Can women wear hijab in UAE ID photos?

Religious head coverings are permitted when the full oval of the face from chin to forehead is visible with no shadow on facial features.

Is a studio photo mandatory?

Many applicants use certified photo studios, but a compliant home portrait is acceptable if it meets ICAO framing and background rules.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

UAE visa & Emirates ID photo requirements

UAE visa, residence, and Emirates ID applications use ICAO-standard 35×45 mm biometric photos with a white background. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) publishes ICAO example sheets referenced in our catalog. Last verified 2026-08-18.

Create photo for United Arab Emirates

UAE Visa / Emirates ID

35×45 mm · white bg

UAE photo specifications

Size: 35×45 mm (413×531 px @ 300 DPI)
Background: plain white (#FFFFFF)
Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses: not permitted
Head coverings: only religious, with full face visible

Typical use cases

Employment visas, visit visas, Golden Visa filings, and Emirates ID renewals all route through ICP smart services. Photo specs remain consistent across most ICAO-aligned UAE portals, but always confirm your specific service channel.

Official reference

ICP ICAO manual (English PDF) linked from our ae-visa document record — smartservices.icp.gov.ae eChannels client manuals.

UAE Visa / Emirates ID — catalog specs

Size: 35×45 mm (413×531 px @ 300 DPI)
Head height: 70–80% of frame height
Eye line: 55–70% from bottom
Background: white (#FFFFFF)
Smile: not allowed — neutral expression
Glasses: not allowed
Head coverings: not allowed (except religious/medical where permitted)
Max file size (when specified): 5000 KB
Print size: 1.38×1.77 in

Create UAE Visa / Emirates ID photo →

FAQ

Can women wear hijab in UAE ID photos?: Religious head coverings are permitted when the full oval of the face from chin to forehead is visible with no shadow on facial features.
Is a studio photo mandatory?: Many applicants use certified photo studios, but a compliant home portrait is acceptable if it meets ICAO framing and background rules.

Other country hubs

PicsForm matches photos to published requirements. This is not legal or immigration advice and does not guarantee application approval. Always confirm current rules on the official portal.