Before
After🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM · UPDATED 2026
UK Passport Photo Maker — 35×45 mm, Light Background
UK passport photos must be 35x45mm with a 29-34mm head height on a plain light background. See full HMPO requirements and make a compliant photo here.
Drag & drop or click to upload
JPG, PNG or WEBP
- Checked against the 35×45mm / HMPO head-height spec
- Plain light background — no bright white required
- Sized correctly for both the digital and printed application routes
OFFICIAL SPECIFICATION
United Kingdom passport photo requirements
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Digital photo size | 413 x 531 px |
| Background | #EDEDED |
| Head height | 29-34 mm (64-76% of frame height) |
DIGITAL PHOTO CODE
The gov.uk photo code — a UK-only shortcut
Most countries expect you to upload a photo file yourself. The UK offers an alternative: walk into a participating photographer or self-service booth — Timpson, Max Spielmann, and Photo-Me kiosks all qualify — and they upload the image straight into the HM Passport Office database on your behalf. What you leave with is a printed slip carrying a 16-character code, not a file.
Type that code into the online application at gov.uk and HMPO retrieves the stored photo automatically — no file handling required at all. The code lapses after roughly 90 days, so start the application before too much time passes. Skipping the code and uploading your own JPEG works just as well, provided it clears the pixel minimum below.
HMPO digital photo specification
Minimum size
600 x 750 px
Recommended size
900 x 1200 px
File size
50KB to 10MB
Format
JPEG
Aspect ratio
Matches the 35:45mm print
Photo code validity
~90 days from issue
Upload errors & fixes
- •An aspect ratio that is too square or too wide gets rejected by the automated check before a human reviewer ever sees it — match the 35:45mm print ratio.
- •A photo-code print expires after about 90 days; if your application is delayed past that, get a fresh code rather than reusing an old slip.
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps to a compliant United Kingdom photo
Upload a photo
Any recent, front-facing photo works — the tool handles the background and framing for you.
AI matches the spec
Background is replaced with an even #EDEDED and the crop is adjusted to the 35x45mm frame, without altering your face.
Check compliance and download
Your result is measured against the United Kingdom pixel size, DPI, and head-height ratio before you download it.
No studio trip, no photo code needed — just upload and download
Get a HMPO-ready JPEG at 900x1200px in under a minute, sized correctly whether you apply online or by post.
Light grey vs. pure white — which passport photo backgrounds use which
| Country | Required background | Why |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Light grey or cream (HMPO recommendation) | Avoids washing out light hair or pale skin against a stark white backdrop |
| United States | Plain white or off-white | travel.state.gov specifies white with no shadows |
| India | Plain white only | Passport Seva's automated check is strict about pure white |
| Singapore | Pure white (#FFFFFF) only | ICA rejects any off-white or grey tint on sight |
| Malaysia | White background | JIM's processing system is calibrated for white; an older "blue background" rumour is outdated |
| Canada | Plain white or light background | IRCC warns that pure-white clothing blends into the background, even though the backdrop itself is typically white |
| Australia | Light grey or off-white (official target: 18% grey) | A stark pure-white background is tolerated but not the officially preferred tone |
RULES TO GET RIGHT
United Kingdom photo rules beyond the size
- Printed photos must be exactly 35mm by 45mm; digital photos for the online application must be at least 600px wide by 750px tall.
- Head height (chin to crown, excluding hair) must be between 29mm and 34mm.
- Background should be plain and light-colored — HMPO recommends cream or light grey rather than bright white, so there is clear contrast with light or pale clothing.
- Glasses are not allowed under any circumstances, including for medical reasons.
- The photo must be taken within the last month and must not be digitally altered, filtered, or retouched.
Baby / infant photo rules
For babies under 1, HMPO allows eyes to be closed and does not require a neutral expression; a supporting hand is permitted only if it is completely hidden from the shot, and it is recommended to photograph the baby from above lying on a plain light-colored sheet. Children under 6 also do not need to hold a fixed expression or look directly at the camera.
Printing
A 4x6 in photo sheet fits 4 copies of a 35x45mm UK passport photo with room to spare.
At home / online
~£0.30-0.35 per photo printed at home or at a retail kiosk
In-store studio
£6-10 at a UK Post Office or high-street photo booth
UK passport photo do's and don'ts
Do
- Use a plain, light-coloured background such as cream or light grey
- Keep head height between 29mm and 34mm, chin to crown
- Apply online with a JPEG at least 600x750px
- Look directly at the camera with a neutral, closed-mouth expression and both eyes open
- Use even, front-facing lighting to avoid red-eye or harsh flash reflections
- Match the digital photo's aspect ratio to the 35:45mm print dimensions
Don't
- Wear glasses under any circumstance, including for a medical reason
- Use a stark white background — HMPO's online checker can reject it
- Apply filters, beauty modes, or any digital retouching
- Submit a photo taken more than a month ago
- Let hair, headbands, or large hair clips cover your face or fall across your eyes
- Submit a blurry, pixelated, or overly compressed JPEG below the 600x750px minimum
HMPO requires the photo to have been taken within the last month — even a fully compliant photo from three months ago can be rejected on age alone, so don't reuse an old UK passport photo just because it still looks like you. Roughly one in five online UK applications hit a photo-related delay, adding two to four weeks to processing — most of that is avoidable by getting the background, timing, and eyewear right the first time.
FAQ