United Arab Emirates · id
Emirates ID photo, square for ICP Smart Services
Emirates ID applications and renewals take a square photo upload through ICP Smart Services: between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, JPG under 2 MB, white background, face at 70–80% of the frame. One rule is specific to the Emirates ID: the new photo must visibly differ from the one on your current card.
- Size
- —
- Digital file
- 1200×1200 px JPEG
- Background
- white
- Head height
- 70–80%
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: If you are renewing, don't reuse the photo from your existing card. ICP requires the new photo to differ from the current one, and the automated comparison catches identical resubmissions.
How our UAE Emirates ID (ICP) photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official UAE Emirates ID (ICP) specification (1200×1200 px, 1200×1200 px, white background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a UAE Emirates ID (ICP) photo?
An Emirates ID photo uses the same ICP Smart Services upload as the UAE passport: a square JPG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, under 2 MB, white background, face at 70–80% of the frame, checked automatically against ICAO geometry.
The Emirates ID adds one rule of its own: the new photo must visibly differ from the one on your current card, so renewals can't resubmit the existing image. The card is mandatory for all UAE residents, so this is one of the most frequently submitted photos in the Gulf.
The portal's automated ICAO check measures face geometry, background and lighting. This page runs the same measurements and outputs the square file the portal expects.
UAE Emirates ID (ICP) photo requirements
| Size | 1200×1200 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 1200×1200px JPEG · max 2048 KB |
| Background | white |
| Head height | 70–80% of frame height |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | permitted (uniform backgrounds only) |
- ICP Smart Services requires a SQUARE upload between 600×600 and 1200×1200 px (≥96 dpi), JPG, ≤2 MB, even though the print format is 35×45 mm.
- White background; face 70–80%; the portal runs an automated ICAO compliance check.
- Medical glasses only, untinted, frames clear of the eyes; religious head cover with the face visible chin to forehead.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
UAE Emirates ID (ICP) photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
UAE Emirates ID (ICP) photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (1200×1200px, under 2048 KB)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
- Background cleanup to plain white
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 1200×1200px
- Plain white background, evenly lit
- Head filling 70–80% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your UAE Emirates ID (ICP) photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official UAE Emirates ID (ICP) requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
What format does the Emirates ID photo upload need?
Square JPG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels at 96 DPI or better, under 2 MB, white background, face filling 70–80% of the frame.
Why was my renewal photo rejected?
The most Emirates-ID-specific cause: submitting the same photo as your current card. Others: non-square dimensions, off-white background, glasses that aren't medically required, or the face outside the 70–80% band.
Are glasses and head coverings allowed?
Medical glasses only, untinted and with frames clear of the eyes. Religious head coverings are fine when the face is visible from chin to forehead.
Does the same photo work for the UAE passport?
Technically yes, since it's the same ICP spec, but remember the difference rule if the same photo already appears on your current Emirates ID.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07