Qatar Passport Photo Maker — 38x48mm Photos for MOI Applications
Anyone applying for a new Qatari passport, renewing an existing one in Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, or Lusail, or submitting a Qatar ID (QID) photo through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) needs a photo sized to 38x48mm on a plain white or light grey background. The General Directorate of Passports, which processes applications through Metrash2 and the Hukoomi e-government portal, regularly rejects photos for an incorrect background, poor face positioning, or images older than six months. This page covers the official Qatar passport photo specification, how it compares to neighbouring GCC countries, and how to generate a properly sized photo in under a minute.
Create Your Qatar Passport Photo Maker Photo Online
Most rejected Qatar passport photos fail for reasons that are hard to spot with the naked eye: a background that looks white on a phone screen but renders as off-grey once printed, a face that isn't centered correctly, or an image resolution too low for biometric scanning. Manual cropping in a general-purpose photo editor rarely gets these details exact, which is why applicants are often sent back to retake their photo.
Passport Photo Maker removes the guesswork. Upload any photo and the tool automatically detects your face, centers it according to standard biometric photo framing, replaces the background with a compliant plain white or light backdrop, and outputs the image at the dimensions associated with Qatar passport, visa, and QID applications — ready to upload to Metrash2 or print at a photo studio.
Drop a photo here to auto-crop it to Qatar's passport, visa, and QID photo specification.
Generate My Qatar Passport PhotoThe tool also produces a print-ready photo sheet sized for standard 4x6-inch photo paper, so if your nearest MOI service centre or photo shop in Doha asks for a printed copy rather than a digital upload, you'll have a sheet ready to take with you.
Qatar Passport Photo Requirements
A Qatar passport photo must measure 38x48mm (3.8x4.8cm) on a plain white or light grey background. The photo must be in color, taken within the last six months, and show a neutral expression with both eyes open. The table below covers the full specification.
| Photo Size | 38mm x 48mm (3.8cm x 4.8cm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 38mm |
| Height | 48mm |
| Background | Plain white or light grey, no patterns or shadows |
| Head Size | The face should occupy a substantial portion of the frame and remain centered according to standard biometric photo guidelines |
| Resolution | 300 DPI minimum, sharp focus across the full face |
| File Format | JPEG, color (no black-and-white or filtered images) |
| Glasses Rules | Discouraged; no tinted lenses or visible glare if worn |
| Expression Rules | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible |
| Age of Photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
Qatar Passport Photo Requirements Summary
- Size: 38×48mm (3.8×4.8cm)
- Background: White or light grey
- Photo age: Under 6 months
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
- Format: JPEG, color
- Issuing authority: Ministry of Interior (MOI), General Directorate of Passports
Qatar Passport Photo Size in Pixels
If you're preparing a digital upload rather than a print, here's the 38x48mm specification converted into the units different software and upload forms ask for:
| Format | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Millimeters | 38 × 48 mm |
| Centimeters | 3.8 × 4.8 cm |
| Inches | 1.50 × 1.89 in |
| 300 DPI (print resolution) | 449 × 567 px |
| 600 DPI (high-resolution print) | 898 × 1134 px |
Passport Photo Maker outputs the file at the correct pixel dimensions automatically based on the resolution your application channel requires, so you don't need to do this conversion by hand.
The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Qatar's Passport Process
The Ministry of Interior, through its General Directorate of Passports, is the authority responsible for issuing, renewing, and replacing Qatari passports. Over recent years, MOI has shifted much of the administrative side of this process onto digital channels — primarily the Metrash2 mobile app and the Hukoomi e-government portal — so that applicants upload their photo and documents before visiting a service centre in person.
This digital-first model raises the bar on photo compliance rather than lowering it. Because uploaded photos are typically screened before an appointment is confirmed, a background tone that's too close to grey-blue rather than true white, or face positioning that's off-center, can be flagged and bounced back, delaying your appointment slot at service centres in Doha, Al Wakrah, or Al Khor. Getting the photo right on the first upload, rather than relying on in-person correction at the counter, generally means a faster appointment.
At the appointment itself, MOI staff capture biometric data — fingerprints and a facial scan — that is checked against your submitted photo. This is one reason the recency guidance around six months is taken seriously: a submitted photo that no longer closely resembles your current appearance can trigger a manual review rather than automatic processing.
