Government Portal PDF Size Limits: How to Meet Upload Requirements

Government portals are notorious for strict file size limits. Whether you’re filing taxes, applying for a visa, or submitting official documents, you’ll likely encounter upload restrictions that seem impossibly small for scanned documents.

This guide covers common government portal limits and how to meet them.

Common Government Portal Limits

Tax Filing Portals

Country/Agency	Portal	Size Limit
USA	IRS e-file	20MB per document
USA	State tax portals	5-15MB varies
UK	HMRC	10MB
Canada	CRA	15MB
Australia	ATO	10MB
Germany	ELSTER	20MB

Visa & Immigration

Country	Portal	Size Limit
USA	USCIS	6MB per file
USA	CEAC (DS-160)	240KB for photos
UK	UK Visas	10MB
Canada	IRCC	4MB per document
Australia	ImmiAccount	5MB
Schengen	Various	1-5MB

Other Government Services

Service Type	Typical Limit
Business registration	5-10MB
Court filings	10-25MB
Permit applications	5-15MB
Benefits applications	10MB

Why Limits Are So Strict

Government systems often run on older infrastructure with:

• Legacy database limitations
• Bandwidth constraints for high-volume processing
• Security scanning requirements
• Long-term archival considerations

These aren’t arbitrary restrictions — they’re technical necessities.

Strategy: Meeting Government Requirements

Step 1: Know Your Limit

Before scanning or compressing:

1. Check the portal’s FAQ or help section
2. Look for file requirements during upload
3. Note if limits are per-file or total submission

Step 2: Scan Smart

If you’re scanning documents yourself:

• 200 DPI is sufficient for most government purposes
• Grayscale for text documents (color rarely required)
• PDF format (not JPEG or PNG)
• One document per file when possible

Step 3: Compress to Target

Use target-size compression to hit exact limits:

1. Set target 10-20% below the limit (safety margin)
2. Use grayscale mode for text documents
3. Verify text is readable after compression
4. Test upload before final submission

Example: For a 10MB limit, target 8-9MB.

Specific Portal Guides

IRS e-file (USA)

Limit: 20MB per document

Common documents:

• W-2 forms (usually small)
• 1099 forms (usually small)
• Supporting schedules (can be large if scanned)

Tips:

• Most IRS forms are text-based and small
• Scanned supporting documents need compression
• Split large packages into multiple files

USCIS Immigration (USA)

Limit: 6MB per file (very strict)

Common documents:

• Passport copies
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Financial documents

Tips:

• 6MB is challenging for multi-page scans
• Use grayscale aggressively
• Consider 150 DPI for less critical documents
• Split documents if allowed

Compression example:

• Original: 25MB (10-page passport scan)
• Target: 5.5MB
• Result: Readable, meets limit

UK Visas

Limit: 10MB per document

Tips:

• Bank statements often need compression
• Utility bills can be combined
• Use grayscale for all text documents

Canada IRCC

Limit: 4MB per document (very strict)

Tips:

• This is one of the strictest limits
• Scan at 150 DPI for non-critical documents
• Use black & white for simple forms
• Split multi-page documents when possible

Troubleshooting Common Issues

”File too large” after compression

1. Lower your target by another 10%
2. Switch to grayscale if using color
3. Reduce DPI to 150 (still readable)
4. Split into multiple files if allowed

”Invalid file format”

• Ensure you’re uploading PDF (not JPEG)
• Check if the portal requires specific PDF versions
• Try re-exporting from Preview

”File appears corrupted”

• Re-compress from the original
• Verify the file opens locally before upload
• Try a different browser

Upload times out

• Compress further to speed upload
• Try during off-peak hours
• Check your internet connection

Privacy Considerations

Government documents contain sensitive information:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial data
• Personal identification

Always use local compression tools for government documents. Online compressors upload your files to third-party servers — a significant privacy risk.

SecureCompress processes everything on your Mac. Your tax returns and visa documents never leave your device.

Checklist Before Submission

• File is under the size limit (with margin)
• All text is readable at 100% zoom
• Document is complete (all pages present)
• File format is correct (usually PDF)
• Filename follows any naming requirements
• File opens correctly in Preview/Reader

Real-World Success Stories

Tax Filing: 80-Page Return

Situation: Complex tax return with scanned receipts = 150MB Limit: 20MB (IRS) Solution: Compressed to 18MB using grayscale, 200 DPI Result: Successful upload, all documents readable

Visa Application: Document Package

Situation: 15 documents totaling 200MB Limit: 6MB per file (USCIS) Solution: Compressed each document individually, targeting 5MB Result: All documents accepted, visa approved

Business Registration

Situation: Articles of incorporation + supporting docs = 45MB Limit: 10MB Solution: Split into 4 files, compressed each to 8MB Result: Successful registration

Summary

Government portal limits are strict but manageable:

1. Know your limit before starting
2. Scan smart — 200 DPI grayscale is usually sufficient
3. Use target-size compression to hit exact limits
4. Keep documents local for privacy
5. Verify before uploading — check readability and completeness

Download SecureCompress — built for strict upload limits.