Egypt National ID Card Photo — Official Requirements (40×60 mm)

A compliant photo for Egypt's national ID card meets the standard set by the Civil Status Authority (مصلحة الأحوال المدنية) — the official body that issues the بطاقة الرقم القومي (National ID Number card). The specification calls for a 40×60 mm image with a plain white background and a neutral expression with mouth closed. When you arrive at your appointment already knowing exactly what a conforming photo looks like, everything proceeds as it should.

One distinctive feature of the Egyptian national ID process is that the photograph is captured digitally on-site at the Civil Status Authority office, or by a certified photographer linked to the Authority's system — applicants do not hand over a printed photo at the counter for the ID card itself. This is different from many countries where you bring your own photos. The same 40×60 mm standard, however, applies whenever photo submissions are required in paper form: Egyptian visa applications, residency permits, civil registration documents, and certified document packages all use this format. A spec-perfect reference image therefore has real, lasting value well beyond the ID appointment.

• Photo dimensions: 40×60 mm (945×1417 pixels at standard print resolution)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, gradients, patterns, or colour casts
• Face coverage: face must fill 70–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral and relaxed, mouth closed, both eyes fully open and clearly visible
• Glasses: not permitted — including clear, lightly tinted, or prescription lenses
• Headwear: religious head coverings only (a hijab is accepted provided the full face and hairline remain clearly visible)
• Recency: the photo must have been taken within the last 6 months

Common reasons photos are rejected in Egypt:

• Shadows on the face or behind the subject — the most frequent problem with photos taken under uneven or single-source lighting
• Glasses of any kind, including transparent or barely-tinted frames
• Face coverage outside the 70–80% height range (either too distant or too close to the camera)
• A background that appears off-white, grey, cream, or carries any visible shadow or gradient

Upload your photo and it is automatically cropped and adjusted to match the exact Civil Status Authority standard — 40×60 mm, white background, correct face framing. A free watermarked preview is ready instantly, with no payment required until you want the full-resolution file. Since your official ID photo is captured at the office, this reference image serves a different but equally practical purpose: you walk into the appointment knowing precisely how a compliant photo should look, and you have a ready file for Egyptian visa applications, residency documents, and any other process that accepts submitted photos.