“File size exceeds limit” on a government portal: 7 ways to fix it

1. 1Compress the PDF: Compress PDF with Recommended, then Extreme if needed. Scans often shrink by 50–90%.
2. 2Turn images grayscale: in Compress PDF, turn on Grayscale images. Colour is rarely needed for marksheets, ID copies or letters.
3. 3Shrink photos before they go into the PDF: Compress image with a File size target, then make the PDF.
4. 4Resize photos and signatures to the dimensions the form asks for with Resize image; oversized images are the usual problem.
5. 5Change the format: PNG photos are large; save them as JPG with Convert image.
6. 6Remove pages the portal doesn't need, such as blank backs or instruction pages, with Organize PDF.
7. 7Split the file: if the portal accepts several files, Split by size makes parts that each fit; for GST uploads, GST filing prep compresses and splits in one go.

A document scanned at 600 DPI in colour can be 10–20 MB per page, and compression has limits. Rescan at 150–200 DPI in black and white or grayscale: text stays crisp and pages come out at a fraction of the size.

Some forms also have a minimum, such as 10 KB for a signature or 50 KB for a certificate. Resize to slightly larger dimensions, or compress less, rather than adding blank space.

Detailed walkthroughs: How to compress a PDF, How to compress a photo to 20, 50 or 100 KB and How to convert a photo to a PDF under 200 KB.