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UK Passport Photo 35x45 mm for HM Passport Office

A UK passport photo is 35x45 mm (413x531 px at 300 DPI) on a plain cream or light grey background. The head should measure 29-34 mm from chin to crown, and the digital file must be at least 50 KB.

  • 35×45 mm
  • 600×772 px
  • Plain light colour
  • Rules checked October 5, 2026
  1. Document
  2. Photo
  3. Check
  4. Download

Make your UK Passport photo

35×45 mm · background: plain light colour

Upload a photo of yourself

JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC. Drag it here or choose a file.

  • Face the camera, keep your head straight and your mouth closed.
  • Stand about 1 m from a plain wall in soft, even light. No shadows on the face.
  • Ask someone else to take it from eye level. Shoulders should be visible.
  • Remove glasses, hats and hair from the face. Religious head coverings are allowed if the face is fully visible.
  • For a baby, lay them on a plain white sheet and photograph from straight above.

How to take a passport photo with your phone

Your photo is processed on this device and is never uploaded to our servers.

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Take a photo

Fit your face inside the oval. Better: ask someone to take the photo with the back camera.

UK Passport photo requirements

Official rules summarised. Source: GOV.UK (HM Passport Office). Official page

Photo size
35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)
Digital size
600 × 772 px
Resolution
300 DPI
File size
50–10240 KB
File format
JPG
Head height (chin to crown)
29–34 mm
Background
Plain light colour
Glasses
Not allowed
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Head covering
Only for religious reasons, face fully visible
Printed copies
2
Submission
Printed and digital

Digital photo must be taken in the last month and not cropped (HMPO crops it); glasses only if you must wear them, never tinted. Printed: 2 identical 45x35 mm photos, head 29-34 mm chin to crown.

Correct and incorrect examples

  • CorrectCentred, neutral, even light

  • Too closeHead fills the frame

  • Head tiltedKeep your head level

  • ShadowsLight from one side

  • GlassesReflections hide the eyes

  • SmilingMouth must be closed

  • Hair over the eyesEyes and eyebrows must be visible

  • Busy backgroundUse a plain, light wall

UK passport photo rules in plain words

GOV.UK, run by HM Passport Office, sets these rules. The printed photo is 35x45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) at 300 DPI. The digital photo is 413x531 px as a JPG, between 50 KB and 10 MB (10240 KB).

  • Head size: 29-34 mm from chin to crown.
  • Background: plain cream or light grey (5-10% grey) for prints. For a digital photo, a plain light-coloured background.
  • Glasses: only if you must wear them, and never tinted.
  • Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
  • Age of the photo: taken in the last month for digital applications.

Pre-cropped files are not wanted

For a digital application, do not crop the photo yourself in another app. HMPO crops it. The tool provides a properly sized file, and you should avoid editing it further after download.

How to take it at home with a phone

Stand in front of a plain light wall and face a window so that the light is even. Keep your hair off your face, your mouth closed and a neutral expression, with both eyes open and visible. Ask someone to hold the phone at eye level, straight on.

Leave extra room around the head and shoulders. The tool works out the crop from the head and chin positions.

Processing

The photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded. It is cropped, given a plain background and checked for the head height range.

Common reasons for rejection

  • A cream or grey background that is patterned or has shadows.
  • A head outside the 29-34 mm range.
  • Tinted glasses, or glasses with glare or heavy frames.
  • A digital file under 50 KB or over 10 MB.
  • A photo older than a month for digital applications.
  • Cropping or editing the digital photo yourself.

Printing and uploading

You can use the photo for both routes. For a paper application, print 2 identical 45x35 mm photos at 300 DPI and check the size with a ruler. For an online application, upload the JPG.

If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.

Printed or digital: a short checklist

For a digital application, use a photo taken in the last month and upload the file without cropping it again. For printed photos, make sure both copies are identical and that the background colour stays within the plain cream or light grey range after printing. Keep your expression neutral, because the face should look like your normal appearance.

Helpful guides

All guides

Frequently asked questions

What size is a UK passport photo?

It is 35x45 mm for printed photos. The digital version is 413x531 px as a JPG.

What background should a UK passport photo have?

Plain cream or light grey (5-10% grey) for prints. For a digital photo it should be plain light-coloured.

Can I wear glasses in a UK passport photo?

Only if you must wear them, and they must never be tinted.

How many printed photos do I need?

Two identical 45x35 mm photos, with the head 29-34 mm from chin to crown.

What file size does the digital photo need?

The file must be between 50 KB and 10 MB (10240 KB). The photo must be taken in the last month and not cropped by you.

Related photo requirements

More from United Kingdom

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Page updated October 5, 2026. Requirements can change. Always check the official page before you apply.