UK / PASSPORT PHOTO FIELD GUIDE
UK passport photos. Choose digital or print first.
A 35 × 45 mm print and an online passport upload are different outputs. Find the right route before cropping, paying for a file or booking a photo provider.
Reviewed · Editorial methodology
THE SHORT ANSWER
What does a United Kingdom passport photo need?
UK paper applications need two identical 35 × 45 mm photos, with a crown-to-chin height of 29–34 mm. Digital photos must be at least 600 × 750 pixels and 50 KB–10 MB. Both routes require a recent, unaltered photograph; GOV.UK asks for a photo taken in the last month.
Read the official requirements ↗- Printed photo
- 35 × 45 mm
- Digital minimum
- 600 × 750 px
- Digital file
- 50 KB–10 MB
- Photo age
- Last month
FRAME / FACE / APPLICATION
Size and alignment, explained.
The illustrated 35 × 45 mm frame is a printed-photo guide. Do not crop a photo taken on your own device for an online application; the application service crops it.
- Width
- 35 mm
- Height
- 45 mm
- Head / face height
- 29–34 mm
- Background
- Plain cream or light grey (print)
The diagram shows proportions and what to measure. It does not measure the generated portrait, certify compliance or define a universal pixel size.
Digital photo rules for an online application
For an online passport application, supply a digital photo. A booth or shop can provide a photo code, or someone can take a photo using your device during the application. Keep the file in focus and without software alterations.
For a photo taken on your own device, include your head, shoulders and upper body. Let the application service handle cropping. Do not turn the printed 35 × 45 mm example into a universal digital-upload rule.
GOV.UK: digital passport photos ↗Printed photos: size, head alignment and paper
A paper application needs two identical photographs at 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. The crown-to-chin size is 29–34 mm. Use the official examples to check the close-up framing of the full head and upper shoulders.
Photos must be professionally printed on plain white photographic paper with no border. Do not submit a cut-down version of a larger picture. Check the actual finished size rather than relying on the dimensions shown in a photo editor.
GOV.UK: printed passport photos ↗Lighting and background mistakes to retake
Stand in front of a plain, light background with clear contrast between you and the wall. Keep your face free of shadows, hair out of your eyes and your expression plain. For prints, GOV.UK specifies a cream or light grey background.
Both digital and printed photographs must be unaltered by computer software. Correct an unsuitable setup by taking another photo; do not use background replacement or facial retouching as a shortcut.
GOV.UK: printed passport photos ↗Photo codes and what PixPassVisa provides
An HM Passport Office photo code connects a photo from a participating shop or booth to an online application. A downloadable JPEG and a photo code are different products. PixPassVisa does not issue HMPO codes.
Use our checker for supplementary feedback and keep the original file. Previewing is free; prepared downloads are a separate purchase. Before paying, make sure the output is appropriate for your route and the authority’s editing rules.
GOV.UK: digital passport photos ↗BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
A final check is worth a retake.
- Confirm the exact document and submission route.
- Keep a recent original with no filters or facial edits.
- Check lighting, background, expression and clear eyes.
- Review the actual print or the portal’s upload rules.
- Use an approved capture provider when required.
ANSWERS FOR YOUR NEXT STEP
United Kingdom passport photo questions
What size is a UK passport photo?
Printed photos are 35 × 45 mm with a 29–34 mm head height. Digital photos must be at least 600 × 750 pixels, with a file size of 50 KB–10 MB.
Can I use a 35 × 45 mm crop for my online application?
Do not use the print shape as a universal upload rule. For a photo taken on your own device, GOV.UK says to include your upper body and not crop it yourself.
Does PixPassVisa provide an HMPO photo code?
No. Use a participating photo booth or shop if you want a passport photo code. Our downloadable files are not photo codes.
Can I digitally remove a shadow or replace the background?
UK passport photos must be unaltered by computer software. Retake an unsuitable original in better light instead of assuming digital repairs are acceptable.
CHECK FIRST. CHOOSE YOUR OUTPUT.
Preview before purchasing.
Automated checks and previews are free. If your application permits the prepared output, standard downloads cost $4.99 and optional expert manual editing costs $6.99. One-time payment; fixed local prices apply.
We do not provide government photo codes, physical prints or acceptance certification. Keep your original and follow the capture and editing rules above.
Official sources and review
Reviewed on 17 October 2026. Requirements can change; follow the authority handling your application. PixPassVisa is an independent service.