New Passport Photo Rules for Indian Expats from September 1
Starting September 1, Indian expats in Dubai applying for new passports or renewals must follow updated photo guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The Indian Consulate announced that all applications now require ICAO-compliant photographs, ensuring global biometric and travel document standards.
Key requirements include:
- Format: Colour photo, plain white background, size 630×810 pixels
- Framing: Head and shoulders close-up, face covering 80–85% of frame
- Quality: No filters, natural skin tones, no blur
- Lighting: Even, no shadows or glare, proper brightness
- Facial features: Eyes open, mouth closed, full face visible, head centred
- Accessories: No glasses; head coverings only for religious reasons, with facial features clearly visible
- Expression: Neutral
- Distance: Taken from 1.5m away
The directive, issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs via the Passport Seva portal, makes these specifications mandatory for all applications worldwide.
