United Kingdom — Passport Photo

The UK has two different requirements and mixing them up is the usual mistake. A printed photo is 35×45mm. An online application wants something quite different: a larger image showing your head, shoulders and upper body — and HM Passport Office asks you not to crop it yourself.

United Kingdom passport photo specifications

Printed size

35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px

Head height (chin to crown)

29 – 34 mm

Background

Background: plain light colour (cream or light grey)

Photo age limit

Taken within 1 month

Glasses

Only when necessary; eyes must remain visible without reflections

Prints to submit

2 identical prints

Rules specific to United Kingdom

• No smiling, mouth closed, head straight, eyes open and clearly visible.
• Photos must not be altered by any software, filter or AI tool.
• You need a new photo for every new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.
• If you shoot on your own device, include your head, shoulders and upper body — do not crop it yourself, the service crops it for you.
• A paper application needs 2 identical prints, 45mm high × 35mm wide, and they must not be cut down from a larger picture.
• On a printed photo, crown-to-chin height must be between 29mm and 34mm.
• Printed photos use a plain cream or light grey background; digital photos use a plain light-coloured one, with clear contrast against your face.
• Only when necessary; eyes must remain visible without reflections

Why passport photos get rejected

• Check framing, lighting and the current application instructions. A correctly sized crop alone does not guarantee acceptance.

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