Passport Photos for Arab Countries: Sizes for Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and More

A passport photo for Saudi Arabia is not the same as one for Morocco. The paper size changes, the head proportion changes, and the office handling the application may add its own rules. A photo that passes at one counter can be refused at another if the format is wrong.

The Arab countries covered here use two main families of sizes. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq usually ask for 4 × 6 cm. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia usually ask for 35 × 45 mm, the same family as much of Europe. The UAE uses 4.3 × 5.5 cm. The background is generally white, but always check the current instructions.

Quick reference

• Saudi Arabia: 4 × 6 cm, white background.
• United Arab Emirates: 4.3 × 5.5 cm, white background.
• Egypt: 4 × 6 cm, white background.
• Morocco: 35 × 45 mm, white background.
• Algeria: 35 × 45 mm, white background.
• Tunisia: 35 × 45 mm, white background.
• Jordan: 4 × 6 cm, white background.
• Iraq: 4 × 6 cm, white background.

These are the formats used by OpenToola’s presets. They are a starting point, not a guarantee. Visa photos, residence permits and national ID photos can have different requirements from passport photos, even in the same country.

Why the size families matter

The 4 × 6 cm family gives a taller image. The 35 × 45 mm family is smaller and closer to the European standard. The UAE’s 4.3 × 5.5 cm sits between them.

If you print a 4 × 6 cm photo on a 35 × 45 mm layout, the printer may crop the head or add a border. If you upload a 35 × 45 mm image to a portal that expects 4 × 6 cm, the face may be too small. Always start from the destination’s size.

Head proportion matters as much as paper size. A 4 × 6 cm photo with a tiny head looks wrong, and a 35 × 45 mm photo with a head that fills the frame can be rejected. Aim for the official example, not for a portrait you like.

Saudi Arabia

The usual passport photo is 4 × 6 cm with a white background. The face should be centred and clear, with a neutral expression. For visa and residency applications, the size can differ; check the platform or the embassy’s current checklist.

Saudi applications are often submitted through an online portal. If the portal asks for a digital photo, check the pixel dimensions and file size. A print-ready 4 × 6 cm image at 300 DPI is about 472 × 709 pixels, but the portal may want a different upload size.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE commonly uses 4.3 × 5.5 cm with a white background. Some applications ask for a specific crop for a residence visa or an Emirates ID. The same photo may not work for both.

If you are applying through a typing centre or a portal, ask which format they accept before printing. A photo that is 4 × 6 cm instead of 4.3 × 5.5 cm can be rejected even though the difference is small.

Egypt

Egypt usually asks for a 4 × 6 cm photo with a white background for passport and visa applications. The face should be clear, with no shadows and no heavy retouching.

Some Egyptian offices still prefer a printed photo rather than a digital upload. If you print at home, check the size with a ruler. A photo printed at “fit to page” may be slightly too small.

Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia

Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia generally use 35 × 45 mm with a white background. The head should occupy a large part of the frame, similar to the Schengen style.

For visa applications, check the consulate’s requirements. A Moroccan passport photo and a Schengen visa photo may both be 35 × 45 mm, but the head size and the background can differ. Do not reuse a photo without checking.

Jordan and Iraq

Jordan and Iraq usually use 4 × 6 cm with a white background for passport and visa photos. The exact head proportion can vary by office.

If the application is submitted through an embassy or a local office, ask for a sample photo. A sample is more reliable than a general web page, especially for visa categories that change frequently.

Digital uploads and print

A digital upload is not a scanned print. Portals often require a JPEG with specific dimensions and a maximum file size. A print requires the exact paper size, photo paper and careful cutting.

For print, use 300 DPI. A 4 × 6 cm photo is about 472 × 709 pixels; a 4.3 × 5.5 cm photo is about 508 × 650 pixels; a 35 × 45 mm photo is about 413 × 531 pixels. These are the sizes used by the presets.

For digital, check the portal’s pixel range. Do not upscale a small image; it will look soft. Do not apply beauty filters; the photo must match the person at the border.

Taking a photo that works across formats

If you need photos for several countries, take one high-resolution original with a plain white background, even light and a neutral expression. Then crop a separate file for each destination. Do not crop one file and resize it repeatedly; each resize adds softness.

Keep the original unedited. If a photo is rejected, you can re-crop from the original instead of retaking it. Name the files by country and document type: sa-passport-4x6.jpg, ae-visa-4.3x5.5.jpg, ma-passport-35x45.jpg.

Common mistakes

• Printing a 4 × 6 cm photo on a 35 × 45 mm layout.
• Using a cream background that looks white on a phone.
• Cropping the head too large or too small.
• Wearing glasses when the current rule says no glasses.
• Using an old photo that no longer looks like the applicant.
• Uploading a PNG or a screenshot instead of the requested JPEG.
• Leaving a white border around the printed photo.

A passport photo is checked quickly. The person at the counter is looking for a reason to reject it. A clean background, the right size and a neutral face remove most of those reasons.

Passport, visa or ID?

The same country can use different photo sizes for a passport, a visa and a national ID. A Saudi passport photo may be 4 × 6 cm, while a visa portal asks for a digital image with different dimensions. A UAE residence visa may use 4.3 × 5.5 cm, while an Emirates ID form may ask for another crop.

Check the document type on the form, not just the country. If you are applying through a typing centre, ask them which format they will attach. If you are uploading, read the portal’s photo instructions before taking the picture.

Printing several sizes on one sheet

If you need photos for more than one application, print them on separate sheets or in separate areas of a photo sheet. Do not print a 4 × 6 cm photo and a 35 × 45 mm photo overlapping; the cutter will not know where one ends and the other begins.

Most photo tools can produce a sheet with several copies of the same size. Print the sheet at 100 %, then cut along the guide. If you are using a lab, give them the exact dimensions in millimetres and ask them to print at actual size.

Country checklist

• Saudi Arabia: 4 × 6 cm, white background, neutral expression. Check the portal’s digital size.
• UAE: 4.3 × 5.5 cm, white background. Confirm the format for the specific visa or ID.
• Egypt: 4 × 6 cm, white background. Printed copies are often requested.
• Morocco: 35 × 45 mm, white background. Check the consulate’s head-size example.
• Algeria: 35 × 45 mm, white background. Check whether a printed or digital photo is required.
• Tunisia: 35 × 45 mm, white background. Confirm with the office handling the application.
• Jordan: 4 × 6 cm, white background. Ask for a sample at the embassy or office.
• Iraq: 4 × 6 cm, white background. Confirm the current rule before printing.

This list is a practical starting point. Requirements can change, and a consulate can be stricter than the general guidance.

If the photo is rejected

Ask why. “Wrong size” means re-crop or reprint, not necessarily retake. “Background not white” may require a new photo. “Head too large” is a crop problem. “Glasses” means remove them and retake.

If the rejection happens at a counter, ask for the exact measurement they expect. A few millimetres can matter. Write it down and check the new photo with a ruler before returning.

Privacy

A passport photo is sensitive. OpenToola crops and formats it in the browser; the image is not uploaded and is not stored in an account. Delete the downloaded files after printing or uploading, and avoid using a shared computer for identity documents.

Tools mentioned

• Passport Photo
• Resize Image
• Compress Image
• OpenToola Guides