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Take a recent portrait against a plain wall in good natural light, or use an existing photo from your phone, tablet, or computer. JPG, PNG, and HEIC are all accepted.
Direct Answer: The United Kingdom passport photo must be exactly 35 × 45 mm. The background must be light grey or cream, and your head must occupy 64% to 75% of the photograph. You must maintain a neutral expression with both eyes open.
Source: Official HM Passport Office photo requirements
Create UK Passport Photo FreeA UK passport photo must be 35mm wide by 45mm tall with the head measuring 29–34mm from chin to crown, on a plain light grey or cream background — not white. Digital photos need a minimum of 600×750 pixels as a JPEG between 50KB and 10MB, taken within the last month.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm / 1.38 × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 29 – 34 mm chin to crown, about 64–76% of the frame |
| Background | Plain light grey or cream — pure white is refused |
| Digital minimum | 600 × 750 pixels |
| Digital file | JPEG, 50 KB to 10 MB |
| Printed copies (postal) | Two identical 35 × 45 mm photos, no border |
| Countersignature | Required for first adult, child and replacement applications |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open |
| Photo age | Taken within the last month |
| Issuing authority | HM Passport Office |
Every rule is explained in depth in the passport photo rules library, and other national standards are indexed in the requirements by country hub.
The diagram marks every measurement HM Passport Office checks: the 35 × 45 mm frame, the 29–34 mm chin-to-crown head height, and the plain light backdrop behind the head.
The HM Passport Office has strict rules for passport photographs. Every requirement below must be met or your application will be delayed. Each rule links to the detailed standard in our passport photo rules library.
| Photo Size | 35mm × 45mm (standard UK passport photo size) |
|---|---|
| Head Height | 29mm to 34mm from chin to crown — see head size rules |
| Face Coverage | 64% to 76% of the 45mm frame height — see face size requirements |
| Background | Plain light grey or cream — no patterns, shadows, or objects. See background colour rules |
| Lighting | Even and diffuse, no shadow behind the head — see shadow rules |
| Head Position | Centred, facing forward, looking straight at the camera |
| Expression | Neutral with mouth closed — no smiling or showing teeth. See smile rules |
| Eyes | Open, clearly visible, no red-eye — see eyes requirements |
| Hair | Must not cross the face or cover the eyes — see hair rules |
| Ears | Not mandatory for UK photos, but the face outline must be clear — see ears visibility rules |
| Glasses | Not recommended; tinted lenses strictly not allowed. See glasses rules |
| Head Coverings | Not allowed unless for religious or medical reasons. See head covering rules |
| Colour | Full colour — black and white photos not accepted |
| Digital Alteration | Not permitted — no filters, skin smoothing, or retouching |
| Photo Age | Taken within the last month, must be a true likeness |
| File Format (digital) | JPEG only |
| File Size (digital) | Between 50KB and 10MB |
| Resolution (digital) | Minimum 600×750 pixels — see resolution rules |
| Printed Copies (postal) | Two identical photos, 35 × 45 mm, no border |
| Print Requirements | Photographic paper, plain white, no borders, in colour |
| Countersignature | Required for a first adult passport, any child passport, and lost or stolen replacements |
The official British passport photo dimensions are 35mm wide by 45mm tall. Here is how that converts across every unit of measurement you might need:
The minimum resolution for a digital UK passport photo submitted via the GOV.UK online application is 600×750 pixels. For high-quality print output, 300 DPI or 600 DPI is recommended.
| DPI (Quality) | Pixels (Width × Height) | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Min GOV.UK minimum | 600 × 750 px | Online application only |
| 200 DPI | 276 × 354 px | Low quality — not recommended |
| 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px | Standard print quality |
| 600 DPI | 827 × 1063 px | High-quality print / professional lab |
Our tool exports at 600 DPI by default, giving you a photo that meets both the online digital submission requirement (600×750px minimum) and the quality needed for high street printing at Boots, Asda, or a professional photo lab. There is no published pixel maximum for GOV.UK, but the file must stay under 10MB. Full conversions for every country are in passport photo size in pixels.
If you are applying for a UK passport online through GOV.UK, you will need to supply a digital photo that meets these specific technical requirements. The online system will reject files that do not comply.
PNG, HEIC, WEBP, and other formats are not accepted. If your phone saves HEIC, convert first with the HEIC to JPEG guide.
The file must be no smaller than 50KB and no larger than 10MB. Very small files are usually too low in quality and are refused for sharpness.
The image must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall. Upscaling a smaller image does not work — the sharpness check detects it.
Black and white or greyscale images are rejected. The photo must be in colour, taken with the white balance set correctly.
Digital applications require a recent photo, taken no longer than one month before submission, reflecting your current appearance.
If a photographer or chemist issues you a code instead of a printed photo, you can enter this code during the online GOV.UK application instead of uploading an image file. Codes expire, so use it promptly.
Portal-by-portal digital rules across every country are covered in the digital passport photo requirements guide.
Follow these five steps to produce a fully compliant British passport photo using our free online tool. The whole process takes less than two minutes.
Take a recent portrait against a plain wall in good natural light, or use an existing photo from your phone, tablet, or computer. JPG, PNG, and HEIC are all accepted.
Our tool automatically detects your face and crops the image to the official UK passport photo size with the correct head height of 29–34mm from chin to crown. The crop guide explains how the 7:9 ratio and head height are applied together.
Our AI removes your original background and replaces it with a compliant light grey or cream backdrop, eliminating shadows or objects that would cause rejection.
The tool automatically checks head position, face visibility, expression detection, lighting evenness, and image quality — so you know your photo is ready before you download it.
