UAE Passport Photo Size (Quick Answer)
An Emirati passport photo must be 40 mm wide by 60 mm high on a pure white background, with the head 42–48 mm from chin to crown — that is 70–80% of the frame height. Digital uploads are 945 × 1417 pixels at 600 DPI, and the photo must be taken within the last 6 months.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 40 × 60 mm (4.0 × 6.0 cm / 1.57 × 2.36 in) |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 945 × 1417 px |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 472 × 709 px |
| Aspect ratio | 2 : 3 |
| Background | Pure white — not off-white, cream or grey |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 42 – 48 mm (70–80% of frame height) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open |
| Age of photo | Within the last 6 months |
| Issuing authority | Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) |
Why This Matters
Getting an Emirati Passport Photo Right the First Time
Anyone applying for a new Emirati passport, renewing an existing one, or replacing a lost or damaged passport needs a photo that meets the standard set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), the body responsible for issuing and renewing passports across all seven emirates. The specification is built on the ICAO Document 9303 biometric standard used across most Gulf and international passport systems.
Because ICP's intake system checks photos automatically before a human ever reviews the file, technical errors invisible to the applicant cause most rejections. Those failure modes are set out in detail in the rejection reasons section below, and each rule links through to the underlying standard in our passport photo rules library.
Visual Reference
UAE Passport Photo Dimensions at a Glance
The diagram below marks every measurement ICP's automated check reads: the 40 × 60 mm frame, the 42–48 mm chin-to-crown head height, and the pure white background.
Create Your UAE Passport Photo Online
A passport photo gets rejected for reasons that are hard to catch by eye: the head sits at 65% of the frame instead of the required 70–80%, the white background reads as off-white under indoor light, or the pixel grid doesn't land on exactly 945 × 1417. Biometric framing isn't a style preference — ICP's matching software measures the distance from chin to crown and expects it within a fixed range, every time.
Once uploaded, Passport Photo Maker:
- Detects and centers your face to ICP's required head-size ratio
- Crops to exactly 945 × 1417 pixels at 600 DPI for the Emirati passport
- Replaces your background with true, uniform white — no grey cast
- Flags closed eyes, tilted heads, or visible shadows before you download
- Outputs a print-ready sheet for in-person submission at a typing center
Official Specification
UAE Passport Photo Requirements
Every row below must pass for the photo to be accepted. Each rule links through to the detailed standard in our passport photo rules library.
| Photo Size | 40 x 60 mm (4.0 x 6.0 cm / 1.57 x 2.36 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital Dimensions | 945 x 1417 pixels at 600 DPI; 472 x 709 pixels at 300 DPI |
| Aspect Ratio | 2 : 3 portrait |
| Background | Pure white, no shadows, patterns, or texture — see background colour rules |
| Lighting | Even and diffuse, no shadow behind the head — see shadow rules |
| Head Size | 42–48 mm chin to crown, 70–80% of frame height — see head size rules |
| Face Coverage | 70–80% of the frame — see face size requirements |
| Eyes | Both open, level, looking directly at the camera — see eyes requirements |
| Hair | Must not cover the eyes or obscure the face outline — see hair rules |
| Ears | Not mandatory, but the full face outline must stay clear — see ears visibility rules |
| Resolution | 600 DPI recommended for ICP upload; 300 DPI minimum for print |
| File Format | JPEG, 1–15 MB for online ICP submission |
| Colour | 24-bit colour, sRGB, natural skin tones, no filters or beautification |
| Glasses | Should be removed; tinted lenses and sunglasses prohibited; medical exceptions require a signed doctor's letter — see glasses rules |
| Head Coverings | Hijab and religious or medical coverings permitted with the face fully visible; decorative hats not permitted — see head covering rules |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, facing camera directly — see smile rules |
| Age of Photo | Taken within the last 6 months and reflective of current appearance |
Three Documents, Three Sizes
UAE Passport vs Emirates ID vs UAE Visa Photo
ICP issues three identity documents under one authority, and each uses a different photo size. Submitting one document's photo for another is one of the most frequent causes of rejection at a typing center, because the background and expression rules are identical and the mismatch is easy to miss.
