Photo requirements at a glance
Official specification summary for this document, verified against the issuing authority's requirements.
- Photo size
- 40x60 mm · 1.57x2.36 in
- Pixel size
- 472x709 px
- Resolution
- 300 DPI
- Background
- In color
- Head height
- 38 mm
- File format
- JPEG
- Glasses
- not allowed
- Expression
- Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed
Your UAE ID card Now (40 × 60 mm / 472 × 709 Pixels)
FreeUpload a selfie, and our photo converter resizes and crops it to the exact specifications automatically. Works on iPhone, Android and desktop — no studio visit required.
Drag to reposition · Scroll-free sliders below
or paste an image from your clipboard
Check this box if health issues affect your photo — a medical certificate is required.
Compliance
Human Photo Verification
A compliance expert reviews your photo and provides a report. 99.2% approval rate.
Print sheet (multiple copies)
1.57x2.36 in · 300 dpi · JPEG · United Arab Emirates
Batch processing — process multiple photos at once
0 loadedUpload several photos; they are all cropped to the current document size using the same background & adjustments, then downloaded together as a ZIP.
Take the Right Picture for Your UAE ID Card (4x6 cm)
How to Take the Right Picture for Your UAE ID Card (4x6 cm) One of the most crucial things to do when applying for a UAE ID card is to send in the right photo. This picture has to meet tight requirements because it will be used for biometric identification and security. Even little mistakes can make your application take longer or get turned down. But don't be alarmed! You don't need to go to a photo booth or hire a professional photographer to make the perfect UAE ID card photo with PhotoGov.net.
For a visa application, the UAE visa photo rules are explained in a separate guide.

Get photo for: UAE ID card 4x6 cm
Drag to reposition · Scroll-free sliders below
or paste an image from your clipboard
Check this box if health issues affect your photo — a medical certificate is required.
Compliance
Human Photo Verification
A compliance expert reviews your photo and provides a report. 99.2% approval rate.
Print sheet (multiple copies)
2x2 in · 300 dpi · JPEG · United States
Batch processing — process multiple photos at once
0 loadedUpload several photos; they are all cropped to the current document size using the same background & adjustments, then downloaded together as a ZIP.
Why the Picture on Your UAE ID Card Is Important
The picture on your UAE ID card is very important for your application. It is used by the government to identify people and is part of the biometric verification procedure. Your application could be delayed or turned down if your photo doesn't match the technical standards.
The travel document is a separate case: the UAE passport photo requirements page describes the 40 x 60 mm biometric image it takes.
You don't have to worry about making mistakes because PhotoGov.net makes sure that your photo automatically fits all the requirements. Everything is checked and changed automatically by our platform.
How PhotoGov Can Help You Take the Best Picture for Your UAE ID Card
PhotoGov makes it easy and quick to take the correct picture for your UAE ID card. This is how it works:
Take a selfie with your phone in good light.
Your face should be clearly visible, and your expression should be neutral
Upload Your Photo:
Go to PhotoGov.net and upload your selfie
Our AI Does the Work:
Our system automatically crops, resizes, and changes your photo to meet the specifications for an official UAE ID card photo (4x6 cm)
Get Your Picture:
After processing, you can download your photo and send it in both print and online forms
How to take your own UAE ID card photo
If you don’t want to go through the trouble and expense of locating and hiring a professional photographer to take your picture, you can simply take your own from home. So long as you follow the below instructions carefully, you can capture the perfect employment authorization photo yourself:
1. Take a picture of yourself
Open up the PhotoGov.net photo service and take your picture. Make sure you’re not wearing any headcovers or glasses, do not wear a uniform, and keep your expression neutral. Ensure that the area is well-lit and that you are standing against a neutral background.

Watch "How to take a photo" (00:46)
2. Upload your photo to PhotoGov AI
Next, upload your image and process it through our site.


3. Receive your Passport Photo
Finally, you can download your ID photo. These images can be printed off, or you can simply use them as digital photos.


Requirements for a UAE ID Card Photo (4x6 cm)
Here are the technical criteria for the photo on your UAE ID card:
The full set of Emirates ID card photo rules, including the ICP specifications for size, background, and expression, is covered on a separate page.
| Size of the photo (width x height) | 40 mm x 60 mm (4 cm x 6 cm) |
| Definition of Image | There is no glare or blurriness in the picture |
| Height of head (up to top of hair) | 32–36 mm (around 75% of height of photo) |
| Color of the background | Plain white or light gray |
| Minimum DPI | 600 |
| Can be printed | Yes |
| Can be submitted online | Yes |
| Articulation | Eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression |
| Head Covers | Only for religious reasons |
| Recentness | Must have been taken in the recent six months |
| Format of the file | JPG or JPEG |
Example photos:
Below are examples of correct and incorrect photos

Things You Shouldn't Do
Here are some typical problems that can make your UAE ID card application take longer or not be approved:
The background must be pure white or light gray
Your photo must be exactly 40 mm x 60 mm
Bad lighting: Make sure there are no shadows or dark areas on your face
You should have a neutral expression on your face, not a smile or frown
If you wear glasses, be sure they don't reflect or glare
PhotoGov automatically fixes these issues for you, making sure your photo is legal
Important Parts of PhotoGov
This is why PhotoGov is the best and easiest way to get a picture of your UAE ID card:
Crop
This feature automatically cuts your picture down to the right size of 4x6 cm
Resize
Changes the size of the picture so that it fits the official size for your UAE ID card photo
Background removal
This feature gets rid of any background that can be distracting and replaces it with a neutral, compatible hue
Auto-adjustment
Changes the brightness, sharpness, and contrast to make sure the picture is of great quality
PhotoGov.net is quick and easy to use
All you have to do is post your selfie, and we'll do the rest
Cheap: You may get great results without spending a lot of money on photo booths
Every Time Compliant: Our system makes sure that your photo fits all the official requirements for UAE ID card photos
We offer both printable and digital versions, so you're ready for any way to submit
How to take UAE ID card photos for babies and kids
When taking pictures of babies and children for employment authorization, many of the same rules apply; for example, they must still adhere to the dress code, and the photograph must be high-quality and well-lit. With that being said, the State Department is generally more forgiving when it comes to the neutral expression requirement.
- If you are photographing a newborn:
- Spread a white sheet out over the floor.
- Place the baby down on the sheet and take their photograph against it.
For slightly older babies:
- Prop them up in a child’s chair against a white sheet.
- If they are still unable to hold up their head, prop it up for them using a hand behind the sheet. Ensure no one else is visible in the shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other documents for the United Arab Emirates
Written by Olia Potiagaeva, Managing Editor Reviewed by the PhotoGov Editorial Team ★ 4.8 / 5.0 Google Checked against United Arab Emirates
Free retake or full refund
If your photo is rejected because of an error on our side.
→ Refund PolicyChecked against 8 official parameters
Every file is validated before you download it.
→ Compliance checkRequirements re-checked every 8 weeks
Against the United Arab Emirates specification, so the template never falls behind a rule change. Last checked: 12.10.2026.
→ Official Government SourcesOn this page:
- Get photo for: UAE ID card 4x6 cm
- Why the Picture on Your UAE ID Card Is Important
- How PhotoGov Can Help You Take the Best Picture for Your UAE ID Card
- How to take your own UAE ID card photo
- Requirements for a UAE ID Card Photo (4x6 cm)
- Example photos:
- Things You Shouldn't Do
- Important Parts of PhotoGov
- How to take UAE ID card photos for babies and kids
- Frequently Asked Questions
PhotoGov.net strictly adheres to the Global regulations for ID photos.