GATE 2027 Photo Size, Signature, Documents & Exam Dates
GATE 2027 by IIT Madras: exams on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 Feb 2027. Photo up to 530x690 px and 600 KB, signature limits, DigiLocker certificates.
These are based on the previous cycle and public reports. The official notification can change anything here.
Expected timeline
Closed in early October 2026 (reported)
Registration (GOAPS)
Sources differ on the exact window: opening dates from mid-August to 2 September 2026 are reported, with the late-fee deadline between 30 September and 12 October 2026.
Mid to late October 2026 (reported)
Correction window
Most sources give 14–21 October 2026.
Early January 2027 (expected)
Admit card
GATE admit cards are usually released about a month before the exam. Check gate2027.iitm.ac.in.
6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027
Exam
Announced by IIT Madras, the organising institute, in its 20 July 2026 press release.
Photo and signature spec
| File | Dimensions | File size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | 530 × 690 px | 5–600 KB | JPG |
| Signature | 580 × 180 px | 5–300 KB | JPG |
Other documents: Official page gives maximums: photo 530x690 px and 600 KB, signature 580x180 px and 300 KB. Reported minimums: photo 200x260 px, signature 250x80 px. SC/ST, PwD and UDID certificates as PDF (10–600 KB) in a DigiLocker folder named GATE2027.
GATE 2027 is organised by IIT Madras, and the exams are on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027. Registration closed in early October 2026, so this page is mainly useful if you are fixing details, collecting your admit card, or reusing files. The official limits are a photo of up to 530 x 690 px and 600 KB, and a signature of up to 580 x 180 px and 300 KB.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is used for M.Tech and PhD admissions, some scholarships, and recruitment by several public sector companies. Scores stay valid for three years.
What GATE 2027 asks for
GATE 2027 uses the GOAPS portal, with DigiLocker and facial registration. Category and disability certificates go into a DigiLocker folder instead of being uploaded in the usual way.
| Item | Format | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPG | Up to 530 x 690 px and 600 KB (minimum reported 200 x 260 px) | White background, face about 60–70% of the photo |
| Signature | JPG | Up to 580 x 180 px and 300 KB (minimum reported 250 x 80 px) | Black or dark blue ink on white paper |
| SC/ST certificate | PDF, 10–600 KB | Named CATEGORY.pdf | In the DigiLocker folder "GATE2027" |
| PwD certificate | PDF, 10–600 KB | Named PWD_CERT.pdf | Can combine the appendix forms and the certificate |
| UDID certificate | PDF, 10–600 KB | Named UDID_CERT.pdf | If applicable |
| Photo ID | — | — | Aadhaar, passport, PAN, voter ID or driving licence; bring the original to the exam |
How to prepare each file
Photo. GATE allows larger photos than most exams. Take a sharp, front-facing photo on a white background and crop so your face fills about two-thirds of it. Use the exam photo resizer or resize image to stay within 530 x 690 pixels. Phone photos are often several MB, so compress image to 500 KB keeps it under 600 KB.
Signature. Sign on white paper in black or dark blue ink. Crop it to a wide strip and resize it to fit inside 580 x 180 pixels but above 250 x 80 pixels.
Certificates. Make sure each PDF is between 10 KB and 600 KB and named exactly as listed. Compress PDF to 500 KB helps if a scan is too big. Then place the files in the GATE2027 folder in DigiLocker.
Timeline notes
- Registration: closed in early October 2026. Sources give opening dates between mid-August and 2 September, and late-fee deadlines between 30 September and 12 October.
- Correction window: reported as 14–21 October 2026.
- Admit card: expected in early January 2027.
- Exam: 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027, forenoon and afternoon sessions.
- New in 2027: a Robotics and Automation (RA) paper and revised syllabi, per IIT Madras.
Before the exam
Download the admit card as soon as it is out, check the paper code, date and centre, and carry the same photo ID you entered in the form.
Common reasons applications get flagged
- A DigiLocker account that is not fully verified. IIT Madras says such applications are scrutinised separately.
- Certificate files with the wrong name or outside 10–600 KB.
- A photo with the face too small, a coloured background or heavy filters.
- A signature cropped so tightly that it falls below the minimum size.
- A name that does not match the photo ID you will carry to the exam.
Keep your photo and signature files. GATE 2028 will need new uploads, but these show what worked.
Questions
What is the GATE 2027 photo size?
The official GATE 2027 guideline page gives a maximum of 530 x 690 pixels and 600 KB. Coaching sites add a minimum of 200 x 260 pixels. Use a JPG with a white background where your face covers about 60–70% of the photo.
What is the GATE 2027 signature size?
Maximum 580 x 180 pixels and 300 KB per the official page. Reported minimum is 250 x 80 pixels. Sign in black or dark blue ink on white paper.
When is GATE 2027?
IIT Madras has announced 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027, with two sessions a day. Your paper's date and session appear on the admit card.
Can I still apply for GATE 2027?
Registration closed in early October 2026 according to reported dates, and the correction window followed in mid-October. If you missed it, plan for GATE 2028.
Sources
- Official: gate2027.iitm.ac.in
- gate2027.iitm.ac.in/guideline/
- iitm.ac.in/happenings/press-releases-and-coverages/iit-madras-announces-dates-sy
- pw.live/gate/exams/gate-2027-documents-required
- news.careers360.com/gate-2027-application-form-live-gate2027-iitm-ac-in-mtech-go
- careerindia.com/tips/gate-2027-registration-deadline-extended-official-dates-fee
- collegedunia.com/articles/e-60-gate-2027-registration-documents-checklist-and-ph