
NTS accepts either. This tool doesn’t change or remove backgrounds, so pick the one you can set up best at home:
- White is the easiest: a plain white wall or a smooth white bedsheet. It is also what FPSC and PPSC ask for, so one photo can serve several forms.
- Blue works if you have a plain, evenly coloured blue wall or sheet. Patterned curtains and textured paint don’t count as plain.
- Stand a step or two in front of the background so your shadow falls behind you, and face a window for even light.
- Avoid clothes in the same colour as the background, so your shoulders stand out.
Common NTS upload problems
- The image is over 5 MB. Photos from high-resolution phones and cameras can pass that cap. The preset brings the photo down to 413 × 531 px, which is far smaller.
- HEIC or another unusual format. The manual doesn’t name accepted formats, so a JPG is the safe choice. The preset converts iPhone HEIC, PNG and WebP photos to JPG.
- The CNIC photo is hard to read. Crop your photo to the edges of the card first, then set 8.6 × 5.4 cm at 200 or 300 DPI. With a 5 MB cap there is no need to squeeze the file.
- The verification code doesn’t arrive. NTS advises against ported mobile numbers. If you have blocked business SMS through PTA’s 3627 service, send “Unreg” to 3627; ported numbers can be registered by sending “MNP” to 8331 (a one-time charge applies).
What this tool does and doesn’t do
The resizer gives an existing photo the right size, shape and format. It doesn’t detect faces, check your head position or change the background. For crown and chin guide lines, frame the photo in the Passport Photo Maker with the Pakistan preset, or read the Pakistan passport photo guide for printed copies.
KBSnap is an independent free tool and isn’t connected with NTS. It doesn’t log in to the portal or submit anything: you upload the finished photo yourself.