Good to know: Printed photos must be printed to a professional standard on photo paper, taken in the last month. For a digital one, someone else should take it.
UK passport photo requirements
Printed photos must be 45 mm tall and 35 mm wide, a full-size print rather than a cut-down picture, in colour on plain white photo paper with no border, and taken in the last month. Some applications need one photo countersigned; otherwise both are left unmarked. For the online service a digital photo must be at least 600 × 750 pixels.
| Size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head | 29–34 mm from the chin to the top of the head |
| Background | A plain cream or light grey background |
| Glasses | Don’t wear glasses unless you have to. No tinted lenses; no glare or frames over the eyes. |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera |
| Babies | Under 6: they needn’t look at the camera or have a plain expression. Under 1: their eyes needn’t be open. No toys or dummies; support the head without your hand showing. |
| Digital photo | 900 × 1125 px, 50 KB to 10 MB. The online service crops the photo itself, so the digital one keeps your head, shoulders and upper body. |
| Prints needed | 2 |
| Editing | “Photos must be unaltered by computer software.” |
Source: gov.uk (2026-11-09).
Taking a UK passport photo
Stand in front of a plain cream or light grey background. Glasses are a risk: take them off if they catch the light. Keep a neutral face with your mouth closed. For a baby: Under 6: they needn’t look at the camera or have a plain expression. Under 1: their eyes needn’t be open. No toys or dummies; support the head without your hand showing. For the online form the app saves 900 × 1125 px, 50 KB to 10 MB. The online service crops the photo itself, so the digital one keeps your head, shoulders and upper body.
Printing UK passport photos
8 fit on a 4×6 print, 9 on a 5×7, 25 on A4 and 25 on US Letter; the office wants 2.
Questions
What size is a UK passport photo?
35 × 45 mm, with the head 29–34 mm from the chin to the top of the head.
Can I take a UK passport photo at home?
Usually, yes. Printed photos must be printed to a professional standard on photo paper, taken in the last month. For a digital one, someone else should take it.
Can I change the background?
The rules say: “Photos must be unaltered by computer software.”
Other photos
- UK visa (digital) 900×1125 px
- 35 × 45 mm photo 35×45 mm
- Schengen visa 35×45 mm
- German passport (applying abroad) 35×45 mm
- Every passport and visa photo