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Saudi Arabia Passport Photo Checker
Photo rules for Saudi Arabia passport applications depend on the issuing authority and application type. A mismatched size, background or framing can require a new photo.
Upload your photo above to review the checks available in ImageGates. A passing result is guidance, not an official approval.
Saudi Arabia uses a 40×60 mm passport photo format with a white background. Saudi passports are issued by the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). Women are permitted to wear head coverings, but the face must be fully visible. Saudi Arabia's Absher e-services platform requires digital photo submissions meeting specific technical criteria.
Official Saudi Arabia passport photo rules we check
- Required size: 40×60 mm (472×709 px at 300 DPI)
- Required background: White
- Issuing authority: Saudi Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية) and the General Directorate of Passports (الجوازات)
- Print dimensions: 40×60 mm (1.57×2.36 inches)
- Digital size: 472×709 px at 300 DPI
- Background: White
Common Saudi Arabia passport rejection reasons
- Saudi Arabia-specific: Background that is even slightly off-white.
- Saudi Arabia-specific: Hijab covering any part of the chin or forehead.
- Saudi Arabia-specific: Using photos older than 3 months for Umrah/Hajj visas.
- Aspect ratio drifted from 40:60 after a careless crop
- Soft focus or motion blur from a handheld phone shot in low light
- Background that looked white to your eye but reads as cream or grey to a calibrated scanner
How to pass the checker
Crop precisely to 40×60 mm
Use our free image cropper to pull the exact 40:60 ratio. Position your eyes near the upper third of the frame and leave roughly 5 mm of headroom above the hair — the proportions Saudi Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية) and the General Directorate of Passports (الجوازات) expects.
Re-shoot in flat, even lighting
Stand 1.5 m from a plain wall matching the required white background. Use two soft light sources (or window light through a thin curtain) on either side of your face to eliminate the shadow that triggers most Saudi Arabia rejections.
Replace the background if it's the wrong colour
If our checker flags the background, compare it with the selected specification (white). The background remover can help prepare another preview; confirm that edited photos are accepted by the authority.
Verify face coverage with the checker
Re-upload the corrected photo and compare the framing with the selected application's guidance. Requirements for head position can vary by application.
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Frequently asked questions
Can women wear hijab in a Saudi visa photo?
Yes. Saudi Arabia explicitly permits hijab in passport and visa photos as long as the full oval of the face — from forehead down to the chin — is fully visible and not casting shadows.
How recent must my Saudi Arabia visa photo be?
For tourist and business visas, within the last 6 months. For Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage visas, the photo must be no older than 3 months — Saudi authorities verify this against the EXIF date when possible.
How accurate is this Saudi Arabia passport photo checker?
Our checker reviews dimensions, aspect ratio, background, sharpness and face positioning with on-device detection where available. It cannot duplicate Saudi Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية) and the General Directorate of Passports (الجوازات)'s review or guarantee acceptance. Always check the official instructions for your application.
Does ImageGates upload my photo to a server?
No — every check runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your photo never leaves your device. That is unique among most online checkers and is why the tool also works offline once loaded.
What file formats does the checker accept for Saudi Arabia photos?
The checker accepts JPG, JPEG, PNG and WebP up to 20 MB. Check Saudi Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية) and the General Directorate of Passports (الجوازات)'s instructions for the file formats accepted by your specific application.