Saudi Arabia Work Permit Photo — Exact 40×60 mm Standard

A Saudi Arabia work permit photo that meets the official biometric standard is the single most common bottleneck in the Rukhsat Amal process. The requirement is governed by MHRSD (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development) through the Qiwa platform, and the photo used is the same Absher/Iqama biometric image — meaning it feeds directly into Saudi Arabia's national identity infrastructure. Getting the dimensions, background and face proportion exactly right from the start avoids delays at the labour office and the Iqama issuance stage.

What makes this photo specification distinct is the tight link between the work permit and the Iqama residence permit. In Saudi Arabia, both documents draw from the same biometric photo record in the Absher system. The required print size is 40×60 mm (945×1417 px at 600 dpi) — a portrait-oriented format that differs from the square passport photos used in most countries. The head height is expected to fill approximately 60–70% of the frame, which translates to roughly 38 mm of head height in the printed image. The background must be pure white (#FFFFFF) — not off-white, not light grey, not any tinted background. Saudi authorities reject photos processed against cream or pale-blue studio backdrops that are common in expatriate home countries.

• Size: 40×60 mm / 945×1417 px (portrait orientation)
• Background: Pure white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, no gradients
• Face coverage: Head must fill 60–70% of the total frame height (~38 mm)
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible
• Glasses: Not permitted — remove all eyewear, including prescription glasses
• Headwear: Permitted only for religious reasons (hijab, niqab partially — eyes must be fully visible); secular hats, caps and beanies are not accepted
• Recency: Photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
• Lighting: Even, no shadows on the face or background; no red-eye

• Common reasons Saudi work permit photos are rejected:
• Off-white or grey background: Studio backgrounds that appear white to the eye often register as off-white digitally — Absher's automated check flags these immediately
• Incorrect portrait ratio: Submitting a square 35×45 mm passport photo instead of the required 40×60 mm portrait format is one of the most frequent errors made by first-time applicants
• Glasses not removed: Even thin wire-frame or photochromic lenses that appear clear indoors are grounds for rejection under current MHRSD guidelines
• Head too small or off-centre: A head occupying less than 60% of the frame height — common when cropping is done manually from a full-body photo — fails the biometric size check on Qiwa

To get your photo right without a studio visit, upload any clear, front-facing photo taken in good light. It is automatically cropped and resized to the exact 40×60 mm / 945×1417 px specification, the background is replaced with compliant pure white, and the head proportion is verified against the MHRSD standard. You receive a free watermarked preview before any payment — check that it looks right, then pay only for the final download. If the photo is ever rejected by an authority, it is redone free of charge or you receive a full refund. No studio appointment, no guesswork on the crop.