Applying for a visa instead of a passport? See our Qatar Visa Photo guide for the visa-specific specification and submission process.
Qatar ID (QID) Photo Requirements
The Qatar ID (QID) is the residency and identity card issued by the Ministry of Interior to Qatari citizens and expatriate residents alike. It's required for everyday transactions in Qatar — opening a bank account, signing a lease, registering for healthcare, and passing through airport e-gates — which makes a compliant QID photo just as important as a passport photo.
A QID photo is generally needed in three situations: when applying for a first-time QID as a new resident, when renewing an existing QID if a photo update is requested, and when your appearance has changed enough that the photo on file no longer reflects how you currently look. Background and quality expectations for a QID photo closely mirror passport photo guidance — a plain, uniform light background, neutral expression, and a recent, unedited image — though applicants should confirm the current published specification for QID photos specifically, since ID card and passport photo rules are administered separately even when they look similar. An outdated QID photo can also cause friction at Hamad International Airport's e-gates, which match your face against the photo on file.
QID photo updates can typically be submitted digitally through Metrash2 without an in-person visit, provided the uploaded file passes the platform's automated quality and format checks. See our full QID Photo Requirements guide for the complete specification.
Uploading Passport Photos Through Metrash2
Metrash2 is the Ministry of Interior's primary mobile app for managing passport, residency, and ID services in Qatar, and it's the channel most applicants use to upload their photo ahead of an appointment.
The Upload Process
Within the relevant service section of the app, applicants select the photo upload option, choose an image from their device, and submit it for automated validation. The app typically checks the file against expected dimensions, file size, and image quality thresholds before allowing the application to proceed.
File Format and Quality Expectations
Metrash2 generally expects color JPEG files within a defined file-size range — large enough to preserve image sharpness, but compressed enough to upload quickly. Images that are heavily compressed, very low resolution, or saved in an unsupported format are commonly rejected at the upload stage itself, before a human ever reviews the application.
Common Upload Mistakes
- Uploading a photo cropped from a larger group picture, which often misaligns face centering
- Submitting a screenshot of a printed photo instead of the original digital file
- Using a photo with visible shadows from indoor lighting that the app's quality check flags
- Uploading a file in HEIC format (common on iPhones) without converting it to JPEG first
Using a tool that exports directly in JPEG format at the expected dimensions avoids most of these upload failures.
Qatar-Specific Photo Rules: Headwear and Children
Headwear and the Ghutrah
Religious headscarves, including the hijab, are generally permitted in Qatar passport photos as long as the full oval of the face — from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead — is unobstructed and free of shadow. The ghutrah and agal, traditionally worn by Qatari men, are commonly expected to be removed for the photo itself, since these are typically treated as everyday attire rather than religious headwear for biometric purposes. Sunglasses and hats of any kind are not accepted.
Background Color Precision
"Plain white" sounds simple, but a background that photographs with a blue or grey cast under indoor lighting is a common reason photos get sent back. The safest approach is photographing against a genuinely white wall in daylight, or using a tool that replaces the background digitally with a verified light tone rather than relying on the original backdrop.
Children's Passport Photos
Qatar does not generally relax its background or quality standards for infants or children. The practical allowance reported most often is around expression: very young children aren't expected to maintain a closed-mouth neutral expression, but their eyes should still be open and visible, without another person's hand or a pacifier in frame.
How to Create a Qatar Passport Photo Maker Photo
- Take a photo facing the camera directly, in even daylight, against a plain white or light-colored wall — avoid mixed indoor lighting that casts a yellow or grey tint.
- Remove sunglasses, hats, and (if applicable) the ghutrah or agal; keep religious headscarves in place if you normally wear one, ensuring your full face is visible.
- Upload the photo to Passport Photo Maker and let the tool detect your face and crop it to Qatar's photo specification automatically.
- Review the auto-generated preview to confirm your face is centered, fully visible, and the background reads as a clean, uniform white or light grey.
- Download the digital file for Metrash2 upload, or print the generated photo sheet for in-person submission at an MOI service centre.
