What are the official UK passport photo size requirements?

For printed photos, the official UK standard is 35mm wide by 45mm high. For digital applications submitted online to gov.uk, the photo must be at least 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB in file size.

How much of my face should be in a UK passport photo?

According to HM Passport Office guidelines, the height of your head (from the crown of your head to the bottom of your chin) must measure between 29mm and 34mm (roughly 64% to 75% of the total 45mm photo height). There must also be a clear margin of 3mm to 5mm above your head.

What color background is required for UK passport photos?

The background must be plain light grey or cream. Pure white, dark, patterned, or colored walls (such as blue, green, or wallpaper) will be rejected by HM Passport Office. There should also be no shadows behind your head.

Can I wear glasses or head coverings in my UK passport photo?

You can wear prescription glasses only if there is no glare or reflection on the lenses, and the frames do not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are forbidden. Head coverings are only permitted for religious or medical reasons, provided the full face from chin to forehead and both edges are visible.

How can I print my UK passport photos on 4x6 inch photo paper?

Our tool automatically generates a standard 4x6 inch (10x15cm) printable sheet containing 4 identical 35x45mm passport photos with cutting guide marks. You can print this at 100% scale at home or at Boots, Tesco, or Asda photo kiosks.

Is my photo private and secure?

Yes, 100%! All biometric checks and photo cropping occur locally inside your web browser. Your photo is never uploaded to any remote server or stored anywhere.

🇬🇧 Official HM Passport Office (HMPO) 35×45mm Standards

UK Passport Photo Checker & Auto-Cropper

Upload any photo to automatically verify it against official UK Government passport rules. Find out what is wrong, why it might be rejected, and crop it to the exact 35×45mm ratio with 29–34mm head height.

100% Client-Side Privacy: Your photos are processed in your browser and never leave your device.

Upload Photo to Check UK Gov Compliance

Drag and drop your picture here, or click to choose from your device (JPG, PNG, WebP up to 20MB).

or test instantly:

UK Passport Cropper & Biometric Studio

Locked to official 35×45mm (7:9) ratio. Use the biometric template overlay to align your head between 29mm and 34mm.

Face Height: Calculating...

Fine-Tune & Corrections

Straighten / Rotate 0°

Brightness Auto-balanced

Contrast Standard

Clean Background to UK Light Grey

Normalizes background color to official neutral light grey (#ebedef) for uneven walls.

Digital Photo (35×45mm)

For gov.uk online portal

Printable 4-Photo Sheet

Standard 4×6" photo paper

Official UK Passport Photo Guidelines (HMPO Rules)

HM Passport Office rejects thousands of passport applications every month due to invalid photos. Ensure your picture conforms strictly to every standard below:

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Dimensions & Face Height

Printed size: 35mm wide × 45mm high.
Face height: Crown to chin must be 29mm to 34mm (64%–75% of photo).
Headroom: 3mm to 5mm space above head.
Digital: Minimum 600 × 750 pixels, 50KB to 10MB.

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Pose & Alignment

Face directly forward and look straight into camera.
Keep your head upright and straight (no tilting).
Face centered horizontally.
Both shoulders and collarbone clearly visible.

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Expression & Eyes

Neutral expression: No smiling, grinning, or frowning.
Mouth closed: No teeth showing.
Eyes open: Both eyes open, clearly visible, no hair covering eyes or eyebrows.
No red-eye: Avoid direct harsh flash.

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Background Standards

Must be plain light grey or cream.
No pure white walls with glare, and no dark backgrounds.
No wallpaper, textures, patterns, or pictures.
No shadows behind your head or on the wall.

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Lighting & Focus

Sharp, crisp focus — no blurry or pixelated images.
Even light on both sides of your face (no harsh side shadows).
Natural skin tones — not too dark or overexposed.
Must be taken in full color (no black & white or filters).

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Glasses & Coverings

No sunglasses or tinted lenses.
Remove glasses if there is any glare or thick frame obstruction.
No hats, caps, or headwear (unless for religious or medical reasons).
Full face from chin to hairline must remain visible.

How to Take an Acceptable UK Passport Photo at Home

Save £10 to £15 on photo booths by taking your own compliant passport photo in 5 minutes with a smartphone:

Find the Right Wall

Stand about 0.5 meters (1.5 feet) in front of an off-white, cream, or light grey wall to prevent shadows.

Use Natural Light

Face a bright window so both sides of your face are evenly lit without casting harsh shadows.

Ask Someone to Help

Do not take a selfie! Have a friend hold the phone 1.5 to 2 meters away at eye level, capturing head and chest.

Verify & Auto-Crop

Upload here to run the diagnostic check and auto-crop to the exact UK Gov 35×45mm standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about UK passport photo acceptance and printing.

Printed UK passport photos must be 35mm wide by 45mm high. For online digital applications on gov.uk, the photo must be at least 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall, in JPG/JPEG or PNG format, and between 50KB and 10MB.

Your head from the crown (top of head) to the chin must be between 29mm and 34mm high (approx. 70% of the picture). The photo must also show your upper shoulders and chest, with about 3mm to 5mm of clear space above your crown.

No. You must maintain a neutral facial expression with your mouth completely closed and no teeth visible. Smiling alters facial landmarks required by automated airport border biometric gates.

The background must be plain light grey or cream. Pure bright white, textured walls, outdoors, colored walls, and patterned wallpapers will be rejected. Our tool includes an automatic "Clean Background to Light Grey" feature to help normalize uneven walls.

Download our Printable 4-Photo Sheet and copy it to your phone or a USB drive. Go to any photo kiosk (Boots, Tesco, Asda, Snappy Snaps) and select standard 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) print. Make sure "Do Not Scale" / "100% Fit" is selected so each photo prints at exactly 35×45mm. Cut along the outer corner marks!

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