Should I always add my name and date to the form photo?

No. Add them only if your notice asks for it. Some notices prefer photos without any text.

Which date should be written on the photo?

The date the photo was taken, in the format the notice specifies, often DD/MM/YYYY.

Does the name strip count in the required photo size?

Usually the stated dimensions apply to the whole image including the strip, unless the notice says otherwise.

Can I write my name and date on the photo by hand?

It is better to add typed text digitally so it is straight and readable after compression.

Should my name be in capital letters?

Capital letters are common and easy to read, but follow the notice. Write the name exactly as on your application.

How to add your name and date below a form photo

Updated 11 October 2026

Photo resizer for exam forms →

A number of recruitment notices ask that the uploaded photograph carry the candidate's name and the date the photo was taken, printed below the face. The aim is to show the photo is recent and belongs to you. Others do not want anything written on the photo at all. So the first rule is simple: add the name and date only if your notice asks for it, and use the exact wording or format it gives. Check our exams page and the official advertisement.

What the layout typically looks like

Where it is required, the usual arrangement is:

Your photo in the upper part, as normal: plain light background, face centred.
A white strip along the bottom, typically about 15% to 25% of the total height.
Your name on the first line, often in capital letters.
The date the photo was taken on the second line, often in DD/MM/YYYY or DD-MM-YYYY format.
Plain black text, centred, in a simple font, large enough to read.

The face must not be covered by text. The strip goes below the face, not over it.

Which date?

Use the date on which the photo was actually taken, not the date you filled the form. If a notice asks for the photo to be taken within a certain period before the application or before the last date, that period is counted from this date. Do not write a false date; mismatches can come up at document verification.

Keeping the overall size right

The required dimensions in the notice apply to the whole image, including the strip, unless the notice says otherwise. So the photo part becomes a little shorter to make room.

Worked example

A notice asks for 200 × 230 px, 20 to 50 KB, JPG, with name and date below the photo.

Part	Size
Whole image	200 × 230 px
Name and date strip (about 20%)	200 × 46 px
Photo area	200 × 184 px
Text height	two lines of about 16 to 18 px each

The photo area of 200 × 184 has a different shape from 200 × 230, so you crop your original to the 200 : 184 shape, slightly wider than usual, before placing it. Otherwise the face would be stretched (see aspect ratio). After adding the strip, compress to around 40 KB. Text on a white strip compresses very well, so it adds only a little to the file size.

For a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo at 200 DPI (276 × 354 px), a 20% strip is about 71 px tall, leaving 276 × 283 px for the photo.

How to do it with this site

Open Resize Photo and choose your photo.
Set the final dimensions and KB limit from your notice.
Turn on the name and date strip option and type your name and the date the photo was taken, in the format the notice asks for.
Adjust the crop so your face sits well in the photo area above the strip.
Check the preview: text readable, not touching the edges, face not covered or stretched.
Download the JPG.

Everything happens in your browser; your photo and name are not uploaded to us.

Doing it at a photo studio

Many studios near exam coaching centres offer passport photos with name and date printed. That is fine, but ask for a digital copy as JPG, and still check the pixel size and KB yourself, because studio files are often several MB. Make sure the studio has not over-smoothed your skin or changed the background artificially in a way your notice prohibits.

Common mistakes

Adding name and date when the notice does not ask for it.
Writing the name differently from the form, for example a nickname or missing surname.
Text so small it becomes a blur after compression.
Strip over the chin or shoulders, covering part of the face.
Writing the date by hand on a printed photo and photographing it; the result is usually uneven and hard to read.

For the general photo requirements, see photo rules for forms.

Questions people ask

Should I always add my name and date to the form photo?: No. Add them only if your notice asks for it. Some notices prefer photos without any text.
Which date should be written on the photo?: The date the photo was taken, in the format the notice specifies, often DD/MM/YYYY.
Does the name strip count in the required photo size?: Usually the stated dimensions apply to the whole image including the strip, unless the notice says otherwise.
Can I write my name and date on the photo by hand?: It is better to add typed text digitally so it is straight and readable after compression.
Should my name be in capital letters?: Capital letters are common and easy to read, but follow the notice. Write the name exactly as on your application.