Saudi Arabia passport photo rules from the Ministry of Interior
Saudi Arabia’s passport photo specification is set by the Ministry of Interior through the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) and Civil Affairs (Ahwal Al-Madaniyah). The same biometric portrait standard governs the national ID, Iqama, and driving licence, and citizen photos feed the central Absher database, so a portrait that fails one document type can block the others until it is corrected.
The rules call for a pure white background, a neutral expression with a closed mouth, both eyes open and looking at the camera, and the full facial oval visible from chin to forehead. Eyewear is not permitted, and Civil Affairs enforces strict modesty and dress conventions on the subject. Photos must be no more than six months old, and any significant change in appearance requires a new portrait.
Jawazat staff and the Absher validator reject portraits that fall outside the published spec, which delays passport issuance and renewal. Perfect Passport applies the Saudi rules end to end so your submission lands compliant the first time.
Saudi Arabia Passport Photo Requirements
The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) enforce strict subject rules for every Saudi passport photo. Each item below must be satisfied in the final image.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must carry a strictly neutral expression. Smiling, frowning, and raised eyebrows are not permitted.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be fully closed with no teeth visible.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera lens.
- Square to cameraThe head must face the camera straight on with no yaw, pitch, or roll. Profile and three-quarter poses are rejected.
- Shoulders visibleShoulders must be square to the camera and the top of both shoulders must be visible in the frame.
Eyewear & lenses
- Eyeglasses prohibitedAll eyeglasses are banned under the MOI Civil Affairs (Ahwal) biometric standard. Prescription frames, clear lenses, and non-prescription glasses must be removed before the photo is taken.
- Sunglasses and tintsSunglasses, tinted lenses, and transition lenses are not permitted.
- Contact lensesClear prescription contact lenses are permitted. Colored, cosmetic, and circle lenses that alter iris color or size are prohibited.
Hair
- Face must remain clearHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or any part of the facial oval. Bangs that fall over the eyebrows must be pinned back.
- Long hairLong hair should be tucked behind the ears or tied back when the applicant is not wearing religious headwear.
- WigsWigs are accepted only when worn daily and when they reflect the applicant’s natural appearance.
- Hair accessoriesBulky clips, bands, ribbons, and decorative accessories are not permitted.
Headwear
- General ruleHeadwear is permitted only for religious, medical, or recognized Saudi national-dress purposes. The full facial oval from chin to forehead, including both cheeks and the jawline, must remain visible.
- Hijab for Saudi female citizensSaudi female citizens must wear a hijab covering the hair and neck. The niqab must be removed for the biometric photo.
- Shemagh and Ghutra for Saudi male citizensAdult Saudi male citizens are expected to wear the Shemagh or Ghutra with Iqal in the photo.
- Non-citizensNon-citizens may wear religious headwear but are not required to. Non-religious hats and caps are not permitted.
Jewelry & accessories
- EarringsLarge, dangling, or reflective earrings are prohibited. Small studs are tolerated, and removal is recommended for guaranteed acceptance.
- NecklacesSubtle necklaces are permitted only when they cast no shadow and do not obstruct the neckline.
- Facial piercingsFacial piercings must be removed for the photo.
- Headphones and earpiecesHeadphones, Bluetooth earpieces, and wireless buds must be removed before the photo is taken.
Cosmetics
- Saudi female citizensThe Civil Affairs (Ahwal) standard requires Saudi female citizens to appear without makeup.
- Heavy makeupHeavy contouring, dramatic eyeliner, and any cosmetics that alter natural facial features are prohibited for all applicants.
- False eyelashesFalse eyelashes are not permitted.
Clothing
- Modesty coverageShoulders must be fully covered. Sleeveless tops, tank tops, and thin straps cause immediate rejection.
- Color contrastMid-tone or dark clothing is required. White and very pale tops fail the shoulder contrast check against the white background.
- UniformsMilitary, police, and other uniforms are prohibited unless the photo is for an officially sanctioned service ID.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must not carry shadows under the chin, around the eyes, or cast by headwear. The full facial oval must be evenly lit.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted. Digital red-eye correction is not permitted, so the photo must be retaken if it occurs.
- Sharp focusThe subject must hold still. Motion blur and soft focus on the face cause rejection.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 36 mm and 40 mm (roughly 60–66% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 30 mm and 36 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
Saudi Arabia keeps the adult composition rules in place for infants, with one practical eyes-closed allowance for babies under 1.
Infants (approximately 0–23 months)
Saudi Arabia keeps expression, gaze, and pose rules in place for infants, with a narrow eyes-closed allowance under 1 year.
- Photographed aloneThe infant must appear alone in the frame. Parental hands, pacifiers, toys, and supporting objects must not be visible.
- EyesBoth eyes should be open and looking forward. Infants under 1 year may be accepted with closed eyes when a sleeping pose is unavoidable.
- Gaze at cameraThe infant must look toward the camera. Off-center gaze is not accepted.
- Recommended setupLay the infant on a pure white sheet and capture the photo from directly above to satisfy the framing and background rules.
Saudi male citizens under approximately 15
- National dress exemptionBoys under approximately 15 are exempt from the Shemagh and Iqal requirement. A white Thobe or full traditional dress is accepted.
Country-specific details to know.
A few Saudi-specific rules sit outside the standard requirement groups and are worth calling out separately.
Shared biometric database
Photos for the Saudi passport, national ID, and Iqama feed the same central Absher and MOI biometric database. A rejection on one document type blocks the others until the photo is corrected.
Niqab removal
The niqab must be removed for the biometric photo even when it is worn daily. The full facial oval is required for biometric mapping.
White Thobe contrast
Saudi men photographed in a white Thobe against the white background require professional side lighting to preserve the shoulder outline. A casual capture in a white garment will fail the contrast check.
Photo recency
The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. A new photo is required after significant facial surgery, facial trauma, or a notable change in appearance.
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Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- High-quality photographic paper (matte or glossy finish).
- Inkjet and dye-sublimation printing are both accepted.
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.
- Do not write on the back of the photo.
- 2 identical prints are required.