UK passport photo: size, rules and how to take one
A UK passport photo must show a clear, recent likeness of you. You can submit a digital photo online or send printed photos with a paper application; HM Passport Office makes the final decision about whether your photo meets its rules.[1][2]
Photo size and face position
For a printed UK passport photo, the required size is 45 mm high by 35 mm wide (about 1.77 by 1.38 inches). Your head must measure 29–34 mm, from the crown (top) of the head to the bottom of the chin.[2]
For digital photos, HM Passport Office requires an image at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall. It does not publish a required pixel count for an exact 35 × 45 mm crop. The eyes should be in the top 40% to 70% of the photo; on a 45 mm-high image, that band is about 13.5–27 mm up from the bottom.[1][2]
Face the camera squarely, with your head straight and your chin and the top of your head visible. HM Passport Office does not set a numeric top margin or eye height measured from the bottom as a separate rule.[2]
Background, light and expression
Use a plain, light-coloured background. HM Passport Office gives cream, ivory, vanilla and light grey as examples. A patterned background may be refused if its marks show in the photo; for a home photo, a plain wall or sheet with no objects behind you is a practical choice.[1][2][3]
Your face must be clear, sharp and in focus, with good contrast against the background. Avoid shadows on your face or behind you, glare and red-eye. Use even light; facing a window can help, as long as direct sun does not cast a strong shadow.[1][2][3]
Look straight at the camera with a neutral or plain expression and your mouth closed. Keep both eyes open and visible, and move hair away from your eyes. A smile, a frown, a turned or tilted head, or a blurred or very dark photo can lead to refusal.[1][2][3]
Glasses and head coverings
Take off your glasses if you can. If you need to wear them, your eyes must be visible: frames, glare, reflections or shadows must not hide them. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not allowed.[1][2][3]
Do not cover your face. Head coverings are generally not allowed, but HM Passport Office may accept one worn for religious or medical reasons if it does not hide your face. If you use a head covering, keep your face fully visible and distinct from the background.[1][2][3]
Do not wear headphones or earbuds. HM Passport Office does not accept photos showing them. Keep other people and objects out of the photo.[1][2]
Photos of babies and children
Children must be alone in the photo. Babies must not hold toys or use dummies. Children under 6 do not have to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression. Children under 1 do not have to have their eyes open.[1]
For a child under 1, HM Passport Office says to lay the baby on a plain, light-coloured sheet and take the photo from above. You may support the baby’s head with your hand, but the hand must not show in the photo.[1][2]
A child’s photo still needs to be a true likeness. The under-6 exceptions cover expression, looking at the camera and, for a child under 1, open eyes; they do not remove the other photo standards.[1][2]
Take a photo at home
1. Choose a plain, light-coloured wall or hang a smooth, light sheet. Remove objects from the background. Stand about 50 cm from it to help reduce shadows.[2][3]
2. Ask someone to take the picture with a phone or camera. Have them stand about 1.5 m away, at your eye level. Use even light, such as soft daylight from a window.[3]
3. Face forward and keep your head straight. Move hair away from your eyes, remove glasses if possible, and check that your whole face is visible. Close your mouth and keep a plain expression.[1][2][3]
4. Include your head, shoulders and upper body in the original digital photo. Do not crop it before an online application; the application process will crop it for you. Take several pictures and choose one that is sharp, in focus and free of shadows, glare and red-eye.[1][3]
Submit or print your photo
For an online passport application, upload a digital photo or enter a photo code from a booth or shop. The image must be in colour, clear and in focus, not altered by computer software, at least 600 × 750 pixels, and between 50 KB and 10 MB. The photo must have been taken in the last month.[1]
For a paper application, you usually send two printed photos that are 45 × 35 mm. Some applications, such as certain renewals without a paper referee, need only one. HM Passport Office also accepts paper photos from some online applicants who cannot submit a new digital photo.[2]
If printing at a kiosk, save the correctly sized photo layout to your device, choose a 4 × 6-inch print, and check that the kiosk has not enlarged, trimmed or fitted the image in a way that changes its size. Cut out the 35 × 45 mm photo carefully. These are practical printing steps; the official requirements are the finished photo’s size and quality.[2]
A printed photo must be on good-quality photo paper and free from creases, damage, ink marks and visible watermarks. HM Passport Office does not accept glossy or textured paper. The authority decides whether a submitted photo meets its standards, including one printed at home or at a kiosk.[2]
Frequently asked questions
What size is a UK passport photo in inches?
The printed photo is 35 × 45 mm, about 1.38 × 1.77 inches. The head must measure 29–34 mm from the crown to the bottom of the chin.[2]
How many pixels does a UK digital passport photo need?
It must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall. The file must be at least 50 KB and no more than 10 MB.[1]
Can I wear glasses in my UK passport photo?
Take them off if you can. If you need them, your eyes must remain visible without glare or reflections; sunglasses and tinted glasses are not allowed.[1][2][3]
Can I wear a head covering?
HM Passport Office may accept a head covering for religious or medical reasons if it does not hide your face.[1][2][3]
Can I take a UK passport photo at home?
Yes. For an online application, use a recent, unaltered digital photo that meets the pixel and file-size limits. Include your head, shoulders and upper body, and do not crop the original photo before upload.[1]