Iraq Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

The Iraqi passport photo uses the international 35 × 45 mm standard on a plain white background. It is a clean, conventional spec — which means the small numbers are what decide acceptance: a tight head-height band, a 3 mm clearance above the head, and prints sharp enough for a 600 DPI scan.

This guide covers every current Iraq passport photo requirement for 2026 — the 35 × 45 mm size, the white background, the 31.5–36 mm head height, and the pose, glasses, and quality rules Iraqi passport authorities apply.

Iraq Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications for the Iraqi passport photo:

The head-height band and the 3 mm clearance are the two lines to measure — the size itself is standard.

Photo Size and Head Position Rules

Exact photo dimensions

The Iraqi passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall, the international ICAO standard. It should be printed in colour, sharp enough to hold detail at 600 DPI.

Head size and placement

Your head must measure between 31.5 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown, with at least 3 mm of clear space above the top of your head, centred in the frame. That fills roughly 70–80% of the photo height.

Hitting a head-height band and a top clearance at once is fiddly by hand. You can create your Iraq passport photo and have the 35 × 45 mm frame and head height measured from your source image.

Background Requirements

Acceptable backgrounds

Iraq requires a plain white background, evenly lit, with no shadows, gradients, texture, or objects behind you.

Common background mistakes

• Shadow outlines behind the head from standing too close to the wall.
• Off-white walls — cream and pale grey photograph darker than they look.
• Uneven lighting leaving one side of the background brighter.
• Clutter creeping into the frame.

Pose, Expression, and Lighting Rules

Expression and eyes

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, looking straight into the lens. Face the camera directly with a level head.

Lighting

Use soft, even, frontal light so your face is evenly illuminated and the white background stays shadow-free. Face a window for daylight; direct flash creates glare and a hard wall shadow.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Restrictions

Glasses

Remove your glasses unless they are medically required. Where worn, frames must not cover the eyes and the lenses must show no glare, reflection, or tint.

Head coverings

Everyday hats and caps are not accepted. Religious head coverings are permitted provided the full face stays visible from the chin to the forehead, without shadow.

Editing and retouching

Do not alter the photo. No blemish removal, no skin smoothing, no filters, no AI enhancement — the image must show your natural appearance.

Digital Upload vs. Printed Photo Specs

Printed photo

Provide clean 35 × 45 mm prints on photo paper, accurate in colour and free of creases, marks, or damage, sharp enough to hold detail at 600 DPI.

Digital photo

Where a digital file applies, keep the same 7:9 proportion at high resolution, sharp and naturally coloured. Avoid upscaling a small crop or letting a messaging app recompress it.

Top Reasons Iraq Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Head height off — outside the 31.5–36 mm band.
• No clearance — the crown sits within 3 mm of the top edge.
• Background faults — shadows, grey tones, or non-white walls.
• Soft or low-resolution prints — failing the 600 DPI standard.
• Expression faults — smiles, open mouths, or half-closed eyes.
• Retouched photos — smoothing, filters, or edited features.
• Outdated photos — older than six months.

How to Take a Compliant Photo at Home

1. Find a plain white wall and clear everything else out of frame.
2. Stand about half a metre in front of it to keep the background shadow-free.
3. Face a window so your face is evenly lit from the front.
4. Set the camera at eye level, 1.5–2 metres away.
5. Keep your head straight and level, looking into the lens.
6. Hold a neutral expression — mouth closed, both eyes open.
7. Remove glasses and any non-religious head covering.
8. Crop to 35 × 45 mm with your head at 31.5–36 mm and 3 mm of clearance above it — or let an automated tool handle the framing.

Beyond Iraq: Other Countries' Requirements

Iraq's 35 × 45 mm white-background photo is shared across much of the Middle East, but the head numbers vary: Iraq wants 31.5–36 mm, the UAE and Saudi Arabia set their own bands, and Egypt jumps to a tall 40 × 60 mm entirely. If you are preparing documents for more than one country, our passport photo tool for 150+ countries applies each official spec to the same source photo.

Conclusion

Three rules decide an Iraqi passport photo: the 35 × 45 mm frame with your head at 31.5–36 mm and 3 mm of clearance, a plain white background, and a sharp, recent, unedited print at 600 DPI. Measure the head height and clearance, and the photo clears on the first pass.