UK Passport Photo: Printed 35×45 mm and Digital Rules
HM Passport Office accepts either a digital photo for online applications or two printed 45×35 mm photos for paper forms. The rules overlap but are not identical — here is exactly what each needs.
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1. Choose a photo — front-facing, even light, plain light background.
2. Adjust — drag to move, slider to zoom.
3. Optional: replace background
⚠️ Many authorities reject photos that are digitally altered. For the safest result, take the photo against a plain light wall and skip this step.
Background editing is disabled for this photo type because the issuing authority prohibits edited or background-replaced photos. Use a real plain wall.
4. Checks
- Waiting for a photo
Automated checks are guides only — they can't judge expression, glasses, shadows or focus.
5. Download (free)
Requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital output (this tool) | 700 × 900 px JPEG |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 29–34 mm |
| Background | plain cream or light grey |
| File size | min 50 KB, max 10240 KB (auto-compressed) |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI |
| Photos per 4×6 / A4 sheet | 8 / 36 |
| Background editing | avoid; optional tool available |
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements and gov.uk/photos-for-passports (digital). Checked 2026-10-20. Rules change — always confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Printed photos (paper application)
- 45 mm high × 35 mm wide, the standard UK photo-booth size, and not a cut-down version of a larger picture.
- Head from crown to chin 29–34 mm.
- Plain cream or light grey background in clear contrast to you; no shadows behind you.
- Printed to a professional standard on plain white photographic paper with no border; HM Passport Office notes that photos printed at home are not usually clear enough, and glossy or textured paper can cause glare.
- Taken in the last month, unaltered by software, plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible.
Digital photos (online application)
- At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall.
- File size at least 50 KB and no more than 10 MB.
- Clear, in focus, in colour, unaltered, plain light-coloured background, no red-eye.
Our UK download is 700×900 px — the exact 35:45 ratio and above the minimum — with the head sized to the printed 29–34 mm rule so the same crop works for both. If you take a photo on your own device during the online application, GOV.UK says to include your head, shoulders and upper body and not to crop it yourself, because the service crops for you. In that case upload the original photo and use this tool only as a framing check.
The photo-booth code option
Many UK booths and shops can give you a photo code that you enter during the online application; the photo is then pulled in automatically. GOV.UK says booth and shop photos are more likely to be approved than photos taken on your own device.
Children
Children under 6 don't need to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression; babies under one don't need their eyes open. Babies should lie on a plain light sheet photographed from above, with no hands, toys or dummies visible.
Glasses
Avoid glasses unless you must wear them; if you do, no sunglasses or tint, and no frames, glare or shadow over the eyes.
How to make a UK passport photo with this tool
- Pick a photo taken in the last few months against a plain cream or light grey background, face lit evenly from the front.
- The tool finds your face and scales it so the head is about 32 mm tall on a 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) photo.
- Drag or zoom until every check is green.
- Download the 700×900 px JPG (compressed under 10240 KB) for online forms, or a 4×6 sheet with 8 photos to print.
FAQ
What size is a UK passport photo?
Printed photos are 45 mm high by 35 mm wide with the head 29 to 34 mm. Digital photos must be at least 600x750 pixels and 50 KB to 10 MB.
What background colour for a UK passport photo?
Plain cream or light grey, in clear contrast to your face, with no shadows.
Can I use a white background?
GOV.UK specifies cream or light grey for printed photos and a plain light-coloured background for digital ones. Very bright pure white can wash out the face edges, so light grey is safer.
How recent must a UK passport photo be?
Taken within the last month, and you need a new photo for every new passport.
Can I smile?
No. You need a plain expression with your mouth closed.