Getting a Dubai visa can feel like the most daunting process in Dubai holiday travel planning. But it is generally a straightforward process, as long as you follow the requirements properly. Among its requirements is the Dubai visa photo, whose specifications many visa applicants fail to take seriously. Acing the photo requirement for a Dubai visa is crucial. Mess it up, and you are looking at delays or even a flat-out rejection. Here’s how to get the perfect photo for your Dubai tourist visa.
Time
The photo needs to be recent, ideally taken within the last six months. This is how you can accurately represent your current appearance to the visa officers. The recently clicked photographs play a pivotal role in the identification purpose.
Photo Size
One of the crucial Dubai Visa photo size requirements is the size specifications of the photograph. Incorrect photo sizes are a common reason why visa applications get rejected. The standard Dubai visa photo size should be 45mm in height and 35 mm in width. It is essential that the photo submitted for a Dubai visa has this specific size without any border. If it’s not, the system may not be able to accurately process it, leading to delays or rejections.
Colour and Tone
Should you take a photograph in colour or black and white? A Dubai visa photo should be taken in colour. Black and White photographs would not be accepted. Additionally, the photo’s tone should reflect your natural skin and hair tone. There should not be any filter layers on the photo submitted for Dubai visa. The photo should accurately reflect your natural skin tone. The overall tone of the photo should be neutral, with no excessive contrast or saturation. Distorting saturation, highlights, and contrasts can create harsh shadows or highlights, thereby distorting natural skin tones. Hence, resort to proper lighting to avoid touch-ups on the photographs later.
Background
Your face should be the standout feature on your Dubai visa photo. So, when taking a visa photograph, the background should be white. It should also be without any patterns or shadows.
Head Position
80% of the Dubai visa photo should feature the applicant’s face. The photograph should prominently feature your head and a bit of your shoulders.
Face Features
When it comes to Dubai visa photo requirements, facial expressions are a key factor to consider. Applicants should look directly at the camera while taking the photograph. There should be no tilt in any direction. The photos must show features clearly, right from the top of your head till your chin. Those with long hair should tie and tuck it properly so that it does not fall on the face, hiding the eyes or other parts of the face. Ears should also be clearly visible in the photograph. Mouth should not be open. Maintain a neutral expression, i.e the applicant should neither be smiling nor frowning.
Eyes
Your eyes must be clearly visible and in focus. Hence, it should be fully open and there should be no obstruction from spectacles or hair. The eyes should look straight at the camera. Remove glasses to avoid reflections. If you must wear glasses, ensure there are no reflections and that the frames are thin enough to not obscure your eyes. The best thing to do would be to remove the glasses just for the moment you are taking the photo and then put them back on to avoid the stress of retaking the photographs. Do not wear cosmetic tinted lenses that alter the colour of the eyes. Make sure the photo does not have any red eye. Photos taken in proper lighting will decrease the chance of red-eye.
Attire
As said earlier, the facial features should stand out in your Dubai visa photo. So, what you wear on the day you are having photos taken should not overshadow it. Opt for plain shirts or tops without much embroidery, patterns or glistening work. Choosing a pleasant tone of colour works quite well. It is best not to wear shades of white as it can merge with the background colour. You can wear darker colours like blue or brown that can stand in contrast to the white background. Wear a formal dress, just as you would wear for an interview. Do not wear any kind of uniforms when taking the photograph. Avoid any tops or shirts that can cause a glare in the photo, thereby making it unsuitable as a visa photograph.
Accessories
Likewise, when it comes to accessories, go simple and minimal, or better, do not wear any accessories. Chunky or sparkling jewellery, sunglasses, and facial piercings can hinder the clarity of the photograph and should be avoided. Headgear like hats and bandanas are not allowed. Religious headgear is allowed as long as they do not obscure or distort facial features.
Lighting
There should be uniform lighting while taking the photo. Make sure the lights are angled in such a way that there are no shadows or bright spots on the final photo. The photo should have even lighting across your face, with no shadows or highlights. The lighting should produce a neutral colour tone, accurately representing your skin tone. It should not cast any blue, red or yellow hues on your face. A professional photographer knows all the tricks to set the lighting perfectly. Hence, for best results, decide on having your photo taken by a professional photographer who is familiar with Dubai visa photo requirements.
Quality
The photograph should be taken in high-resolution. It should not be stretched, contorted, pixelated, blurred or feel washed out and should not contain any creases or marks. In other words, the photograph should show all your natural features in the correct proportion and should not be digitally altered.
Tips For Dubai Visa Photo – Infants, Toddlers and Kids
If you are taking a visa photo for infants and toddlers, it can be a bit of a hassle to maintain composure and keep them from moving. However, the photo requires the child to be featured alone with its eyes open and mouths closed as much as possible. No hands of other person or toys should be visible with the infant in the visa photo. The child should not be fussy, crying or moving a lot. This can cause a blurry image and lead to rejection, as facial features are not clear. Make sure the infant or toddler is well-fed and in a good, playful mood when taking the photograph. Older kids do have to follow all the visa photo guidelines, especially for facial features. Infants and toddlers are given a bit of leniency, like an open mouth is considered fine for a Dubai visa. Patience is vital while taking pictures of infants and toddlers, and multiple photos may need to be taken to find the ideal one that suits a Dubai visa photo.
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Conclusion
By following these tips, your Dubai visa photo will meet the required standards and avoid potential delays or rejections. Once your Dubai visa photo is submitted with application forms and other supporting documents, the tough part of the visa application is finished, and the rest of the process, including Dubai visa application tracking, can be done quite easily to determine the outcome. A 30 day or 60 days Dubai Visa requirements need all the above-mentioned points to be followed diligently. By being accurate in all the requirements, Dubai visa applicants can avoid delays and the inconvenience of having to resubmit their applications.
