UAE Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

UAE passport photo requirements catch a lot of applicants off guard, mainly because of the unusual 40 × 60 mm size and the demand for a pure white background. A photo cropped for another country's passport will almost always be rejected here, and most delays come down to size, background, or head position.

This guide breaks down every current UAE passport photo rule for 2026 — the 40 × 60 mm size, the pure white background, and the ICAO-based standards set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

UAE Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications set by the ICP for the UAE 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 in a portrait format — larger than the 35 × 45 mm used across Europe and quite different from the US 2 × 2 inch square. Always work to this exact size.

Head Size, Placement, and Photo Measurement

Face the camera straight-on with your head centred and both eyes clearly visible, sized so your full head and the top of your shoulders sit within the frame. Do not tilt or turn your head.

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

Background Requirements

Acceptable backgrounds

The background must be pure white — not off-white, cream, or patterned. Stand a short distance in front of a clean white wall and light it evenly so there are no shadows.

Common background mistakes

• Off-white, 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 — no smiling or frowning — with both eyes open and clearly visible. Look straight at the camera with your face squared to it.

Clothing and lighting

Wear modest, dark-coloured clothing that contrasts with the white background so your shoulders are defined. Use even, front-facing light to avoid shadows on the face or background.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Passport Photo Criteria

Glasses

Photos are best taken without glasses to avoid glare. If worn, the eyes must be fully visible with no reflection, tint, or frames covering them.

Head coverings

National dress and religious 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, bring a recent 40 × 60 mm colour print on photo-quality paper with a pure white background.

Digital photo

For ICP online services, upload a JPG, JPEG, or PNG file of at least 945 × 1417 pixels, sized between 1 MB and 15 MB, with the same pure white background and framing. Only the delivery format changes — the composition rules are identical.

Top Reasons UAE Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Wrong size — not the required 40 × 60 mm
• Non-white background — off-white, grey, or coloured
• Light clothing that blends into the white background
• Shadows on the face or behind the head
• Smiling or a non-neutral expression
• Glasses glare obscuring the eyes
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet United Arab Emirates's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Wear modest, dark-coloured clothing and stand 2–3 feet from a plain white wall in even light.
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 pure white background and crops to the exact 40 × 60 mm spec.
6. Download a high-resolution file (at least 945 × 1417 px) for ICP online services, or print it for the counter.

Beyond the UAE: Other Countries' Requirements

Specifications differ widely between countries — the UAE's 40 × 60 mm size is larger than most, while the US uses a 2 × 2 inch square and Europe a 35 × 45 mm photo. 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 UAE passport photo comes down to three things: the exact 40 × 60 mm size, a pure white background with no shadows, and a neutral, well-lit photo in dark clothing taken within the last six months. Nail those and you avoid the most common rejection reasons.