UAE Visa Photo

Dubai Visa photo requirements

Dubai is the most popular city in the UAE and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. In recent years, Dubai has become a popular world destination for those enamored with its sumptuous lifestyle, fancy cars, glittering skyscrapers, and overall glitz. All that combined with endless sun, the desert, and exotic nature, makes Dubai a pretty seductive place to visit.

If you’re seeking to visit Dubai as a tourist, you might need a visa, and along with it, a visa photo. In this article we will tell you all about the Dubai visa photo requirements and how to prepare your visa photo to be sure it gets accepted by the authorities. 

Perhaps you may also be interested in going off the beaten path on your UAE trip - well, Dubai is not all there is to the United Arab Emirates. The country comprises seven emirates in total (emirates are basically the equivalent of states): Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al-Quwain are all equally as alluring and worth paying a visit. 

Dubai visa photo size & requirements 

When taking the right picture of your United Arab Emirates visa, you have to make sure that everything is ideal, as sometimes even the smallest mistake may cause rejection. Especially when planning to enter Dubai - a city that boasts glamour and perfection. You don’t want to take a bad photo going to a perfect city, do you?

Dubai visa photo dimensions

The visa photo size requirements for your UAE visa photograph should be 43 mm x 55 mm (approx. 1.7 in. x 2.1 in.). 

If you’re submitting an electronic copy of your UAE visa photo, it should be 300 px wide and 369 px high. 

Dubai visa photo guidelines

There are specific guidelines for the UAE or Dubai visa photo to be met if you decide to start the process of applying for a UAE visa.

Remember, if something looks incorrect, don’t edit it by removing birthmarks, scars, tattoos, or even red-eye, because this may cause your UAE visa application to get rejected. 

You can use our photo editor on the Passport Photo Online website (or app) to get a professional photo service that will set your visa photo to the perfect dimensions, and edit it accordingly so it fits the UAE visa photo requirements.

Background 

Let’s take a look at the background requirements for your Dubai visa photo:

• The background has to be white or off-white, without any patterns
• The picture should be in color - black and white photos are rejected
• You must be in the center of the photo and your face should take up 70% - 80% of the picture
• Your head, hair, ears, and shoulders have to be visible in the picture
• The picture should be of good quality - make sure it’s clear and sharp without any glares, shadows, over- or under-exposure
• The picture must show your real skin tone

Your Dubai visa photo must be printed on good quality photo paper and it cannot have any marks, creases, staples, or any other damage on it. 

Facial expression

• You must have a neutral facial expression 
• Your mouth has to be closed 
• Your eyes must be open and clearly visible
• You have to look straight into the camera lens
• Your head must be straight, not tilted

What to wear 

• There must be a clear distinction between you and the white background, so it’s recommended that you wear something in a solid dark color, that’s other than black (blues, purples, or greens should work fine!)
• You can wear eyeglasses if you must, but they cannot obscure your eyes and/or eyebrows. Make sure there is no glare on the glasses. Sunglasses are not permitted.
• You can only wear headgear for religious purposes, but be sure that your head covering does not obscure your face as your forehead, chin, and other facial features must be visible. Hats, headbands, and other fashion accessories are not allowed. 

UAE visa photo requirements for babies and young children

Babies and infants are no exception to visa photos, so let’s go over the fundamentals of those: 

• The baby should have as neutral of a facial expression as possible and look straight into the camera.
• The baby should be alone in the picture - the parent or guardian can’t hold her, and no hands can be visible in the visa photograph. If the child cannot support herself, the picture should be taken from above as they are lying down.
• Toys or dummies aren’t allowed in the picture.

Is it safe to go to Dubai?

In general, Dubai is a safe place to visit. It has a high concentration of surveillance cameras throughout the city and the entire emirate, and the overall crime rate in Dubai is relatively low.

Last update: 1/30/23