| Document | Size | Pixels @ 600 DPI | Pixels @ 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirati passport | 40 × 60 mm | 945 × 1417 px | 472 × 709 px |
| Emirates ID card | 35 × 40 mm | 827 × 945 px | 413 × 472 px |
| UAE visa (incl. golden visa) | 43 × 55 mm | 1016 × 1299 px | 508 × 650 px |
All three share the same pure white background rule, neutral expression and 6-month recency requirement. Only the frame dimensions differ. If you are applying for a residence, employment or golden visa rather than a passport, the UAE visa photo requirements guide covers the 43 × 55 mm specification in full.
How the UAE size compares regionally
| Country | Photo Size | Aspect Ratio | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 40 × 60 mm | 2 : 3 | Pure white |
| Saudi Arabia | 40 × 60 mm | 2 : 3 | Plain white |
| Oman | 40 × 60 mm | 2 : 3 | Plain white |
| Egypt | 40 × 60 mm | 2 : 3 | Plain white |
| Qatar | 38 × 48 mm | 19 : 24 | Plain white |
| India | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) | 1 : 1 | Plain white |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | 11 : 16 | Plain white |
| UK, EU & Schengen | 35 × 45 mm | 7 : 9 | Light-coloured |
For the complete worldwide reference see passport size photo dimensions and passport photo size in pixels, or browse every national standard in the requirements by country hub.
Passport Authority Overview
How ICP Issues and Reviews Emirati Passports
Local Compliance Rules
UAE-Specific Rules You Won't Find on a Generic Checklist
ICP's photo rules carry a few details specific to how the UAE processes identity documents, distinct from the generic "white background, neutral face" advice that applies everywhere.
Pure white, not light
ICP's check flags backgrounds that look fine to the eye but read as cream, grey or blue-tinted in the file's colour data. Off-white is not accepted.
Hijab and head coverings permitted
Religious and medical coverings are accepted provided the face is fully visible chin to forehead with no shadow across the features. Decorative hats are not.
Jewellery allowed within limits
Accessories are acceptable as long as they do not obscure the hairline or any part of the face. Reflective pieces near the eyes are a risk.
Retouching actively detected
Skin-smoothing filters, phone beautification modes and AI enhancement are flagged and rejected even when every dimensional requirement is met.
600 DPI is the working standard
Most countries specify 300 DPI. ICP's digital template is built at 600 DPI, which is why 945 × 1417 px is the figure to target for upload.
Beard and appearance changes
A new beard, major weight change or surgery means ICP expects a fresh photo even if your existing one is inside the six-month window.
Children & Infants
UAE Passport Photo for a Baby, Infant or Child
The 40 × 60 mm size and 42–48 mm head-height band apply to minors exactly as they do to adults. There is no smaller format for infants and no relaxed background rule. What ICP does relax is expression: a baby's photo may show closed or half-open eyes, and a neutral expression is not required for newborns.
Same size, same head height
40 × 60 mm frame with the head filling 70–80% of the height. No age exemption applies to dimensions or framing.
Eyes may be closed
ICP relaxes the open-eye rule for infants and newborns. The face must still be fully visible and unobstructed.
Child alone in the frame
No supporting hands, arms, toys, pacifiers or car seat may appear. Photograph the child lying on a plain white sheet from directly above.
No shadow behind the head
Soft, indirect daylight from the side of the room. Overhead light from one angle creates the background shadow that fails the check.
Registered via Mabrouk Ma Yak
Newborns are usually processed through the linked programme that issues the birth certificate, Emirates ID and passport together.
Shoot wide, crop down
Cropping tightly in-camera on a small face leaves too few pixels once the 945 × 1417 template is applied.
