UK passport photo requirements

For an online UK passport application you upload a digital photo that is at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB, taken in the last month and unaltered by software. HM Passport Office crops it for you, so the photo should show head and shoulders with a clear gap above the hair. Paper applications need two printed 35×45 mm photos with the head 29–34 mm high.

Make and check a UK passport photo Free checker; files from A$6.99.

Can I take it myself? Yes

Yes. GOV.UK explicitly allows a photo taken with your own device during the application, as long as someone else takes it. The page notes that booth and shop photos are approved more often, which is mostly down to lighting and background. If you follow the checker here, the common failure causes (shadows, glasses glare, uneven background) are caught before you upload.

How to take the photo

1. Use a plain light-coloured background such as a light-grey or cream wall. Pure white works but can blow out; the key is clear contrast with your face and hair and no shadows.
2. Stand half a metre in front of the wall and face a window. Turn off the flash and overhead lights to avoid shadows and red-eye.
3. Have someone take the photo from about 1.5 metres away at eye level. Include your shoulders and leave space above your head; HMPO crops the photo itself.
4. Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking straight at the camera. Hair off your face so both eyes and the outline of your face are clear.
5. Take glasses off if you can. If you must wear them, make sure there is no glare and the frames do not cover your eyes. No sunglasses or tinted lenses.
6. Take it within a month of applying. HMPO's recency rule for digital photos is one month, not six.

Why UK passport photos get rejected

1. Shadow behind the head or across the face. Step forward from the wall and face the light. Shadows are the number-one reason HMPO's upload check fails.
2. Background not plain or too similar to your hair or clothing. Pick a light grey or cream wall that contrasts with your hair, and avoid light tops that blend in.
3. Glare on glasses or frames over the eyes. Remove the glasses, or tilt them slightly down and move the light to the side.
4. Photo cropped too tight. Do not crop. Upload the head-and-shoulders frame; HMPO's tool positions the face.
5. Photo altered by software. No filters, no background replacement, no smoothing. This tool does none of that for UK documents.
6. Low resolution. At least 600×750 px. Use the camera's original file, not a screenshot.
7. Expression or eyes. Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open. Avoid squinting into bright light.

Infants and children

Children must be alone in the picture with nothing else visible. Under six they do not need to look at the camera or hold a plain expression. Under one they do not need their eyes open; lay the baby on a plain light-coloured sheet and photograph from above. You may support the head, but your hand must not be visible, and no dummies or toys.

Step by step: GOV.UK online passport application

1. Start the application on GOV.UK and choose to upload a digital photo when asked. You can also use a photo code from a booth or shop.
2. Upload the JPEG from this tool. The service shows the photo, checks it automatically and tells you if it fails a rule such as shadows or background.
3. If it passes, confirm and continue. If it fails, retake the photo rather than editing it; altered photos are refused later even if the upload check passes.
4. Finish the application and pay. For a renewal you post your old passport after submitting.

Open GOV.UK online passport application

What it costs

A photo booth charges around £8–10 and Boots, Tesco, Snappy Snaps or Timpson £10–16 for a set with a digital code. Our Single licence is £3.99 and gives you the digital file plus print sheets for 30 days; the free checker shows every measurement before you pay.

Retailer pages: Boots , Tesco .