Download a digital JPEG for GOV.UK online applications, or save a 6×4 inch printable sheet with multiple copies for postal applications and high street printing.
Run through this before you submit. The accepted column is the full pass criteria; the failure column lists the triggers, each explained in detail in the rejection reasons section below.
Every failure below can be avoided before you submit. The full cross-country breakdown is in passport photo rejection reasons.
Many people use a white wall thinking it is acceptable. The UK requires light grey or cream — not white. Pure white is too bright and creates contrast issues. Patterned or coloured backgrounds are immediately rejected. See the background colour rules.
Standing too close to the wall causes a visible shadow behind your head. The HM Passport Office treats shadows as background obstruction. Stand at least 50cm from the wall to eliminate this. See the shadow rules.
The UK requires a completely neutral expression. Even a slight, closed-mouth smile can cause rejection. The photo should look natural but expressionless. See the smile rules.
Fringes, side-swept hair, or loose strands covering eyebrows, eyes, or any part of the face outline are not allowed. Tie hair back or pin it away before taking the photo. See the hair rules.
The head from chin to crown must measure between 29mm and 34mm within the 45mm frame. Photos taken too close make the head too large; photos from too far away make it too small. See the head size rules.
Glasses are strongly discouraged for UK passport photos. If you must wear them for medical reasons, the frames must not cover any part of the eyes, the lenses must be completely clear, and there must be no glare at all. See the glasses rules.
Hats, caps and fashion head coverings are refused. Religious or medical head coverings are permitted provided the full face from chin to forehead stays visible with no shadow. See the head covering rules.
Photos below 600×750 pixels for digital applications, or printed photos that appear blurred or pixelated, do not meet the GOV.UK technical requirements. Upscaling a small image does not help. See the resolution rules.
Only JPEG is accepted, between 50KB and 10MB. A HEIC file straight from an iPhone is refused, and an over-compressed file below 50KB is refused for being too small. Use the reduce file size guide if you need to trim a large export.
Any beauty filter, skin smoothing, blemish removal, colour correction, or AI retouching that changes your appearance is not allowed. Your passport photo must be an accurate, unedited representation of how you look in real life.
Photos taken with flash in low light often result in red-eye. This is easily avoided by using natural light instead of flash. If red-eye is present, our tool can correct it without altering your appearance.
Your photo must reflect your current appearance and must have been taken within the last month. If you have significantly changed your hair, grown a beard, or changed your appearance, you need a new photo even if you have an existing compliant one from two months ago.
For a first adult passport, a child passport, or a lost or stolen replacement, one of your two printed photos must carry the countersignatory's signed declaration on the back. Sending two unsigned photos delays the application. Online applicants have their identity confirmed digitally instead.
Children can hold their own UK passport from birth. The rules for baby and child passport photos are mostly the same as for adults, but with some important exceptions depending on the child's age.
Tip: Lay the baby on a white or cream sheet and photograph from directly above. Crop the sheet out using our tool and replace it with a compliant light grey background. Full technique is in the baby passport photo at home guide.
Tip: Sit the child against a plain light wall. Use natural light and ask them to look at a spot slightly above the camera to get a forward-facing gaze without tension. A child passport must be renewed every five years, so a fresh photo is needed each time.
A postal application needs two identical printed photos, so printing is part of the specification rather than an afterthought. A 35 × 45 mm photo prints six-up on standard 6 × 4 inch photo paper, giving you spares.
| Printed size | Exactly 35 × 45 mm with no border |
|---|---|
| Copies needed | Two identical photos for a postal application |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI minimum — disable fit-to-page and auto-scaling |
| Paper | Plain white photographic paper, glossy or matte. Plain copier paper is refused |
| Copies per 6 × 4 inch sheet | Six 35 × 45 mm photos with cutting margins |
| Cutting | Guillotine or steel rule for square edges. Do not cut inside the printed border |
| Colour management | sRGB. Turn off printer auto-enhance and colour correction |
| Back of photo | Leave blank unless a countersignatory must sign one copy |
| High street options | Boots Photo, Asda Photo, Snappy Snaps and Tesco all print 6 × 4 inch sheets |
Printer settings, paper choice and cutting technique are covered in full in the print passport photo at home guide, and multi-copy sheet layout in the print sheet guide.
Most UK passport photo rejections are caused by problems that are easy to prevent. These practical tips will help you take a compliant photo on your first attempt using just a smartphone.
If you are travelling internationally and need passport photos for more than one country, the sizes and background rules differ. Here is a comparison so you know exactly what you need.
| Country | Photo Size (mm) | Pixels @ 300 DPI | Head Height | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 29 – 34 mm | Light grey or cream |
| Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 32 – 36 mm | Plain white or off-white |
| EU / Schengen | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 32 – 36 mm | Light grey |
| Germany | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 32 – 36 mm | Light grey |
| Ireland | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 32 – 36 mm | Light grey or off-white |
| United States | 51 × 51 mm | 600 × 600 px | 25 – 35 mm | Plain white or off-white |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 591 × 827 px | 31 – 36 mm | Plain white |
| India | 51 × 51 mm | 600 × 600 px | 25 – 35 mm | Plain white |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | 390 × 567 px | 28 – 33 mm | Plain white |
Everything you need to know about British passport photos, digital submissions, printing, and special cases.
Upload one photo and download a fully compliant British passport photo — correct 35×45mm size, 29–34mm head height, and the required light grey or cream background — in under a minute. No software to download, no account required, and no queuing at a photo booth.
Create UK Passport Photo FreeLearn more about UK passport photo requirements, sizes, and related passport or visa photo guides.