Positioning, lighting and timing technique for infants and toddlers is covered in our baby passport photo at home guide. The eyes requirements and shadow rules pages cover the two checks that fail most often on child photos.
Process
How to Create a UAE Passport Photo That Passes First Time
- Shoot in daylight against a plain wall. Natural, even light from a window avoids the harsh shadows that ICP's system flags as a background defect. Stand at least 50 cm clear of the wall.
- Hold the camera at eye level, about 40–50 cm away. This distance naturally puts your head in roughly the right proportion before any cropping happens.
- Keep a neutral expression with eyes open and mouth closed. Take several shots — ICP rejects smiling, frowning, or tilted-head photos outright.
- Upload the unedited photo to Passport Photo Maker. Skip any phone beautification mode first; the tool needs your real skin texture and lighting to crop correctly. If your phone saves HEIC files, see the HEIC to JPEG guide.
- Download the 945 × 1417 px file and check the preview. Confirm the background reads as solid white and your head sits within the 70–80% frame ratio before submitting through the ICP portal or app. The crop guide explains how the 2:3 ratio and head-height band are applied together.
Ready now? Upload one photo and get an ICP-ready 945 × 1417 px file in under a minute.
Create UAE Passport PhotoPrinting
Printing a 40 × 60 mm UAE Passport Photo
If you are submitting at a typing center or Customer Happiness Center rather than uploading, printing is part of the specification rather than an afterthought. A 40 × 60 mm photo is larger than most passport formats, so fewer copies fit per sheet and cutting accuracy matters more.
| Print resolution | 600 DPI recommended — export at 945 × 1417 pixels. 300 DPI (472 × 709 px) is the absolute minimum |
|---|---|
| Paper | Glossy or matte photo paper, 200–250 gsm. Plain copier paper is refused |
| Copies per 4 × 6 inch sheet | Four 40 × 60 mm photos with cutting margins |
| Copies per A4 sheet | Around twenty, though most applications need only one or two |
| Cutting | Guillotine or steel rule for square edges. Do not cut inside the printed border |
| Colour management | sRGB. Disable printer auto-enhance, skin smoothing and colour correction — these reintroduce the retouching ICP detects |
| Handling | Let ink dry fully. Do not staple, fold or glue the photo face |
Printer settings, paper choice and cutting technique are covered in full in our print passport photo at home guide, and multi-copy sheet layout in the print sheet guide.
What Goes Wrong
Common UAE Passport Photo Rejection Reasons
These are the failures ICP's automated intake catches most often. Each links through to the detailed rule so you can confirm the exact tolerance before submitting. The full cross-country breakdown is in passport photo rejection reasons.
Wrong pixel dimensions
Anything other than exactly 945 x 1417 px fails ICP's automated intake check. A 300 DPI export at 472 x 709 px is refused for online submission.
Off-white background
Grey, cream, or blue-tinted backgrounds from indoor lighting are detected and rejected. See background colour rules.
Head size out of range
A head shorter than 42 mm or taller than 48 mm chin to crown misses the biometric ratio. See head size rules.
Shadow behind the head
Standing too close to the wall or lighting from one side creates the background shadow ICP treats as a defect. See shadow rules.
Glasses glare
Reflections or frame shadows across the eyes are treated the same as tinted lenses. See glasses rules.
Hair across the face
A fringe over the eyes or hair obscuring the face outline fails landmark detection. See hair rules.
Head covering casting shadow
A hijab or scarf is permitted, but shadow falling across the forehead or eyes is not. See head covering rules.
Digital filters or smoothing
Beautification modes and AI skin-smoothing are flagged even when sizing is correct. Shoot in a plain, unfiltered camera mode.
Wrong document size
Submitting a 35 x 40 mm Emirates ID photo or a 43 x 55 mm visa photo for a passport application. See the size comparison above.
Outdated photo
Anything older than six months, or that no longer matches your current appearance after a beard, weight or surgical change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size & Measurements
What size does a UAE passport photo need to be?
