ICAO-compliant photos now mandatory for all passport applicants in Qatar
The Indian Embassy in Doha has issued an advisory for Indian expats regarding updated passport photo requirements, following the Global Passport Seva rollout by the Ministry of External Affairs. All applicants for new or renewed passports must now upload ICAO-compliant photographs, reported thepeninsulaqatar.com.
The guidelines specify that the photo should be a close-up of the head and top of shoulders, with the face occupying 80–85% of the frame. It must be in color, 630×810 pixels, unaltered by software, and with a plain white background. Applicants should face the camera directly, show natural skin tones, have open eyes, and maintain a neutral expression. Photos must be taken from approximately 1.5 meters, without shadows, red-eye, or glare from glasses.
Photographs must follow strict ICAO standards including correct size, lighting, and natural facial appearance.
Head coverings are allowed only for religious purposes, but the full face from chin to forehead must remain visible.
Additional requirements include proper brightness and contrast, no hair covering the eyes, full head centered in the frame, and avoidance of any blurring or reflections. The embassy stressed adherence to these standards to ensure smooth processing of passport applications for Indian nationals in Qatar.
