UK passport photo size and requirements (printed photos)

Printed UK passport photos measure 35 × 45 mm, with 29–34 mm from chin to crown on a plain cream or light grey background. GOV.UK requires unaltered photos, and the online application is a different route that needs an uncropped original. This page covers the printed format only.

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Photo size & positioning

United Kingdom dimension templateFront-facing portrait with width, height, head-height and top-gap dimension arrows. Eye height is shown only when specified for this format.35 mm413 px45 mm531 pxHead height29–34 mm342.2–401.2 pxSuggested top gap2.7–7.2 mm31.9–85 px
Illustrative template. Head guides estimate visible head height. Check anatomical crown measurements manually.

Photo requirements

Photo size
35 × 45 mm, printed
Pixels
413 × 531 px at 300 DPI
Head height
29–34 mm from chin to crown; check the crown manually
Background
Plain light grey or cream
Editing
Unaltered by computer software
Print quality
Printed to a professional standard, clear and in focus
Recency
Recently taken; check the current GOV.UK time limit
Glasses and expression
Plain expression, mouth closed; no glasses unless you have to wear them

Photo rules

  • Keep a plain expression with your mouth closed.
  • Keep your eyes open and visible, with no hair in front of them.
  • Do not wear glasses unless you have to; sunglasses and tinted glasses are not allowed.
  • Do not wear a head covering unless it is for religious or medical reasons.
  • Make sure there are no shadows on your face or behind you.
  • Leave the photo unaltered by computer software.

Common reasons for rejection

  • Photo edited or altered by software
  • Head outside the 29–34 mm chin-to-crown range
  • Shadows on the face or the background
  • Background that is not plain cream or light grey
  • Hair across the eyes or glare on glasses
  • Print that is blurry, has a border or is the wrong size

3 steps with VisaPhoto

  1. 1

    Upload a selfie

    Take a clear, front-facing photo with your phone and upload it.

  2. 2

    Generate and check

    AI creates a portrait in this format; framing and image quality are checked.

  3. 3

    Review and download

    Compare the result with the official rules, then download your JPEG files.

Create my photo

Example

Original selfie 1Reframed photo example 1
Illustrative example in the Schengen 35 × 45 mm frame.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a UK passport photo?

A printed UK passport photo is 35 × 45 mm, with 29–34 mm from the chin to the crown of the head. At 300 DPI that is 413 × 531 pixels.

Can I take my UK passport photo with my phone?

For the online application, GOV.UK has its own digital photo instructions and asks for an uncropped original. For the printed format on this page the photo must be unaltered and printed to a professional standard, so an AI-processed phone photo may not meet the rules.

What background colour do I need?

Plain cream or light grey, with no shadows on your face or behind you.

Can I wear glasses in a UK passport photo?

GOV.UK asks you not to wear glasses unless you have to. If you must, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses.

Can I use a VisaPhoto portrait for a UK passport?

VisaPhoto makes an AI-assisted portrait, while GOV.UK requires photos unaltered by computer software. Check with HM Passport Office before using it; VisaPhoto is useful as a reference for the 35 × 45 mm size and head framing.

Official sources

Sources checked on 2026-09-20.