Passport & Consular Services

UK Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Rules and Guidelines

By Vipul Jain

Updated on: 03 Nov, 2026 | Editorial Standard | 7 min read |

Table of Contents

UK Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance
1. UK Passport Digital Photo Requirements
2. UK Passport Printed Photo Size Requirements
3. UK Passport Photo Background and Lighting Rules
4. Facial Expression and Head Position
5. Can You Wear Glasses in a UK Passport Photo?
6. Are Head Coverings Allowed in UK Passport Photos?
7. UK Passport Photo Requirements for Babies and Children
8. Common UK Passport Photo Mistakes to Avoid
Conclusion

A passport photograph is an important part of your UK passport application. If your photo does not meet the official standards, HM Passport Office may ask you to submit another one, delaying your application.

UK passport photo requirements depend on whether you apply online or by paper. Both formats have specific rules for photo dimensions, image quality, background, lighting and facial appearance. This guide explains the requirements for adults, babies and children so you can prepare an acceptable photograph.

Quick Link: UK passport photo checker online free

UK Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Before taking your photograph, understand the main differences between digital and printed photos.

Requirement	Digital photo	Printed photo
Application type	Online application	Paper application
Photo quantity	One digital image	Two identical photos
Dimensions	Minimum 600 × 750 pixels	45 mm × 35 mm
File size	50 KB to 10 MB	Not applicable
Photo age	Taken within the last month	Taken within the last month
Background	Plain, light-coloured	Plain cream or light grey
Appearance	Clear, colour image	Clear, colour image

These specifications follow the current GOV.UK guidance.

1. UK Passport Digital Photo Requirements

If you apply for a UK passport online, you must provide a digital photograph. You can obtain one from a photo booth or photography shop, or take it yourself using a suitable device.

Your digital passport photograph must meet the following technical requirements:

Minimum dimensions: 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels high.
File size: At least 50 KB and no more than 10 MB.
Format and quality: A clear, colour photograph that is in focus.
Photo age: Taken within the last month.
Editing: The photograph must not be digitally altered or enhanced.

Your image must also show your head, shoulders, and upper body if you take it yourself. Do not crop the photograph before uploading it, as the application process will handle the cropping.

Can You Take a UK Passport Photo at Home?

Yes. You can take your UK passport photo at home using a smartphone or digital camera. Ask someone to take the photograph rather than taking a selfie.

For a suitable home photograph:

Stand against a plain, light-coloured background.
Position yourself approximately 50 cm away from the background.
Ask the photographer to stand around 1.5 metres away.
Use balanced lighting without shadows on your face or behind you.
Face the camera directly and keep your head straight.
Include your head, shoulders and upper body.

Natural light can help produce a clear photograph, but make sure it does not create shadows or glare.

2. UK Passport Printed Photo Size Requirements

If you apply using a paper passport application form, you must provide two identical printed photographs.

The required UK passport photo dimensions are:

Height: 45 mm
Width: 35 mm

The photograph must not be a smaller image cut out from a larger printed picture. The image of your face, measured from the crown of your head to your chin, must be between 29 mm and 34 mm high.

Printed photographs must also:

Be professionally printed in colour.
Use plain white photographic paper without a border.
Be clear and in focus.
Have no creases, tears or visible damage.
Remain unaltered by computer software.
Show your full head and upper shoulders.

If you are applying from outside the UK, check that your photography shop or photo booth can produce the required 45 mm × 35 mm format.

3. UK Passport Photo Background and Lighting Rules

Your passport photograph must have a plain, light-coloured background that provides clear contrast with your face.

For a digital photo, GOV.UK recommends a plain background without patterns, objects, or other people. For printed photographs, the specified background is plain cream or light grey.

Follow these lighting guidelines:

Use balanced lighting across your face.
Avoid shadows behind your head.
Make sure your facial features are clearly visible.
Avoid flash glare and reflections.
Do not use a background that distracts from your face.

A simple cream or light-grey wall is generally a practical choice when taking a photograph at home.

4. Facial Expression and Head Position

Your photograph must show a clear and accurate likeness of your current appearance.

For an adult passport photograph, you should:

Face directly towards the camera.
Keep your head straight, without tilting it.
Look directly at the camera.
Keep both eyes open and visible.
Maintain a neutral expression.
Keep your mouth closed.
Make sure your hair does not cover your eyes.
Keep your entire face visible.

Avoid smiling, frowning, or looking away from the camera. Your photograph should show your face clearly without objects or shadows obscuring your features.

