Saudi Arabia Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

Saudi Arabia passport photo requirements use an unusual 40 × 60 mm size and a tall head crop, so photos cut for a European or US passport are routinely rejected. Most delays come down to small, avoidable mistakes in size, background, or head position.

This guide breaks down every current Saudi Arabia passport photo rule for 2026 — the 40 × 60 mm (4 × 6 cm) size, the plain light background, the 38 mm head height, and the two-photo requirement.

Saudi Arabia Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications for the Saudi Arabia 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 rather than reusing a photo from another country.

Head Size, Placement, and Photo Measurement

Your head must be centred so the distance from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head measures about 38 mm, with your face fully visible and squared to the camera. Do not tilt or turn your head.

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

Background Requirements

Acceptable backgrounds

The background must be plain and light — a light grey or white wall — with no shadows. Stand a short distance in front of it and light it evenly.

Common background mistakes

• Coloured, patterned, or textured walls
• Shadows falling behind the head or shoulders
• Other people, furniture, or objects in the frame
• Uneven lighting that darkens one side of the 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 — no smiling or head tilt.

Lighting

Use even, front-facing light so there are no shadows on your face or under the chin. Keep your hair clear of your eyes, and make sure both edges of your face are visible.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Passport Photo Criteria

Glasses

Remove glasses for the photo unless they are required for a documented medical reason. Where worn, the eyes must be fully visible with no glare, tint, or frames covering them.

Head coverings

Religious and national head coverings are accepted, provided the full face is clearly visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges of the face visible.

Digital vs. Printed Passport Photo Specifications

Printed photo

For counter applications, submit two identical 40 × 60 mm colour prints on high-quality photo paper, taken within the last six months.

Digital photo

For online services such as Absher, upload a high-resolution colour file (commonly JPG or PNG) with the same plain light background and framing. Only the delivery format changes — the composition rules are identical.

Top Reasons Saudi Arabia Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Wrong size — not the required 40 × 60 mm
• Head height off — not close to the 38 mm chin-to-crown measurement
• Background not plain or light enough, or shadows behind the head
• Only one photo submitted instead of two
• Glasses or glare obscuring the eyes
• Smiling or a non-neutral expression
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet Saudi Arabia's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Stand 2–3 feet from a plain, light, evenly lit wall, 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.
5. Upload it to a tool that sets a plain light background and crops to the exact 40 × 60 mm, 38 mm head-height spec.
6. Download a high-resolution file for online services, or print two identical copies for the counter.

Beyond Saudi Arabia: Other Countries' Requirements

Specifications differ widely between countries — Saudi Arabia's 40 × 60 mm size matches the UAE 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 Saudi Arabia passport photo comes down to three things: the exact 40 × 60 mm size with an approximately 38 mm head height, a plain light background with no shadows, and two recent, neutral photos taken within the last six months. Nail those and you avoid the most common rejection reasons.