United Arab Emirates passport photo size & requirements
UAE visa photos are typically 43 x 55 mm with a plain white background and the head centred in the frame.
The UAE uses a 43 x 55 mm photo format — one of the less common sizes globally — which means generic passport photo services often do not have it as a preset. This is the standard for UAE residence visa (iqama) applications, Emirates ID, and most immigration-related documents processed by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP). However, for entry visas applied for through UAE embassies outside the country, some embassies specifically request photos in the US-standard 2 x 2 inch format instead.
The UAE has strict dress code considerations reflected in the photo requirements. Female applicants may wear a hijab, but the full face must remain visible from hairline to chin and ear to ear. Male applicants wearing a ghutra or keffiyeh are required to remove it for the photo. These requirements are consistent across ICP-processed documents and are checked manually by immigration officers.
- Photo size
- 43 x 55 mm
- Resolution
- 300 DPI
- Head height
- Head centred, filling roughly 60–70% of the frame
- Background
- Plain white
United Arab Emirates passport photo requirements
- UAE visa photos are commonly 43 x 55 mm with the head centred.
- Plain white background with no shadows or borders.
- Front-facing pose with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- Women may wear a head covering provided the full face is visible.
- No sunglasses; clear glasses must not produce glare.
- Recent, high-resolution colour photo.
Common reasons United Arab Emirates 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 the wrong size — using 35 x 45 mm or 2 x 2 in when the specific application requires 43 x 55 mm.
- Head coverings worn by male applicants that are not for medical reasons — ghutra and keffiyeh must be removed.
- Background that is not plain white — the UAE immigration system uses background contrast checks for biometric processing.
- Photo not in colour — black and white or desaturated photos are rejected.
- Sunglasses or any tinted eyewear.
- Photo with visible editing artefacts or an unrealistically smooth skin texture from AI enhancement — UAE biometric checks flag photos that do not match facial texture norms.
Make your United Arab Emirates passport photo
Use our free passport size photo maker — select United Arab Emirates from the country list and it will automatically apply the correct size (43 x 55 mm) and background settings for you.
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Select United Arab Emirates in the tool to get the exact 43 x 55 mm preset.
Other countries
United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) 
Albania 35 x 45 mm 
Australia 35 x 45 mm 
Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in 
Canada 50 x 70 mm 
China 33 x 48 mm 
France 35 x 45 mm 
Germany 35 x 45 mm 
Iceland 35 x 45 mm 
India 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in) 
Ireland 35 x 45 mm 
Italy 35 x 45 mm 
Japan 35 x 45 mm 
Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm 
Malaysia 35 x 50 mm 
Netherlands 35 x 45 mm 
New Zealand 35 x 45 mm 
Nigeria 35 x 45 mm 
Norway 35 x 45 mm 
Pakistan 35 x 45 mm 
Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) 
Russia 35 x 45 mm 
Saudi Arabia 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) 
Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm 
Singapore 35 x 45 mm 
South Africa 35 x 45 mm 
South Korea 35 x 45 mm 
Spain 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm 
Switzerland 35 x 45 mm 
Thailand 35 x 45 mm 
Turkey 50 x 60 mm 
United Kingdom 35 x 45 mm 
Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)