40 x 60 mm, which is 945 x 1417 pixels at 600 DPI or 472 x 709 pixels at 300 DPI, with a 2:3 aspect ratio. This differs from the Emirates ID photo (35 x 40 mm) and the UAE visa photo (43 x 55 mm).
What head size does a UAE passport photo require?
The head must fill 70 to 80 percent of the 60 mm frame height, which works out to 42 to 48 mm measured from the bottom of the chin to the crown. Head height is measured by ICP's automated check, so a photo sized correctly overall but framed too loosely or too tightly is still refused.
Is the Emirates ID photo the same size as a passport photo?
No. The Emirates ID photo is 35 x 40 mm, while the Emirati passport photo is 40 x 60 mm. They share the same white-background and expression rules, but mixing up the size is a common rejection cause at typing centers.
What photo is required for a UAE golden visa application?
Golden visa applications use the standard ICP visa photo specification of 43 x 55 mm with a plain white background, the same size used for other UAE residence and employment visa categories — separate from the Emirati passport photo size. See the UAE visa photo requirements guide.
Appearance & Compliance
Will my UAE passport photo be rejected if I wear glasses?
Glasses are best removed entirely. Tinted lenses and sunglasses aren't accepted at all, and clear prescription glasses risk rejection from glare or frame shadow. Medically necessary glasses require a signed letter from your treating doctor.
Is a hijab or other head covering allowed in a UAE passport photo?
Yes. Religious and medical head coverings, including the hijab, are permitted provided the face remains fully visible from chin to forehead and the covering casts no shadow across the features. Decorative hats and caps are not permitted. Jewellery is acceptable as long as it does not obscure the hairline or any part of the face.
How recent does my UAE passport photo need to be?
No older than six months, and it should reflect your current appearance. A major change like a new beard, significant weight change, or surgery means ICP expects an updated photo.
Children
Can a baby's UAE passport photo have their eyes closed?
Yes. ICP relaxes the open-eye and neutral-expression rule for infants and newborns. The face still needs to be fully visible and unobstructed, photographed against a plain light background, typically while lying on a white sheet. The 40 x 60 mm size and head-height band still apply. See the child and infant section above.
Submitting & Printing
Which authority issues passports in the UAE?
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) issues and renews Emirati passports, processed through the Smart Services portal, the UAEICP app, or a Customer Happiness Center.
Can I take my UAE passport photo with my phone and upload it myself?
Yes — the ICP Smart Services portal and UAEICP app both accept digital uploads. A well-lit phone photo works as a starting point, but it still needs precise cropping, a true white background, and no filter or beautification editing to pass automated review.
How do I print a 40 x 60 mm UAE passport photo?
Print at 600 DPI on glossy or matte photo paper, never on plain copier paper. A standard 4 x 6 inch sheet holds four 40 x 60 mm photos with cutting margins, and an A4 sheet holds around twenty. Cut with a guillotine for square edges and do not trim inside the printed border. See the print at home guide.
Why was my UAE passport photo rejected after I uploaded it to the ICP portal?
The most common causes are incorrect pixel dimensions rather than exactly 945 x 1417 px, a background that isn't pure white, visible shadows from indoor lighting, or a resolution below 600 DPI. Beautification filters and AI-smoothed skin are also flagged and rejected by ICP's automated check, even when the framing itself is otherwise correct.
Official Sources & References
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — passport and Emirates ID services: icp.gov.ae
- UAE Government Portal — passports and travel documents: u.ae
- ICP Smart Services portal and UAEICP mobile app — digital application and photo upload channels
- Customer Happiness Centers — in-person submission and typing centre guidance
- Mabrouk Ma Yak programme — newborn birth certificate, Emirates ID and passport registration
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents biometric photograph standard: icao.int
Related Pages
Create Your UAE Passport Photo Now
Upload one photo and get a 945 x 1417px, ICP-ready file built to the Emirati passport spec — formatted for the Smart Services portal or printed for your nearest Customer Happiness Center.
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