Bahrain Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

Bahrain passport photo requirements use an unusual 40 × 60 mm size and apply strict biometric rules for the e-passport system — including a pure white background and a firm no-editing policy. A photo cropped for a European or US passport will not fit, and most rejections come down to size, background, or head position.

This guide breaks down every current Bahrain passport photo rule for 2026 — the 40 × 60 mm size, the pure white background, the 38 mm head height, and the no-editing standard for the e-passport.

Bahrain Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications for the Bahrain passport photo:

Get any one of these wrong and the photo can be rejected, so it is worth checking each before you submit.

Passport Photo Dimensions and Head Position Rules

Exact Passport Size Photo Dimensions

The finished photo must be 40 mm wide by 60 mm tall (4 × 6 cm) in a portrait format — larger than the 35 × 45 mm used across Europe. Always work to this exact size.

Head Size, Placement, and Photo Measurement

Your head must be centred so the distance from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin measures about 38 mm, facing the camera directly with your full face visible and not tilted.

Getting these millimetres right by hand is where most people slip up. The simplest fix is to create your Bahrain passport photo with a tool that crops and resizes to the exact official spec automatically.

Background Requirements

Pure white only

The background must be pure white only — shadows, patterns, colours, or objects are not allowed. Stand a short distance in front of a clean white wall and light it evenly.

Common background mistakes

• Off-white, cream, grey, or coloured backgrounds
• Shadows falling behind the head or shoulders
• Other people, furniture, or objects in the frame
• Light clothing that blends into the white background

Pose, Expression, and Lighting Rules

Expression and eyes

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open and clearly visible. Look straight at the camera with your head level.

Lighting

Use even, front-facing light with clear, balanced exposure so there are no shadows on the face or background.

The No-Editing Rule and Other Restrictions

No editing

Bahrain's e-passport system applies a strict no-editing rule — the photo must be an unaltered, accurate likeness. Filters, retouching, or reshaping will get it rejected; standard background correction and cropping to size are fine.

Glasses and head coverings

Photos are best taken without glasses to avoid glare; where worn, the eyes must be fully visible. Religious and national head coverings are accepted, provided the full face is visible from the chin to the top of the forehead.

Digital vs. Printed Passport Photo Specifications

Printed photo

For counter applications, bring a recent 40 × 60 mm colour print on good-quality photo paper with a pure white background.

Digital photo

For the e-passport system, provide a high-resolution digital photo at least 300 DPI with the same pure white background and framing. Only the delivery format changes — the composition rules are identical.

Top Reasons Bahrain Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Wrong size — not the required 40 × 60 mm
• Background not pure white, or shadows behind the head
• Head height off — not close to the 38 mm measurement
• Edited or filtered photos (strictly not allowed)
• Glasses glare obscuring the eyes
• Smiling or a non-neutral expression
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet Bahrain's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Stand 2–3 feet from a plain white wall in even light, with no shadows behind you.
2. Have someone photograph you at eye level from about 4 feet away, or use a tripod and timer.
3. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, and no glasses.
4. Shoot in colour at the highest resolution your phone or camera allows, without filters.
5. Upload it to a tool that sets a pure white background and crops to the exact 40 × 60 mm spec.
6. Export a high-resolution file (at least 300 DPI) for the e-passport, or print it for the counter.

Beyond Bahrain: Other Countries' Requirements

Specifications differ widely between countries — Bahrain's 40 × 60 mm size matches the UAE and Saudi Arabia but is larger than Europe's 35 × 45 mm, while the US uses a 2 × 2 inch square. If you travel or apply internationally, you can check the rules and generate a compliant photo using our passport photo tool for 150+ countries.

Conclusion

A compliant Bahrain passport photo comes down to three things: the exact 40 × 60 mm size with an approximately 38 mm head height, a pure white background with no shadows, and a neutral, unedited photo taken within the last six months. Nail those and you avoid the most common rejection reasons.