United Arab Emirates Visa
Last verified 2026-05-31 against Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) / GDRFAStandards: ICAO Doc 9303Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 508 × 650 px
- Print size
- 43 × 55 mm · 300 DPI
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- Face height
- 70–80% · target 75%
- Eye line
- 62%–74% from bottom
- File size limit
- 600 KB
Note: Plain white background; head 70–80%; neutral expression
Dimensions
- Print size: 43 × 55 mm (the standard UAE visa photo format), aspect ratio ≈ 25:32
- Pixel size: 508 × 650 px
- DPI: ≈ 300 DPI
- File format / max file size: JPEG (.jpg); 200–600 KB for the digital upload
- Color mode: sRGB color only
Head position
- Head height (chin to crown): ≈ 38–44 mm
- Head height as fraction of frame: ≈ 70%–80%
- Head position: Directly facing camera; head upright, no tilt
- Shoulders: Square to camera, centred
Background
- Color: Plain white
- Requirements: No shadows, no objects, no other people behind the subject
Expression
- Expression must be neutral, mouth closed
- Both eyes open and clearly visible, looking at the camera
- Full face visible; hair must not cover the eyes
Accessories
- Eyeglasses: Best removed; if worn, eyes must be fully visible with no glare or tinting
- Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
- Head coverings: Permitted for religious reasons (e.g. hijab / ghutra); the full face from chin to forehead must be visible
Other rules
- Photo must be recent and reflect current appearance
- Color photo, even lighting, no shadows
- No digital alterations or filters
Notes
- The 43 × 55 mm size is distinct from the 35 × 45 mm ICAO portrait — do not substitute. The output is 508 × 650 px.
- 35 × 45 mm is the Emirates ID photo, not the visa. The federal ICP biometric-quality guide states a generic ICAO 35–40 mm head width and omits the 43×55 mm / pixel / KB figures; the 43 × 55 mm white standard comes from the visa-submission channels.
- UAE visas are commonly processed through airlines, typing centres, GDRFA (Dubai), and the federal ICP portal; the photo requirement is consistent across these channels, but confirm the upload limits with the specific channel.
Sources
What size is a UAE visa photo?
43 × 55 mm (508 × 650 px) on a plain white background, color only. This is different from the 35 × 45 mm size used by many other countries.
What background does the UAE visa photo need?
A plain white background with no shadows or objects behind you.
Can I wear a head covering in the photo?
Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons, such as a hijab or ghutra, as long as the full face from chin to forehead is clearly visible.
Can I wear glasses in my UAE visa photo?
It is safest to remove them. If worn, your eyes must be fully visible with no glare or tinting. Sunglasses are not allowed.
What file size does the UAE visa upload require?
A JPEG between 200 KB and 600 KB. Confirm the exact limit with the channel handling your application (airline, typing centre, GDRFA, or the federal ICP portal).
Live validation
against the actual rulebook.
Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."
The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.
- Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
- Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
- File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
- Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.
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