UK passport photo requirements

UK passport photo requirements at a glance

UK passport photo requirements for digital photos

You need a digital photo to apply for a passport online. GOV.UK gives two ways to get one: a photo with a code from a photo booth or shop, or a photo you take on your own device during the application (you will need someone to help). GOV.UK says booth and shop photos are more likely to be approved.

Your digital photo must be:

• clear and in focus
• in colour
• unaltered by computer software
• at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
• at least 50KB and no more than 10MB

It must contain no other objects or people, be taken against a plain light-coloured background, be in clear contrast to the background and not have red eye. If you use a photo taken on your own device, include your head, shoulders and upper body. Do not crop your photo — GOV.UK crops it for you. More detail in our digital passport photo size guide.

UK passport photo requirements for printed photos

For a paper application you need 2 identical printed photos. They must measure 45mm high by 35mm wide (the standard UK photo booth size) and must not be cut down from a larger picture. Your head, from crown to chin, must be between 29mm and 34mm high.

The photos must be printed to a professional standard, clear and in focus, in colour on plain white photographic paper with no border, without creases or tears, unmarked on both sides (unless a photo needs to be countersigned) and unaltered by software. They must be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders against a plain cream or light grey background. When you post your application, leave the photos loose and separate — do not attach them to the form.

Pose, expression and face

In both digital and printed photos you must:

• be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
• have a plain expression and your mouth closed
• have your eyes open and visible
• not have hair in front of your eyes
• not have a head covering, unless it is for religious or medical reasons
• not have anything covering your face
• not have any shadows on your face or behind you

Glasses in UK passport photos

GOV.UK says do not wear glasses in your photo unless you have to. If you must wear glasses, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames or by any glare, reflection or shadow. Tilting the glasses very slightly or moving lights to the side usually removes glare.

Children and babies

Children must be on their own in the picture, and babies must not be holding toys or using dummies. Children under 6 do not have to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression. Children under one do not have to have their eyes open; you can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible. GOV.UK suggests babies under one lie on a plain light-coloured sheet, photographed from above. See the full child and baby passport photo guide.

Common reasons UK passport photos fail

Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules. The usual problems are shadows, a background that is not plain and light, glasses glare, hair over the eyes, smiling, blur, editing or filters, and digital files that are too small. Read why UK passport photos get rejected for a fix for each one, or how to take a passport photo at home.

How to check your photo against these requirements

The free UK passport photo checker tests the rules that can be measured from the file — at least 600×750 pixels, 50KB to 10MB, a common image format, a plain light background and the portrait shape — in your browser, without uploading your photo. It does not detect faces, so check pose, expression, glasses and shadows by eye using the lists above. GOV.UK checks your photo again when you apply, and HM Passport Office makes the final decision.

You can get help with your passport photos if you are disabled — see the GOV.UK page linked above.