The official photo rules for UAE visas, residence permits and the Emirates ID: ICP's personal photo specifications (35–40 mm wide, face 70–80% of the photo, no older than 6 months), the white background GDRFA Dubai and u.ae ask for, glasses and head covers, and the renewal-photo rule.
The UAE does not publish one photo size for every service. ICP's specification sheet sets the width, framing and lighting; its Emirates ID cards require compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard; and GDRFA Dubai, u.ae and ICP's services guide ask for a white background. This guide is built from ICP's Personal Photo Specifications sheet, ICP's 2024 services guide, ICP's Emirates ID service cards, GDRFA Dubai's residence permit cards and u.ae, read on 25 October 2026.
The quick answer
ICP's Personal Photo Specifications sheet says the photographs must be:
- no more than 6 months old
- 35–40 mm in width
- a close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders, so that your face takes up 70–80% of the photograph
- in sharp focus and clear
- of high quality, with no ink marks or creases.
For the Emirates ID, ICP's 2024 services guide lists a "Personal photo (4.5x3.5 cm) with white background" for issuing, renewing and replacing an ID card. The residence permit cards also ask for a white background: GDRFA Dubai's private-sector residence card lists "A recent personal photograph with a white background for the sponsored", and u.ae lists "A recent coloured personal photo with a white background" for a dependent's residence visa.
Photo size: what each official source says
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| ICP, Personal Photo Specifications | 35–40 mm wide; face 70–80% of the photograph |
| ICP services guide (2024), UAE passport services | "Personal photo size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) with a white background"; "Photo width: 35 – 40mm" |
| ICP services guide (2024), Emirates ID issuance, renewal and replacement | "Personal photo (4.5x3.5 cm) with white background" |
| ICP services guide (2024), visa and residence services | A recent personal photo with a white background, given as size "6/4" for most entry-permit and residence services and "4/6" for some others; the guide gives no unit |
| GDRFA Dubai, residence permits for the private sector | "A recent personal photograph with a white background for the sponsored." |
| GDRFA Dubai, residence permit for family members | "A recent colour photograph with a white background for the sponsored person." |
| u.ae, general provisions for the residence visa | "A recent coloured personal photo with a white background for the dependent" |
So follow the service you are applying for: if its card or form names a size, use that size.
The rest of ICP's photo rules
Quality. The photographs must show you looking directly at the camera, show your skin tones naturally, have appropriate brightness and contrast, and be printed on high-quality paper at high resolution. ICP: "Photographs taken with a digital camera must be high quality colour and printed on photo-quality paper."
Style and lighting. They must be colour neutral; show your eyes open and clearly visible, with no hair across your eyes; show you facing square on to the camera, not looking over one shoulder or tilted, with both edges of your face clearly visible; be taken against a plain light-coloured background; and be taken with uniform lighting, with no shadows or flash reflections on your face and no red eye.
Glasses. The photograph must show your eyes clearly, with no flash reflection off the glasses and no tinted lenses, and the frames must not cover any part of your eyes. ICP suggests avoiding heavy frames if possible.
Head coverings "are not permitted except for religious reasons, but your facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown."
Expression. The photograph must show you alone (no chair backs, toys or other people visible), looking at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.
Emirates ID photos
ICP's New Identity Card Issuance card says: "The personal photograph must comply with the standards approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)." For a renewal, its Identity Card Renewal card adds: "A recent personal photograph must be provided when submitting the application and must not be identical to the current photograph printed on the Emirates ID card." Fees, status and timing are in our Emirates ID guide.
For employers
When you collect documents for a new hire's visa and Emirates ID, ask for a recent photo with a white background that also follows ICP's specification sheet. See what our visa services cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the photo size for a UAE visa? A: There is no single size for every service. ICP's specification sheet sets a width of 35–40 mm with the face taking up 70–80% of the photo. ICP's services guide gives "6/4" for most entry-permit and residence services and "4/6" for some others, with a white background and no unit, and 3.5 x 4.5 cm for UAE passport services.
Q: What is the Emirates ID photo size? A: ICP's 2024 services guide lists a "Personal photo (4.5x3.5 cm) with white background" for issuing, renewing and replacing an ID card. ICP's Personal Photo Specifications sheet sets 35–40 mm in width, with your face taking up 70–80% of the photograph, and ICP's new-card and replacement cards require ICAO compliance.
Q: What background colour does a UAE visa photo need? A: White, on the GDRFA Dubai residence cards, u.ae and ICP's services guide. ICP's specification sheet itself asks for a plain light-coloured background.
Q: How old can the photo be? A: No more than 6 months old, according to ICP's Personal Photo Specifications sheet.
Q: Can I wear glasses in my Emirates ID or visa photo? A: ICP allows glasses if your eyes are clearly visible, with no flash reflection and no tinted lenses, and the frames do not cover any part of your eyes.
Q: Can I wear a head covering in the photo? A: Only for religious reasons, and your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, and both edges of the face, must be clearly shown (ICP).
Q: Can I reuse my old Emirates ID photo for renewal? A: No. ICP's renewal card says the recent photograph "must not be identical to the current photograph printed on the Emirates ID card."
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