Egypt Residence Card Photo — Exact 40×60 mm Standard

A photo for the Egyptian residence permit (Iqama) must meet the precise standard set by the Passports, Immigration & Nationality Administration (PINA) — the authority that processes all foreigner residency applications, including submissions at the iconic Mogamma building in Cairo. Getting the photo right on the first visit saves you from returning to a government office that is notoriously busy. Our service prepares your photo automatically to the exact official specification, so you arrive with a file and a print that will be accepted.

Egypt uses the national 40×60 mm passport-style format for residence permit applications — a less common tall rectangle that differs from the square photos used in many Western countries. This catches many applicants off guard, particularly those who have relied on photos prepared for a Schengen visa or US passport. The good news: Egyptian authorities accept self-supplied paper photos, meaning you are not required to have them taken at a specific studio or government kiosk. You can prepare the photo yourself — provided it meets every technical requirement. PINA staff at the Mogamma or regional immigration offices will check the photo carefully, and an incorrect background, wrong size, or shadows are among the most common grounds for immediate rejection.

• Size: 40×60 mm (digital equivalent: 945×1417 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no patterns, gradients, or shadows
• Face coverage: face must fill 70–80% of the frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted under any circumstances
• Headwear: not permitted except for verified religious purposes (e.g. hijab), which must not obscure the face
• Recency: photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
• Print quality: sharp focus, no pixelation, printed on matte or semi-matte photo paper

Common reasons photos are rejected at the Mogamma and regional immigration offices:

• Wrong dimensions: submitting a standard 35×45 mm (Schengen-format) or square photo instead of the required 40×60 mm tall rectangle
• Off-white or cream background: any background that is not a clean, bright white (#FFFFFF) is refused — beige walls or warm-toned studio backdrops are a frequent culprit
• Glasses worn in the photo: even prescription glasses are not accepted; the rule is enforced strictly regardless of medical need
• Shadows on the face or background: photos taken on a phone against a wall often show visible shadows that fail the plain-background check

To get your compliant Egypt residence card photo, simply upload a clear, recent photo of yourself — taken against any background, in good natural light. The photo is automatically cropped and formatted to the exact 40×60 mm official standard, with the face positioned correctly within the frame and the background replaced with clean white. You receive a free watermarked preview before any payment, so you can confirm the result looks right. Pay only for the final high-resolution file ready to print. And if the photo is ever rejected by immigration authorities, we will redo it free of charge or issue a full refund — no questions asked.