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Saudi Arabia passport photo size & requirements

Saudi Arabia visa photos are 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) with a plain white background and a full front view of the face.

Saudi Arabia uses the 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) square photo format — the same as the US — for visa applications, residency permits (Iqama), and most immigration-related documents processed by the Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية) and the General Directorate of Passports (الجوازات). This format differs from the 35 x 45 mm standard used across Europe and most of Asia, and applicants from those regions often submit the wrong size without realising it.

Saudi Arabia has specific dress code requirements reflected in the photo rules. Male applicants must appear bare-headed — wearing a traditional ghutra, keffiyeh, or any other head covering is not permitted for passport or visa photos, except for documented medical reasons. Female applicants may wear a hijab, but the full face from forehead to chin and from ear to ear must remain completely visible with no shadows on the face from the head covering. The Kingdom also requires the photo background to be plain white — cream, off-white, or any other background is not accepted. Saudi Arabia introduced an e-Visa system in 2019 for many nationalities, and digital photo uploads through the Sharek platform or visa agency portals follow the same 2 x 2 inch specification.

Photo size
2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)
Resolution
300 DPI
Head height
Head fills about 50–69% of the photo, similar to the US 2 x 2 standard
Background
Plain white
Make my Saudi photo How to print it

Saudi Arabia passport photo requirements

  • Saudi visa and many residency photos use a 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) square.
  • Plain white background with even lighting.
  • Full front view of the face with a neutral expression.
  • Men should appear bare-headed; women may wear a head covering that keeps the full face visible.
  • No sunglasses or tinted lenses.
  • Recent photo taken within the last six months.

Common reasons Saudi Arabia passport photos get rejected

Even a technically correct photo can be turned away for these issues. They come up repeatedly in official rejection notices.

  • Submitting a 35 x 45 mm photo instead of the 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) square — applicants from Europe, Australia, and most of Asia frequently make this mistake.
  • Male applicant wearing a ghutra, keffiyeh, or any head covering — this is a firm requirement regardless of nationality or religious practice.
  • Background not plain white — cream, off-white, or grey backgrounds are rejected by Saudi immigration officers.
  • Female applicant's hijab casting a shadow on the face — the face must be evenly lit with no shadow from any head covering.
  • Sunglasses, tinted lenses, or any eyewear that obscures the eyes.
  • Photo not in colour — black-and-white photos are not accepted.

Make your Saudi Arabia passport photo

Use our free passport size photo maker — select Saudi Arabia from the country list and it will automatically apply the correct size (2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)) and background settings for you.

Crop, remove background, and download a compliant Saudi Arabia passport photo — free, no signup, no watermark.

Open Passport Size Photo Maker

Select Saudi Arabia in the tool to get the exact 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) preset.

Other countries

United States flag United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Albania flag Albania 35 x 45 mm Australia flag Australia 35 x 45 mm Brazil flag Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in Canada flag Canada 50 x 70 mm China flag China 33 x 48 mm France flag France 35 x 45 mm Germany flag Germany 35 x 45 mm Iceland flag Iceland 35 x 45 mm India flag India 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in) Ireland flag Ireland 35 x 45 mm Italy flag Italy 35 x 45 mm Japan flag Japan 35 x 45 mm Luxembourg flag Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm Malaysia flag Malaysia 35 x 50 mm Netherlands flag Netherlands 35 x 45 mm New Zealand flag New Zealand 35 x 45 mm Nigeria flag Nigeria 35 x 45 mm Norway flag Norway 35 x 45 mm Pakistan flag Pakistan 35 x 45 mm Philippines flag Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) Russia flag Russia 35 x 45 mm Schengen / EU flag Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm Singapore flag Singapore 35 x 45 mm South Africa flag South Africa 35 x 45 mm South Korea flag South Korea 35 x 45 mm Spain flag Spain 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm Switzerland flag Switzerland 35 x 45 mm Thailand flag Thailand 35 x 45 mm Turkey flag Turkey 50 x 60 mm United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates 43 x 55 mm United Kingdom flag United Kingdom 35 x 45 mm Vietnam flag Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)