Saudi Tourist Visa Photo Requirements: The Full Specification
The Saudi eVisa asks for a photograph with a specification that is precise, published, and — helpfully — almost identical to what Nusuk wants for Umrah. A 200 × 200 pixel image, plain white behind you, your face filling 70–80% of the square. The file-size allowance is far more generous than Nusuk’s, which means a photo prepared to the stricter Umrah standard passes the visa check comfortably.
The Saudi eVisa photo specification
Dimensions
200 pixels wide by 200 pixels high — a square image, submitted digitally with your application.
File size
Between 5 KB and 100 KB. Considerably more room than the 18 KB Nusuk allows, so an Umrah-ready file always fits.
Background and framing
Plain white, with no shadows, objects, patterns or other people. Your face should occupy 70–80% of the image area.
Expression and visibility
Neutral expression, no smiling, looking directly at the camera. Visible from chin to crown and ear to ear, with no hair across the eyes.
Colour photographs only — black-and-white is refused — and nothing older than 6 months. Accepted upload formats are broad, but JPEG remains the sensible choice.
How to Prepare Your Saudi Visa Photo
- 1
Start with a straight-on portrait
Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Even light, no shadow across one side of the face.
- 2
Check what the camera can see
Chin to crown and ear to ear must be visible. Push hair back from the eyes; the check looks specifically for this.
- 3
Frame to 70–80% and place it on white
Tighter than an ordinary photograph, with a clean white field behind you and no shadow where you meet the background.
- 4
Prepare it to the stricter standard
Build the file to the Umrah ceiling of 18 KB rather than the visa’s 100 KB, and one photo covers your tourist visa, your Umrah visa and your Nusuk profile together.
Prepare one photo to the strictest standard — and use it for your Saudi visa, your Umrah visa and Nusuk alike.
Prepare My PhotoFrequently Asked Questions
What size photo is required for a Saudi tourist visa?
200 × 200 pixels, submitted digitally, with a file size between 5 KB and 100 KB. The face should occupy 70–80% of the image against a plain white background.
Can I use my Saudi visa photo for Umrah on Nusuk?
Yes, provided it also meets the tighter Nusuk limit of 18 KB. The dimensions, background and framing are the same, so prepare the file to the Nusuk ceiling and it satisfies both.
Can I use the Saudi eVisa to perform Umrah?
The Saudi tourist eVisa does permit Umrah for eligible travellers, though the Umrah itself is arranged through the Nusuk platform and requires an approved booking. Confirm current eligibility with an official source before you travel — rules in this area change.
Does the photo need to be in colour?
Yes. Black-and-white photographs are not accepted, and the photo must have been taken within the last 6 months.
Can I smile in a Saudi visa photo?
No. The specification asks for a neutral expression with your mouth closed, looking straight at the camera.
Why was my Saudi eVisa photo rejected?
Almost always one of five things: the image is not 200 × 200 pixels; the file falls outside the 5–100 KB window (too small counts, not just too large); the background is not plain white; the face occupies less than 70% of the frame; or the photo is in black and white, or older than 6 months. The portal rarely says which — so correcting all of them at once is faster than diagnosing.
My Saudi visa photo is under 5 KB. Is that a problem?
Yes. 5 KB is a floor, not a courtesy. Heavy compression — the kind needed to satisfy the Nusuk 18 KB ceiling — can push a simple portrait below it, and the eVisa portal refuses a file for being too small just as readily as for being too large. The safe window for a single file serving both is roughly 6–18 KB.
What is the exact Saudi visa photo size in pixels and KB?
200 pixels wide by 200 pixels high, between 5 KB and 100 KB. Square, in colour, plain white background, face at 70–80% of the image, taken within the last 6 months.
Does the Saudi eVisa accept a photo taken on a phone?
Yes. Nothing in the specification concerns the camera — it concerns dimensions, weight, background and framing. A phone portrait in even light is entirely adequate source material once it is correctly framed and sized.