Everything you need to know about United Arab Emirates passport photo requirements, including exact dimensions, background color, pose rules, and how to take a compliant biometric passport photo at home.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Country | United Arab Emirates (الإمارات العربية المتحدة) |
| Document Type | Passport (جواز سفر) |
| Photo Size | 40 × 60 mm (4 × 6 cm / 1.57 × 2.36 inches) |
| Resolution (DPI) | 600 |
| Head Size | 70–80% of the photograph (~38 mm head height) |
| Background Color | Plain white |
| Printable | Yes — on matte photo-quality paper |
| Digital Photo Size | 944 × 1417 pixels at 600 DPI |
| Photo Paper Type | Matte |
| Color | Color only (black and white not accepted) |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| ICAO Compliant | Yes |
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) follows ICAO standards for biometric passport photos. Below is a comprehensive guide to ensure your photo is accepted.
Glasses are NOT allowed in UAE passport photos. You must remove all eyewear, including sunglasses and tinted lenses, before taking the photo.
Source: ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security
You don't need a professional studio. Follow these simple steps to take a compliant UAE passport photo at home using your smartphone.
Any modern smartphone camera is more than capable of taking a passport-quality photo. Make sure the lens is clean and the camera is set to the highest resolution.
Place your phone on a tripod or ask someone to take the photo for you. Selfies tend to have the wrong angle and distortion.
Stand facing a window with natural daylight for the best even lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows. If using indoor lighting, use multiple light sources from different angles to eliminate shadows.
Wear your normal everyday clothing. Avoid uniforms and white tops that blend with the background. Make sure your hair does not cover your eyes or cast shadows on your face.
Stand about 1.5 meters in front of the camera with your head facing directly forward. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head level — not tilted. Ensure your entire face from chin to forehead is visible.
Keep your face relaxed with a neutral expression. Both eyes must be open and your mouth closed. No smiling — the UAE biometric passport requires a strictly neutral expression for facial recognition.
Comparison of acceptable and unacceptable passport photos
A UAE passport photo must be exactly 40×60 mm (4×6 cm or 1.57×2.36 inches). Your head should occupy 70–80% of the photograph, with approximately 6 mm of space from the top edge to the top of your head.
No. Glasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses are not permitted in UAE passport photos. You must remove all eyewear before taking the photo.
No. A neutral facial expression is required with both eyes open and mouth closed. The UAE uses biometric facial recognition, which requires a strictly neutral expression.
Yes! Simply upload your photo to PassportPhoto.help and our AI will automatically crop, resize, remove the background, and ensure it meets all official UAE passport photo requirements.
The background must be plain white. No patterns, objects, shadows, or other people should be visible. Our tool will automatically replace your background with white if needed.
Head coverings are not allowed unless worn for religious reasons. Your full face must be clearly visible from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead, and the head covering must not cast shadows.
UAE passports are issued only to UAE citizens. Residents and expatriates use their Emirates ID and residence visa for identification within the UAE, and their home country passport for international travel.
