🇬🇧 United Kingdom passport and ID photos

Which photo do you need?

The tool above can crop a photo for a UK passport, a UK driving licence, or a baby passport. The three listed formats share a size of 35 × 45 mm (about 1.38 × 1.77 inches) and a head height of 29–34 mm, measured from chin to top of head.^[1][2][3][4]

The passport and driving licence formats use a neutral expression with the mouth closed. For a child’s passport photo, children do not need a neutral expression.^[5][1][3]

Rules shared by adult photos

For the HM Passport Office passport photo and DVLA photocard driving licence photo, use a plain cream or light grey background. Face the camera straight on, keep your face clear, and use even light so shadows do not fall on your face or the background.^[5][1][3]

Remove glasses unless there is a medical reason to wear them. If you must wear them, your eyes need to stay visible without glare or reflection; the official guidance gives further conditions. Head coverings are allowed only for religious or medical reasons, and your face must be fully visible.^[5][1][3]

For an online passport application, the digital photo must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50 KB and 10 MB. It must be in colour, clear and in focus, and not altered by computer software. There is no exact pixel size or file-size limit listed here for the driving licence or child passport formats.^[5][3]

Taking a child or baby photo

Children must be alone in the picture. Babies must not hold toys or use dummies. Children under six do not have to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression; children under one do not have to open their eyes.^[5][1]

For a baby under one, lay them on a plain, light-coloured sheet and take the photo from above. You may support the baby’s head with your hand, but your hand must not show in the picture.^[5]

A practical way to help a baby stay still is to take several pictures in a quiet room, then check that the face is clear and not covered. Follow the child-specific rules when choosing the final image.

How to take a usable photo at home

Stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall. Face a window for soft light, and ask someone else to take the picture so you can keep your head straight and look at the camera. Keep the camera at eye level and step back far enough to avoid a distorted face.

For a digital passport application, include your head, shoulders and upper body in the original picture. Do not crop it yourself; the application process crops the image. Keep other people and objects out of the frame.^[5]

The passport application accepts a digital photo uploaded during the application or a photo code from a shop or booth. GOV.UK says photos from a shop or booth are more likely to be approved than one taken on your own device.^[5]

Printing and submission

For a paper passport application, send a printed photo with the application form. The official paper-photo guidance sets print size and layout details; check those instructions before printing.^[1][2][4]

For a paper passport application, print the photo at 45 × 35 mm on photo paper. Do not use a photo cut down from a larger picture.^[4]

A photo crop cannot fix every problem. Retake the picture if it is blurry, too dark, has shadows across your face, includes someone else, or hides your eyes. The authority checks the photo and decides whether it meets its rules.^[5][1]

Frequently asked questions