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Uploading documents to the IND: formats and the 8 MB limit
3 min read
The IND only accepts PDF (without a password) and JPG, with a maximum of 8 MB per file and 40 MB for all documents together. If a file does not qualify, your application is delayed. With the IND upload check you can see up front, per file, whether it is right, and fix format and size in your browser.
Your IND application is almost complete, you want to upload your passport, payslip or birth certificate, and then it goes wrong: the file is too large, or it is a HEIC photo the portal will not accept. The IND offers no converter of its own and points you to "information on the internet". That is exactly the moment people end up uploading their identity documents to some random online tool.
The IND upload check tool lets you hold your documents up against the rules first. You drop your files in and see, one by one, whether they meet the IND requirements, with a green tick or a concrete fix. Nothing is uploaded; the check only reads the file name and size.
The IND requirements at a glance
The rules are on the IND upload page and come down to three things:
- Format: PDF (without a password) and JPG or JPEG only. The business portal even accepts PDF only.
- Size: a maximum of 8 MB per file and 40 MB for all documents in your application together.
- No password: a password-protected PDF is rejected.
It sounds simple, but a phone photo of a document quickly exceeds 8 MB, and iPhones take HEIC photos by default, which the IND does not accept.
Why your upload is rejected
Almost always it is one of these three: it is not a PDF or JPG, the file is larger than 8 MB, or everything together exceeds 40 MB. The check shows per file which of the three it is, so you do not have to guess. Set the portal at the top to "Business" if you submit through the business portal, because stricter format rules apply there.
Check your documents up front
Drop all your files into the IND upload check at once. You get an overview: how many files are ready, how many still need a fix, and whether the total size stays under 40 MB. For every file that does not qualify, it shows exactly what needs to happen and a button to the right tool.
Too large? How to get a file under 8 MB
If your PDF is larger than 8 MB, use Shrink PDF. It makes the images inside the PDF smaller while keeping the text readable. For a single photo, use Resize image, which lets you work towards a smaller file size on purpose. Both run in your browser, so your scan or passport photo is never uploaded.
Wrong format? How to convert it
If your photo is a HEIC file, convert it with HEIC to JPG. Other image formats like PNG you convert to JPG. A Word document you save as PDF via File, Print, Save as PDF. Then run the files through the check once more to be sure everything is right.
For a copy of your ID that you can share safely, there is also Make a safe ID copy.
Check your application first: IND upload check. In your browser, and your documents stay yours.
Frequently asked questions
Which files does the IND accept?
For My IND (personal) only PDF without a password and JPG or JPEG. The business portal accepts PDF only. Other formats such as HEIC, PNG or Word must be converted first.
How large may a file be for the IND?
A maximum of 8 MB per file and 40 MB for all documents in your application together. A phone photo or a multi-page scan easily exceeds that, so you have to shrink the file first.
My PDF has a password. Can it go to the IND?
No, the IND rejects password-protected PDFs. Remove the password first and then upload the unprotected version.
Are my documents uploaded to this check?
No. The check only looks at the file name and size, and that happens in your browser. The contents of your passport or payslip are not read and never leave your device.