United Arab Emirates photo specifications
Photo sizes and rules for 4 documents issued in United Arab Emirates, taken from the issuing authorities and linked to their official pages.
At a glance
UAE passports and Emirates ID cards take a 3.5 x 4.5 cm (35 x 45 mm) photo with a white background, set by ICP. Residence permits, which are now proved by the Emirates ID, and entry visas take a recent colour photo on white; ICP's services guide gives their size as 4 x 6 cm. All four are uploaded with online applications, and ICP publishes no pixel size.
Overview
Four UAE documents need a photo, and one federal body sets the standard for all of them: the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). ICP issues passports to Emirati citizens and the Emirates ID to citizens, GCC nationals and residents, and it issues residence permits and entry visas, except that Dubai visas and residence permits are handled by GDRFA Dubai.
The photos differ less in their rules than in how they reach the authority. A passport photo goes into ICP's app or website; an Emirates ID photo is attached to the application, with fingerprints taken in person from the age of 15; a residence photo comes with the sponsor's unified residence and ID application; and a visa photo is uploaded by whoever sponsors the visit. All follow ICP's ICAO-based guide: a white or plain light background, a neutral expression and the face filling 70 to 80% of the picture.
Photo specifications by document
Passports
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | 35 ร 45 mm | โ | White |
Visas and travel authorisations
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 40 ร 60 mm | โ | White |
Identity cards
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID card | 35 ร 45 mm | โ | White |
Other documents
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residence card | 40 ร 60 mm | โ | White |
Frequently asked questions
Yes. ICP gives both as 3.5 x 4.5 cm with a white background, and both must meet ICAO standards. When either document is renewed, the new photo must not be identical to the one already printed on it.
ICP issues passports, Emirates ID cards, residence permits and entry visas. In Dubai, residence permits and visas are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai), whose pages also ask for a recent photo on a white background.
Medical glasses are allowed if they do not cover the eyes; sunglasses and hats are not, according to ICP's approved photo standards. ICP's guide also rules out tinted lenses and flash reflections on the lenses.
No. Since 11 April 2022 ICP has not issued residence stickers. The Emirates ID card proves residence and carries the details that used to appear on the sticker.
ICP's photo guide allows head coverings only for religious reasons, with the face clearly visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face shown. Hats and caps are not allowed.
Nearby countries
Other countries in Western Asia:
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Georgia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- Turkey
- Yemen
Official sources
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). FAQ (approved photo standards, passport, ID cards, visa) icp.gov.ae. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Personal Photo Specifications icp.gov.ae. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Guide of the Services of ICP icp.gov.ae. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Cancellation of the residence sticker and approval of the resident ID card as an alternative icp.gov.ae. Checked 2 November 2026.
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). Issuing residence permits for the private sector gdrfad.gov.ae. Checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this page
"United Arab Emirates photo specifications". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/united-arab-emirates