What size is a UK passport photo?
A printed UK passport photo is 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, with the head 29 to 34 mm from chin to crown, on a plain cream or light grey background, taken in the last month. For the online application the digital photo must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB. FixDoks makes both.
UK Passport Photo at a glance
| Printed size | 45 mm high × 35 mm wide |
|---|---|
| Head height | 29 to 34 mm, chin to crown |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free to use, no watermark |
| Download | First download free, then ₹49 for 2 months of unlimited downloads (US$3 outside India) |
| Files at once | 1 free, up to 30 with a plan |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use UK Passport Photo
- Take a photo against a plain wall in even light, facing the camera, or pick a recent one.
- Click Select your photo. The size for this document is already chosen.
- Move and zoom the frame so the head fits the dashed oval. Use Make background white if the wall is not plain.
- Click Create passport photo and download the photo or the print sheet.
The one-month rule
GOV.UK says your passport photo must have been taken in the last month, and that you must get a new photo whenever you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed. Photos that do not meet the rules delay your application, and disabled applicants can get help with their photos.
Digital photos for an online application
You can get a digital photo from a photo booth or shop before you apply, choosing the option that gives you a code to enter during the application, or take one on your own device during the application with someone to help you. GOV.UK says photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than photos taken on your own device. The file must be clear, in focus, in colour, unaltered by software, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50 KB and 10 MB. If you use your own device, include your head, shoulders and upper body and do not crop the photo, because the service crops it for you.
It must show no other objects or people, sit against a plain light-coloured background in clear contrast to you, and have no red-eye or shadows on your face or behind you.
Printed photos for a paper form
A paper application needs 2 identical printed photos, 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, which must not be cut down from a larger picture. The image from crown to chin must be between 29 mm and 34 mm high. They must be printed to a professional standard on plain white photographic paper with no border, without creases or tears, and unmarked on both sides unless a photo needs to be countersigned. The background must be plain cream or light grey. When you post them, keep them separated and loose, not attached to the form.
Expression, glasses and children
Face forwards with a plain expression and your mouth closed, eyes open and visible. Do not wear glasses unless you must; if you do, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and nothing may cover your eyes. Head coverings are only for religious or medical reasons. Children must be on their own in the picture, and babies must not hold toys or use dummies. Children under 6 do not have to look at the camera or keep a plain expression, and under-ones do not need open eyes. Under-ones should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet and be photographed from above.
Source: GOV.UK: Printed photos and Digital photos, checked October 2026.
UK Passport Photo requirements at a glance
| Printed size | 45 mm high × 35 mm wide |
|---|---|
| Head height | 29 to 34 mm, chin to crown |
| Background (printed) | Plain cream or light grey |
| Digital photo | At least 600 × 750 px, 50 KB to 10 MB, colour |
| Taken | Within the last month |
| Glasses | Avoid unless you must wear them; never tinted |
Rules checked on the official website in September 2026. Requirements can change, so confirm on the official page before you apply. Source: GOV.UK: Photos for passports.
Printed photos
You need two identical printed photos on plain white photo paper with no border. They must not be cut down from a larger photo, so print them at the exact size: choose the 4 × 6 inch sheet and print at 100% scale. Keep a plain expression with your mouth closed, face the camera and keep your eyes open and visible.
Online applications
For an online application choose UK passport, online in the size menu. The tool makes a 900 × 1125 pixel file, above the 600 × 750 minimum and within the 50 KB to 10 MB limit, on a plain light background. Some photo booths and shops give you a photo code instead of a file; you can use either.
Children
Children under 6 do not need a plain expression, and babies under 1 may have their eyes closed. Nobody else should be in the photo, and toys or a supporting hand must not be visible.
How this tool helps
The tool crops your photo to the exact size above at 300 DPI, so a print comes out at the right physical size, and it can fill a 4 × 6 inch sheet with copies and cut lines for a photo shop. For online applications it makes a file with the exact pixel size and file size the form asks for. It cannot judge whether your expression, lighting or pose meets the rules, so check the photo against the list before you submit it.
FixDoks is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government. You submit your application yourself on the official website.