Indian Consulate in Dubai announces new passport photo rule for UAE expats
Embassy in Abu Dhabi expected to issue same rule shortly
DUBAI – The Indian Consulate in Dubai has introduced a new passport application rule for Indian expats in the UAE, making ICAO-compliant photographs mandatory from September 1, 2025.
The directive follows instructions from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), issued through its Passport Seva portal, to ensure that all Indian embassies and consulates adopt International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. ICAO sets biometric and identity requirements for travel documents used across the world.
The Press Wing of the consulate confirmed that passport applications will only be accepted with photographs meeting these standards. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi is also expected to announce the same rule, while other Gulf missions have already adopted similar measures.
What are the new rules?
According to the guidelines, photographs must be in colour, sized 630x810 pixels, with a plain white background. The face should occupy 80–85 per cent of the frame in a full-face, front-view shot, eyes open, mouth closed, and expression natural. No shadows, red-eye, or digital alterations are allowed, and the photo should be taken from around 1.5 metres away.
Glasses must be removed to avoid reflections. Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons only, but facial features must remain visible. Parents applying for newborns’ passports will need to obtain compliant photographs from external providers, as BLS Centres do not currently cater to infant photography.
The consulate has communicated the updated standards to its outsourced service provider, BLS International. However, at the time of announcement, the BLS website continued to display the earlier ICAO photo requirements. BLS offers a photography service at an additional charge of Dh30, though applicants should confirm that the service reflects the new standards.
When will it start?
The new rule will come into force from September 1, 2025. Applicants in Dubai and other parts of the UAE are advised to carefully check the updated guidelines published on the Indian Consulate’s official website before submitting their applications.