Quick answer: This UAE work permit preset uses 35 × 45 mm with strictly white, high-quality background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses prohibited. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .
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| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Strictly white, high-quality background. |
| 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. |
| Digital resolution | Check the authority portal before digital upload |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | Check the authority portal before upload |
| 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.
UAE work permits are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), not by ICP — but no MOHRE photo specification could be read: on 2026-08-19 mohre.gov.ae did not respond at all and the u.ae work-permit page returned 404. This profile therefore states no authority-specific numbers.
It falls back to the ICAO 9303 biometric portrait baseline: 35 × 45 mm, head 70-80% of the frame, plain white background, neutral expression, face straight to camera, no hats and no sunglasses; only medical glasses that leave the eyes visible. Treat these values as a safe default rather than a published MOHRE rule, and confirm the exact requirement with the typing centre or the employer handling your application.
| Authority | ICAO baseline |
|---|---|
| Source | ICAO biometric portrait baseline |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Inferred from ICAO |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for UAE work permit applications. The final decision always belongs to ICAO baseline, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.
Strictly white, high-quality background. Use a flat, evenly lit light-coloured wall. Work permit applications typically pass through both automated and manual review — inconsistent backgrounds fail the automated stage and slow the entire process.
Even frontal daylight from a window. Avoid mixed light sources (window + ceiling light) — they create colour casts that the automated colour-check stage rejects.
Camera at eye level, head straight, eyes looking directly at the lens. Work permit photos use the same alignment standard as passports — a 5° head tilt fails automated screening.
Square shoulders, both visible. Head and upper shoulders centred in the frame. Work permits are often reused across border crossings — proportional consistency with your passport photo helps verification.
Sunglasses prohibited; medical glasses only, provided they do not cover the eyes Remove glasses for the shoot. Work permit photos are used at workplace verification and border control over the permit's validity — any glare risk compounds over time.
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open. Work permit biometric data is compared against passport biometric data at border control — match the same neutral expression you used (or would use) for your passport photo.
Civilian clothing only — no work uniforms, military or law-enforcement clothing, branded company attire, or any clothing that obscures the neckline. Religious head covering is allowed only where it is permanently worn.
Submit a photo taken within the last six months. Many work permit authorities also accept a recent passport photo for the application — verify the dimensions match 35 × 45 mm before reusing.
ICAO baseline publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.
| Code | Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
AE-WP-01 |
Head outside the 70-80% ICAO baseline band | Re-crop to the ICAO baseline band used by this profile |
AE-WP-02 |
Background not white | Re-shoot against white backdrop |
AE-WP-03 |
Sunglasses or non-medical glasses | Remove or use medical glasses with clear lenses |
AE-WP-04 |
Photo older than 6 months | Re-shoot |
Work permit photos must show you in civilian clothing. Uniforms (military, law-enforcement, medical, hospitality), branded company attire, or any work-specific accessories are routinely rejected.
Strictly white, high-quality background is required. Work permit applications pass through both automated and manual review — inconsistent backgrounds fail the automated stage and slow the entire application timeline.
Head must be straight and centred. Work permit photos use the same ICAO biometric standard as passports — head tilt above 3–5° fails automated screening.
Both eyes must be fully visible with no lens glare. Tinted lenses, hair across the eye area, or shadow under the brow ridge all cause automated rejection.
Smile, raised eyebrows or parted lips cause rejection. Work permit biometric data is checked at border crossings against your passport biometric template — match the same neutral expression.
Most work permit authorities require a photo taken within the last six months. Reusing a passport photo from a previous year, even if it technically meets the dimension rule, is grounds for rejection.
Blur, overexposure, low resolution or visible compression artefacts cause rejection. The submission system requires minimum resolution and file size limits — see the spec table above for exact values.
This UAE work permit preset uses 35 × 45 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 70–80% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. Work permit applications typically use the same biometric standard as passports for the UAE authority.
Sometimes. If your visa or passport photo was taken within the last six months and matches the work permit profile, reusing it may be acceptable. Check the spec table above and the source authority page for any work-permit-specific differences.
Strictly white, high-quality background. Even, shadow-free lighting is critical because work permits often go through both automated and manual review stages, and any inconsistency between them slows the application.
Most work permit applications accept photos taken within the last six months. Submit a photo that reflects your current appearance because the permit card is checked at workplaces and border crossings throughout its validity period.
No. Uniforms, military or law-enforcement clothing, religious headwear (except for permanent religious exception), or any clothing that obscures the neckline is typically rejected for UAE work permit photos.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the UAE work permit authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.