UK visa photo rules in plain words
GOV.UK, through UK Visas and Immigration, sets the digital photo rules. The upload is a JPG of at least 600x750 px, between 50 KB and 6 MB (6144 KB), showing the head, shoulders and upper body. We provide 413x531 px at 300 DPI in the 35x45 mm format.
- Head size: 29-34 mm from chin to crown. The mm values follow the UK printed photo rules.
- Background: plain light-coloured.
- Glasses: not allowed.
- Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
A pixel count to watch
The upload must be at least 600x750 px. The 35x45 mm format at 300 DPI is 413x531 px, so the printed-photo size and the upload minimum are not the same thing. Check the pixel size shown by the portal before you submit, and avoid enlarging a small picture yourself, because enlarging loses sharpness.
Visa application centre option
Many applicants have the photo taken at the visa application centre instead of uploading one. If that applies to you, you may not need this photo at all, so check your application first.
How to take it at home with a phone
Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight and take off your glasses. Hold the phone at eye level, or ask someone to take it, and look straight at the lens with a neutral expression. Make sure your head, shoulders and upper body are in the frame.
Processing
The photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded. It is cropped, the background is made plain and light, and the head size is checked.
Common reasons for rejection
- A file under 50 KB or over 6 MB.
- An image smaller than 600x750 px.
- Glasses worn in the picture.
- A patterned, dark or shadowed background.
- A cropped picture that does not show the shoulders and upper body.
- A head outside the 29-34 mm range.
Uploading
This is a digital upload. Download the JPG and attach it to your online visa application. No print is needed. If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.
A word on file handling
Keep the download as it is. Opening it in an editor and saving it again can change the file size, and the portal checks it against the 50 KB to 6 MB range. Look at the preview before you upload and confirm that the head, shoulders and upper body are all visible against the plain light background, with an even expression and open eyes.