How should a Egypt visa photo look?
The Egyptian spec defines the largest head height in the MENA region: 38-39.9 mm. The head fills nearly two-thirds of the frame, and at least 6 mm of clearance must be left above the top of the head. Passport and most visa categories share the same 40×60 mm white-background frame; some channels via the US accept the 51×51 mm US-style format. No retouching of any kind is permitted.
The body that sets the spec
The standard is published by the General Department of Passports, Immigration & Nationality (emoves.moi.gov.eg) under the Ministry of Interior. The same 40×60 mm format applies to citizen passports and most visa applications; the photo must be submitted within six months of the capture date.
Workflow after the shoot
The frame is sent to PhotoID Studio and the Egypt preset is selected; the app aligns the face, keeps 6 mm of top clearance and locks head height into the 38-39.9 mm range. The 40×60 mm output at 300 DPI is laid out on 10×15 cm paper. The retouch layer stays disabled; skin texture is left untouched.
Capture setup and direction
Seat the customer 1.5-2 m in front of the white backdrop with shoulders parallel to the camera. Camera on a tripod, lens at eye level. Standard setup: a 50-85 mm portrait lens, f/8 aperture, a softbox at 45° with a reflector on the opposite side. Cue: "chin slightly back, no glasses, mouth closed, neutral expression". Because the head fills most of the frame, verify the crop on the back-screen before approving.
Reasons for rejection at the Passport Department
• Head height outside the 38-39.9 mm range: head too small or cropped out of frame. • Less than 6 mm of clearance above the top of the head. • A non-white backdrop; grey or cream backgrounds. • Skin retouching, blemish removal or face slimming applied. • Glasses worn; tinted lenses or sunglasses. • A frame older than six months from the capture date. • A smile, visible teeth or any non-neutral expression.
For studios in Cairo, Alexandria and Hurghada
Egyptian studios see steady year-round traffic for passport renewal and visa applications; in tourist cities, foreign-resident permit applications add to this route. The PhotoID Studio Egypt preset locks the 38-39.9 mm head height and 6 mm top clearance automatically; switching to the US-style 51×51 mm from the same frame is a single click.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the head so large in an Egyptian passport photo?
The spec requires a head height of 38-39.9 mm: the largest in the MENA region. The head fills roughly two-thirds of the photo.
Can skin retouching be applied?
No. The Egyptian spec bans any form of retouching; frames with blemish removal, face slimming or skin smoothing are rejected.
Can the photo be taken with glasses?
No. Glasses of any kind are not accepted; tinted or sunglass lenses are strictly banned.
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