5. Can You Wear Glasses in a UK Passport Photo?

You should remove your glasses when taking a UK passport photograph unless you need to wear them.

If you must wear glasses, make sure:

They are not sunglasses or tinted glasses.
The frames do not cover your eyes.
There is no glare or reflection on the lenses.
Your eyes remain clearly visible.

HM Passport Office may reject a photograph if reflections, glare, or frames make it difficult to see your eyes and facial features.

6. Are Head Coverings Allowed in UK Passport Photos?

Head coverings are generally not permitted in UK passport photographs unless worn for religious or medical reasons.

If you wear a religious or medically necessary head covering, you may keep it on. However, your face must remain fully visible, with no covering over your facial features.

Decorative hats and fashion accessories that cover the head are not permitted under the standard photo rules.

7. UK Passport Photo Requirements for Babies and Children

Children and babies have certain exceptions to the standard UK passport photo rules. However, they must still be photographed individually against a suitable background.

The main exceptions are:

Children under six: They do not need to look directly at the camera or maintain a neutral expression.
Babies under one: Their eyes do not have to be open in the photograph.
Babies under one: You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not appear in the photograph.

For a digital photograph of a baby under one, GOV.UK recommends placing the baby on a plain, light-coloured sheet and taking the photograph from above.

Children must be alone in the photograph. Babies must not hold toys or use dummies.

8. Common UK Passport Photo Mistakes to Avoid

A photograph may be rejected if it does not meet the official requirements. Check for these common problems before submitting it:

Using an old photograph instead of one taken within the last month.
Uploading a blurry or low-quality image.
Choosing a dark or patterned background.
Having shadows on the face or behind the head.
Smiling or looking away from the camera.
Wearing glasses that create glare or hide the eyes.
Allowing hair or accessories to cover facial features.
Applying filters, retouching or digital enhancements.
Submitting printed photographs in the wrong dimensions.

A photograph that looks acceptable on a phone screen may still fail the official checks. Review the image carefully and compare it with the GOV.UK examples before submitting your application.

Conclusion

If you are applying for a UK passport, then you must meet all the UK passport photo requirements, which are an essential part of the application process. Providing a correct photo is essential for the application process, as UK passports are recognized through biometrics and facial recognition. For passport photo assistance, you can also take help from the Visament website, which will help you to get your application processed, reducing all the chances of errors or mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your UK passport photograph must have been taken within the last month. You need a new photograph when applying for a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.

You can wear Navy Blue, Dark Gray, Black, Royal Blue, Deep Green, Maroon, Forest Green, Charcoal, Burgundy, and Teal color for UK passport photo.

To crop a photo to a UK passport applicants can use photo edition applications. Additionally, there are various UK passport photo requirements they need to keep in mind. Including, Crop the image so that your head is between 25–35 mm from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head. Maintain a square aspect ratio. Set the image size to 600 x 600 pixels. Ensure that the image is clear, in focus, and without any tears or creases. Make sure the image is printed on high-quality plain white photo paper. Ensure that the image is taken recently, within the last month. And many others.

UK passport photos have strict requirements that say that the UK passport photo should be clear, sharp, and professionally printed.

Yes, you can take a UK passport photo on your phone using the main camera on the back of your phone.

If your passport photo is rejected, you can resubmit a new photo within the specified time frame. If you didn't do this then

Submitting a photo for a UK passport must follow these rules. Printed passport photos must measure 45mm x 35mm. Digital photos must be between 50KB & 10MB. Your passport photos must be focused, clear, and in full color. Printed photos cannot be torn.

A pure white color is not allowed for a passport photo.

Yes, you can easily click a passport photo from your mobile phone, but make sure you follow all the passport photo requirements to avoid getting any rejection or errors.

The new rules for the passport photo are a plain white or light coloured background, a neutral face expression, open eyes, a closed mouth, proper size and dimensions, you should not wear any tinted lenses, and many more.

The most common passport mistakes are not using a recently clicked photo, a wrong background of the photo, reflection in the photo due to glasses glare or reflection, having shadows in the photo, a blurry image, or incorrect size and dimension of the photo.

No, you can resubmit a correct photo for your passport application after submitting a wrong photo, for which you need to apply again.

You must provide a new photograph when applying for a new passport, including a renewal. The photograph must have been taken within the last month.

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Vipul Jain

Consular & OCI Services Expert

Vipul Jain is the Co-Founder of Visament, a trusted platform dedicated to simplifying Indian immigration, consular, and NRI services for applicants across the globe. With extensive expertise in OCI cards, Indian passport services, visa assistance, apostille and document legalization,... See Full Bio