# UAE Visa Photo Maker, 43x55 mm

Country: United Arab Emirates

Document: Visa

Page language: en

Page: [UAE Visa Photo Maker, 43x55 mm](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/ae/visa/)

Requirements last verified: 2025-01-25

## Photo specifications

These are document-specific values from the page data. Printed and digital requirements may apply to different application routes; consult the guide and sources below.

| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo dimensions | 43 × 55 mm |
| Photo paper | Glossy or matte |
| Digital pixel dimensions | 300 × 369 px (see guide/source for applicability and minimum vs exact sizing) |
| Digital file format | JPEG |
| Maximum digital file size | 1024 KB |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months |

## Appearance and composition

- Background: Plain white background without borders, shadows, or patterns
- Head size: 70-80% of photo height (face should measure 32-36mm)
- Expression: Neutral expression with mouth closed, looking directly at camera
- Glasses: Not permitted.
- Even lighting; no harsh shadows.
- Filters, beauty modes and retouching are forbidden.
- Color photo.
- Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons; check the source for conditions.
- Uniforms are restricted; check the source for exceptions.
- No earphones or wireless devices.

## Common rejection reasons

- Wrong background — Photo must have a plain white background with no shadows, patterns, or borders

- Incorrect dimensions — UAE visa photos must be 43x55mm; wrong size causes automatic rejection

- Poor photo quality — Image is blurry, too dark, too bright, or has visible ink marks or creases

- Wearing glasses or sunglasses — Only medical glasses are permitted, and they must not cover the eyes

- Wrong facial expression — Smiling, open mouth, or eyes not looking directly at the camera

- Photo too old — Must be taken within the last 6 months showing your current appearance

- Digital alterations — Photos edited using software or filters are not accepted by UAE authorities

- Head covering not allowed — Hats and non-religious head coverings will cause rejection

## Source for the document requirements

[Source linked by the document page](https://icp.gov.ae/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/icao_english.pdf)

The complete guide below includes additional sources and application-specific qualifications when available.

## Create a photo with One Dollar Passport Photo

The service sizes, crops and checks a photo for the selected document. Its output settings are service choices, not additional government requirements.

- Digital photo download: $1 USD.
- Print-ready sheet download: $5 USD. Printing is separate.
- Optional human expert review: +$4.99 USD.

[Open the photo tool](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/ae/visa/)

Complete Guide

## UAE visa photo: 43×55mm requirements and where to get one

What a compliant UAE visa photo needs, the rules people miss — no edited photos, no non-religious head coverings — and a straight comparison of where to get one.

Written by

Jake

Community & Writing, One Dollar Passport Photo

Reviewed by

Lisa

Expert Reviewer, One Dollar Passport Photo

Fact-checked & verified

May 17, 2026

## The official requirements

A UAE visa photo is **43×55mm** — a size specific to the UAE. The full spec:

-   **Size:** 43×55 mm
-   **Background:** plain white, no borders, shadows, or patterns
-   **Head size:** face 32–36 mm, roughly 70–80% of the photo height
-   **Expression:** neutral, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera
-   **Glasses:** not allowed — medical glasses only, and they must not cover the eyes
-   **Recency:** taken within the last 6 months
-   **Color:** color photo, no digital filters or edits

For a digital upload the file is a JPEG, 300×369 pixels, up to 1 MB. The UAE follows the ICAO biometric photo standard.

## How to take a compliant photo

The setup is standard ICAO portrait work; the 43×55 mm size and the no-editing rule are the things to watch:

1.  Stand 6–8 feet in front of a plain white wall, far enough out to cast no shadow.
2.  Light yourself evenly from the front. The UAE spec rejects any shadow or border around the photo.
3.  Have someone else take the shot — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes on the lens.
4.  Crop to the **43×55 mm** frame with the face filling 70–80% of the height.
5.  **Do not retouch the photo.** No beauty filters, no skin smoothing, no edits — the UAE rejects digitally altered photos. A tool that only crops and adjusts the background to the spec is fine; one that “enhances” your face is not.

## Why photos get rejected

UAE visa processing rejects a consistent set of problems. Each one, and the fix:

-   **Wrong size** — the photo is not 43×55 mm. A crop from another country’s visa photo will not match.
-   **Background not plain white** — any border, shadow, or pattern fails.
-   **Digital alterations** — photos run through filters or editing software are rejected. Submit an unedited photo.
-   **Glasses worn** — only medical glasses are allowed, and they must not cover the eyes.
-   **Head covering** — hats and non-religious head coverings cause rejection.
-   **Poor quality** — blurry, too dark, too bright, or with visible creases or ink marks.
-   **Photo too old** — must be within the last 6 months.

## What to wear (and not wear)

Because the UAE rejects any digitally altered photo, the same instinct applies to what you wear and put on your face: nothing that changes how you actually look.

**Avoid:** glasses (medical glasses only, and not covering the eyes), hats and non-religious head coverings, headphones, and a white or very pale top that blends into the white background.

**Fine:** ordinary everyday clothing in a solid darker color, light everyday makeup that doesn’t alter your appearance, and religious head coverings worn daily — the face must stay fully visible from forehead to chin.

The no-editing rule extends to makeup in spirit: heavy makeup that changes how you look defeats the purpose of an identity photo.

## Where to get your photo

You can get a UAE visa photo online or in person. The 43×55 mm size and the no-editing rule are what to verify:

| Where | Price | 43×55mm sizing | Digital file | Speed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Photo studio | varies locally | Yes — ask for UAE visa size | Often | Same day |
| Pharmacy / print shop | varies locally | Often defaults to 2×2 — confirm first | Rarely | Same day |
| Online tool (this site) | $1.00 | Yes — exact 43×55mm crop | Yes | ~2 minutes |

A general photo counter often defaults to the local passport size, so state “UAE visa, 43×55mm” explicitly. Whoever takes the photo, make sure it is not retouched — the UAE rejects edited images. An online tool that crops to 43×55 mm and adjusts only the background, without “enhancing” your face, gives you a compliant file and a print sheet.

## Submitting your photo

UAE visas are usually arranged through a sponsor — an airline, hotel, employer, or a UAE-based relative — or through the official ICP / GDRFA channels.

**Online application** — Most UAE visa applications are submitted online, and you upload the photo as a JPEG (300×369 px, up to 1 MB). The unedited, correctly sized file is what matters.

**Through a sponsor or typing centre** — Where a sponsor or a typing centre files on your behalf, you provide the photo to them, printed or digital. Give them a 43×55 mm photo so they are not forced to re-crop it.

### Sources & References

This guide is fact-checked against official government publications and updated regularly to reflect the latest requirements.

1.  \[1\]
    
    [Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) — ICAO photo standard](https://icp.gov.ae/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/icao_english.pdf)
    
    icp.gov.ae