UK Passport Photo Requirements

Updated 2026-09-25 · 5 min read

A UK passport photo is not the same shape as a US one. It is 35 × 45 mm - taller than it is wide - with a 29 to 34 mm head on a plain cream or light grey background. Bright white is not what the rules ask for; light grey is the safest choice.

Size and head

  • Photo: 35 × 45 mm, which is 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI.
  • Head: 29–34 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (64–76% of the height).
  • The face in the middle, looking straight at the camera, with nothing covering it.

That smaller head is the main practical difference from the ICAO standard many European countries use, which asks for 70–80%. Use the UK template rather than a generic 35 × 45 mm tool if you want the UK range exactly.

Background and light

Plain cream or light grey, even, with no shadow behind the head and no objects in the background. The face must be evenly lit with no shadow across it and no glare.

Expression

Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible. No hair across the eyes.

Glasses

HM Passport Office now says not to wear glasses in a passport photo. If you cannot take them off for a medical reason, the lenses must be clear and free of glare, the frames must not cover the eyes, and you should say so in the application.

Age of the photo

Taken within the last month, which is much stricter than the six months many countries allow.

Digital photos and the photo code

Online applications - the cheaper and faster route - take a digital photo. At the time of writing it needs to be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall and between 50 KB and 10 MB. The editor's 413 × 531 export is right for print; for the online form, check the current minimum on GOV.UK and use a larger source photo if it has changed.

Photo shops and booths can also give you a photo code to type into the online form instead of uploading a file.

Paper forms

If you apply on paper you need two identical printed photos. For a first adult passport or a child's passport, one of them is signed on the back by a countersignatory who knows you. Print a 4×6 sheet and you will have 8 to choose from.