From September 1, Indian expatriates in Dubai applying for or renewing a passport must follow new photo rules. The Indian Consulate in Dubai has confirmed that only photos meeting the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as of August 25 will be accepted.
With this change, most applicants will need to submit new photos that meet the revised standards. While some flexibility was allowed earlier, the new rules require strict compliance with ICAO guidelines to ensure passports are machine-readable and accepted worldwide.
New Photo Specifications
- Camera Distance: Taken from 1.5 metres away
- Format: Coloured photo on plain white background, size 630 x 810 pixels (or 2×2 inch if printed).
- Framing: Head and shoulders close-up, face covering 80-85% of the frame.
- Clarity: No filters, computer edits, or blurring; natural skin tone must be visible.
- Lighting: Even brightness, no shadows, glare, or red-eye.
- Facial Features: Eyes open, mouth closed, no hair covering the eyes; face straight and centred.
- Glasses & Coverings: Glasses must be removed; head coverings only for religious reasons, but full face must remain visible.
- Expression: Neutral and natural look.
Why This Change?
The shift to ICAO-compliant photos is intended to improve the security of Indian passports and make them more widely accepted at immigration checkpoints worldwide. Other Indian missions, including the one in Kuwait, have already adopted similar rules. It is expected that Abu Dhabi will implement these requirements soon as well.
Applicants in Dubai are advised to carefully review the updated passport photo rules before scheduling their appointments to avoid delays or rejections. For expatriates, this may mean taking new photos that comply with the revised standards. Following these rules will help ensure smoother travel and minimize issues at international borders.
MEA Directive
The directive from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) mandates that ICAO-compliant photos will be required for all passport applications globally from September 1, 2025. The consulate confirmed that only applications with photos adhering to these standards will be accepted.