Common Reasons Qatar Passport Photos Get Rejected
Official Qatar Passport Photo Requirements Checklist
- Correct size for your specific document (passport, visa, or QID)
- Plain white or light grey background, no shadows or patterns
- Neutral expression with mouth closed
- Photo taken within the last 6 months
- No shadows or glare across the face
- Full face visible, with no headwear other than permitted religious coverings
- High resolution (300 DPI minimum), sharp and in focus
- Color image — no black-and-white or filtered photos
Qatar vs Other GCC Passport Photo Sizes
If you're applying for documents in more than one Gulf country, or comparing requirements before travel, here's how Qatar's commonly published passport photo size lines up against its GCC neighbours:
| Country | Passport Photo Size |
|---|---|
| Qatar | 38 × 48 mm |
| UAE | 40 × 60 mm |
| Saudi Arabia | 40 × 60 mm |
| Bahrain | 40 × 60 mm |
| Oman | 40 × 60 mm |
| Kuwait | 40 × 60 mm (Civil ID); confirm separately for passport |
Qatar's 38×48mm format is notably smaller than the 40×60mm size used across most of its GCC neighbours. This makes it worth double-checking which country's specification applies before reusing a photo across multiple Gulf applications — a photo sized correctly for a UAE or Saudi passport will not fit Qatar's frame without recropping.
Nearby GCC Requirements:
Why Generic Photo Apps Fail for Qatar Photos
A standard photo editing app can crop and adjust an image, but it doesn't know Qatar's specific photo requirements — which is where most DIY attempts go wrong.
| Generic Photo App | Passport Photo Maker |
|---|---|
| Crops to a generic square or arbitrary ratio | Crops precisely to Qatar's 38×48mm specification |
| Requires manual background removal | Detects and replaces the background automatically |
| No compliance check before download | Validates face position and background before you download |
| Exports at whatever resolution the source photo has | Outputs at the correct DPI for printing or digital upload |
| No print layout | Generates a ready-to-print photo sheet |
Why Use Passport Photo Maker for Qatar Photos?
- Automatic background removal and replacement with a compliant plain backdrop
- Precise cropping to the dimensions your document type requires
- Works from your phone, with no app download needed
- Generates a print-ready photo sheet for in-person submission
- Instant download in JPEG format, ready for Metrash2 upload
How We Verify Passport Photo Requirements
Passport and ID photo specifications change periodically, so the guidance on this page is compiled from multiple publicly available sources and reviewed on an ongoing basis. We rely on:
- Published government and e-government portal guidance where available
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Document 9303 biometric photo standards, which many countries' passport photo rules are based on
- Cross-checking against multiple independent sources to identify consistent, widely reported specifications
- Periodic review and updates as requirements change
Because individual government portals can update requirements without notice, we recommend confirming the current specification on the official Hukoomi or Metrash2 channel immediately before your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size does a Qatar passport photo need to be?
A Qatar passport photo must measure 38x48mm (3.8x4.8cm), printed in color on a plain white or light grey background. Qatar visa and QID photos use similar specifications — confirm the exact requirement for your specific document before submission.
Can I use a digital or selfie photo for my Qatar passport application?
Yes. Digitally produced photos are accepted through Metrash2 and the Hukoomi portal, provided the image meets the published dimensions, has a uniform light background, and isn't edited beyond standard cropping and resizing.
How old can my Qatar passport photo be?
Your photo must be no older than six months. Photos showing a visibly different hairstyle, weight, or facial hair from your current appearance may be flagged for review.
Does a child need the same passport photo specs as an adult in Qatar?
Yes, background and quality requirements apply at every age. The main allowance for infants and young children is around facial expression, not the photo's size or background.
Which authority issues passports in Qatar?
The Ministry of Interior (MOI), through its General Directorate of Passports, issues and renews Qatari passports, with applications processed via Metrash2 and the Hukoomi portal.
Can I wear a ghutrah, abaya, or headscarf in my Qatar passport photo?
A hijab or other religious headscarf is permitted as long as your full face is visible and unshadowed. The ghutrah and agal are generally expected to be removed — confirm current guidance on the official portal if unsure.
Why was my Qatar passport photo rejected?
The most common causes are an off-white or shadowed background, a face that isn't centered correctly, a photo older than six months, glasses glare, or a file that doesn't meet resolution requirements.
What is a Qatar ID (QID) photo and when do I need one?
The QID is Qatar's residency and identity card. A photo is needed for a first-time QID application, a renewal where a photo update is requested, or when your current appearance no longer matches the photo on file.
Can I smile in a Qatar passport photo?
No. A neutral expression with a closed mouth is required. Smiling or exaggerated expressions are grounds for rejection.
Related Passport and Visa Photo Pages
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