UK Passport
United Kingdom
GOV.UK rules: 45×35 mm print, crown-to-chin 29–34 mm; digital minimum 600×750 px; plain cream or light grey background.
Last reviewed:
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Example photo guidance
UK Passport — key specifications
At-a-glance summary of the official United Kingdom photo template. Every value below is enforced automatically when you upload your image.
| Physical size | 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 600 × 750 px (300 DPI) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Max file size | 10240 KB (JPEG) |
| Head coverage | 70–80% of photo height (ICAO-aligned) |
| Print sheet | 4x6 · 8 |
Requirements
Check dimensions and official rules on this page.
- Physical: 35mm × 45mm
- Digital: 600–600px × 750–750px
- Max file size: 10240 KB
Taken in the last month for paper/digital routes as per GOV.UK; plain expression, eyes open, mouth closed; no glasses unless you must wear them.
HM Passport Office — GOV.UK photo guidelines
His Majesty's Passport Office publishes UK passport-photo guidelines via GOV.UK. Photos must measure 35 × 45 mm with the head and shoulders visible against a plain light grey or cream background, no glasses, no head covering except religious. Standards align with ICAO Doc 9303 Part 4.
Why use this UK Passport tool
- $3.99Final photo + 4×6 print sheet. No subscription. Studios typically charge $15 – $30 for the same output.
- Free previewYou only pay once a watermarked preview confirms the crop, background, and biometric framing meet the spec.
- Refund if non-compliantIf our output fails the issuing-authority checklist, we refund — see our refund policy.
Common reasons UK Passport photos are rejected
Issuing authorities reject submissions that miss any of the items below. Our tool automatically corrects crop, background, and dimensions, but you still control the original capture — review this list before you upload.
- wrong_print_or_digital_size
- head_height_out_of_range
- background_not_plain_light
- shadows_or_red_eye
- expression_or_mouth_open
- glasses_when_not_required
- photo_edited_or_filtered
- photo_not_recent
UK passport photo rejection patterns from HMPO automated review
HM Passport Office operates an automated photo-compliance checker on its online renewal portal (gov.uk/renew-adult-passport) that returns a pass/fail in under a minute. The checker reports approximately 15% of first-attempt submissions fail at this step.
The leading failure mode in 2026 is shadow on the background wall — typical of home captures with single-source overhead lighting. The second is background uniformity: HMPO requires a plain, uniform light grey, white, or cream; the checker rejects walls with even faint texture or colour gradient.
- Shadow on the wall behind you — soft front lighting or open daylight prevents this
- Background colour outside the plain grey/white/cream range
- Visible texture, patterned wallpaper, or wall-art behind you
- Eye-line not in the upper-middle 56 – 69% band
- Glasses worn (HMPO banned glasses in 2017)
- Smile, open mouth, or visible teeth
- Hair covering one or both eyebrows
- Wearing a uniform (firefighter, police, military) — civilian clothes only
- Photo older than 1 month — UK is stricter than most countries on photo recency
HMPO submission pathways in 2026
Three channels for UK passport applications:
- Online (gov.uk/renew-adult-passport) — adult renewals and most first-time applications, photo uploaded digitally, processing 3 weeks standard
- Online with countersignature — for first-time adult passports and most child passports, requires a countersignatory to verify identity, online photo upload
- Paper application — declining usage, processing 6 – 10 weeks. Bring 2 printed 35 × 45 mm photos, one signed by countersignatory on the reverse
- Premium and Fast Track services — in-person appointment at one of 7 regional offices (London, Belfast, Liverpool, Newport, Peterborough, Glasgow, Durham) for travel within 7 working days
Same-photo compatibility — UK photo accepted for which other countries
The UK 35 × 45 mm format with plain light grey or white background is fully compatible with:
- Schengen visa (all 27 EU/EFTA countries) — same dimensions, same biometric framing, light grey universally accepted
- Republic of Ireland passport applications — same format
- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore — same 35 × 45 mm size with mild background-colour variance
- Most of Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines) — same 35 × 45 mm size
- Not compatible with: US (2 × 2 in), India (2 × 2 in), Canada (50 × 70 mm), China (33 × 48 mm)
Recent UK passport rule changes (2023 – 2026)
Material changes UK applicants should be aware of:
- September 2023 — passport application fee increased to £88.50 online / £100 paper; the photo requirement is included (no extra fee for photo upload)
- April 2024 — HMPO online compliance checker upgraded with new AI face-landmark detection; some pre-2024 borderline-acceptable photos now fail
- October 2024 — physical countersignatory in-person no longer required for online adult renewals; digital ID verification accepted
- Mid-2026 — no UK equivalent to the US 2026 AI-edit ban; AI background replacement remains accepted by HMPO
UK Passport — common questions
Will HM Passport Office accept a photo I took at home in 2026?
Yes. GOV.UK explicitly accepts self-captured photos for online passport renewals as long as they meet the 35 × 45 mm dimensions, plain light-grey or cream background, and biometric framing rules. The online HMPO uploader runs an automated compliance check before payment; you can preview the pass/fail result before paying for the application.
What background colour does HM Passport Office require — white or grey?
Plain light grey or cream is preferred. Plain white is also accepted as long as it's uniformly lit with no shadows or off-white tones. Strong pure-white backgrounds without any tint sometimes get flagged by the automated check; light grey is the safest universal choice for UK passport submissions.
Can I reuse my UK passport photo for a Schengen visa application?
Yes. Both use the 35 × 45 mm size and ICAO Doc 9303 biometric framing. Most Schengen consulates prefer light grey background — the UK passport photo's standard light grey works directly. The same photo file works for UK passport renewal, any Schengen country's visa application, Irish passport, and most Commonwealth country applications.
What is the official UK Passport size?
The official UK Passport size is 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in). For digital uploads it equals 600 × 750 px at 300 DPI.
What background color is required for a UK Passport?
UK Passport photos must be taken on a plain white background, evenly lit and free of shadows or patterns.
How big should the face appear in a UK Passport photo?
The head should fill approximately 70–80% of the photo height, with eyes positioned in the upper-middle of the frame and a neutral expression looking straight at the camera.
Can I take a UK Passport photo at home?
Yes. Use a recent phone photo against a plain wall, with even daylight and no glasses. Our tool then crops, recolors the background, and resizes to the official 35 mm × 45 mm template.
Can I print the UK Passport at CVS, Walgreens, or another pharmacy?
Yes. We generate a 4x6 print sheet with 8 photos that any pharmacy or photo kiosk can print.
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Where we sourced these United Kingdom specifications
Dimensions, background colour, and biometric framing on this page are compiled from the references below. Always reconfirm the latest guidance directly with the issuing authority before submitting an application.
- gov.uk
- passport.service.gov.uk
Last reviewed:
Other countries' passport & visa photo rules
Photo dimensions and background rules vary by issuing authority. Compare nearby countries you may also be applying to.