Application portals often reject a file with a vague message, or none at all. Nearly every rejection comes down to one of the reasons below. Check the form's instructions for its exact limits, then work down the list.
The file is too big
The most common reason. Phone photos and scans are much bigger than most forms allow.
- For PDFs: Compress PDF to a size. See also how to get a PDF under 2 MB.
- For photos: Compress image to a size. See also how to make a photo under 100 KB.
The file is too small
Some forms set a minimum, especially for photos, so they can be sure the image is detailed enough. If the form gives a range such as "54 KB to 10 MB", compress to a limit near the top of the range rather than as small as possible.
The format isn't accepted
- iPhone photos (.heic): convert them with HEIC to JPG. More in iPhone photos are HEIC?
- Photo when the form wants a PDF: add the photos to Compress PDF to a size, which turns them into one PDF.
- Renaming isn't converting. Changing ".png" to ".jpg" in the file name doesn't change what's inside, and many forms check.
The photo has the wrong dimensions
ID photo uploads often require exact pixel sizes or a head size within a range. The passport and visa photo maker crops to the official sizes it supports and checks the file limits.
The PDF is password-protected
Bank statements and payslips are often locked with a password, and many portals can't open them. Open the file in the app or website that produced it and save or print it again without the password. Tools on this site can't open protected files either.
Too many pages, or too few files
Read whether the form wants one file per document or everything together. Split PDF separates pages; Compress PDF to a size combines files into one.
The form still says no
- Rename the file to something short with only letters, numbers and dashes, such as
passport-photo.jpg. Some portals choke on long names, accents or symbols. - Try another browser, or a computer instead of a phone. Some portals behave badly on mobile.
- Check the file opens on your own device. A file that was cut off during a download or transfer may be damaged.
- Contact the organization if nothing works. The problem may be on their side.
Last updated 2026-10-23.