head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceFederal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), UAE
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended UAE tourist visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Strictly white, high-quality background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, medical glasses only. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Strictly white, high-quality background. Make photo background white — UAE tourist visa → |
| Pose | Face directly into the camera, no rotation or tilt. |
| Expression | Neutral expression. |
| Glasses | Sunglasses prohibited; medical glasses only, provided they do not cover the eyes. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows and reflections on the face not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; face and shoulder line must be clearly defined. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For a UAE tourist or entry visa the photo line is the same across the ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) documents: a recent colour personal photo with a white background — the ICP FAQ calls it «a colored personal photo with a white background», and the Services Guide writes «a recent personal photo with a white background measuring 4/6» (and «size 6/4» for other visit permits) without giving a unit. The same documents list a passport valid for more than 6 months, valid health insurance, a return or onward ticket and, for a tourism-establishment visa, a financial guarantee and the tourist programme.
The entry permit is valid 30 or 60 days from entry and can be extended up to 120 or 180 days; the transit/emergency permit allows 96 hours. For the quality of the picture ICP's approved standards apply: recent, white background, high quality, clear face and eyes with no shadows or reflections, a straight face and a neutral expression, no hats or sunglasses, only medical glasses that do not cover the eyes; ICP's photo leaflet adds no more than 6 months old, an image width of 35–40 mm and a face filling 70–80 % of the photograph.
Applications go through the smart application, the ICP website or authorized typing and tourism offices, so give them a clean, evenly lit picture on a plain white background.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons UAE tourist visa photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), UAE publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A background that is not white, or one with shadows | Use a plain white background and even light on the face. |
| A black-and-white or washed-out photo where a coloured one is asked | Upload a clear colour photograph. |
| Hats, sunglasses, glasses that cover the eyes or reflect light | Remove hats and sunglasses; keep only medical glasses that do not cover the eyes. |
| A turned head, a smile or an expression that is not neutral, shadows or reflections on the face | Face the camera straight, neutral expression, even light. |
| A passport valid for less than 6 months or a photo that is not recent | Renew the passport first and take a new photo within six months. |
How to take it
Background: plain white
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 70–80 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Medical glasses only
Without a medical reason, take them off before the shot.
Neutral expression
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A UAE visit or tourist visa is applied for through the ICP smart application or website, or through an airline, a tourism establishment or an authorized typing or tourism office, with the photo and the passport copy; the permit is issued 48 hours after the requirements are fulfilled.
icp.gov.ae — entry permits (visit and tourism); in Dubai gdrfad.gov.ae
Recent colour photo, white background; passport valid more than 6 months.
Authority page| Authority | Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), UAE |
|---|---|
| Source | ICP UAE FAQ / ICAO standards |
| Verified |
Questions
A recent colour personal photo with a white background, high quality with clear face and eyes and no shadows or reflections, a straight face with a neutral expression, no hats or sunglasses (only medical glasses that do not cover the eyes), submitted with a passport valid for more than 6 months.
The ICP Services Guide writes «4/6» (and «6/4» for other visit permits) without a unit; ICP's ICAO leaflet gives an image width of 35–40 mm and a face filling 70–80 %. A clear colour photo of the head and shoulders on a plain white background fits all of these lines.
Yes: every ICP and GDRFA line read here asks for a white background, and ICP's approved standards add no shadows or reflections.
Only medical glasses, and only if they do not cover the eyes — ICP does not allow sunglasses or hats, and its leaflet adds no flash reflection and no tinted lenses.
The recommended size for the UAE tourist visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
Consulates usually ask for a photo taken within the last six months, sometimes within three. Take a new one that looks like you today.
Often yes, but not always: tourist, student, work and transit visas can have different size or background rules. Compare the requirements of each UAE visa — if they match, one photo will do.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the consulate’s rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: golden visa, green visa, resident visa, work permit.