UK passport photos must meet detailed specifications set by HM Passport Office. Photos can be supplied digitally for online applications or as 35mm by 45mm prints for postal applications. HMPO's automated checks reject around one in twenty photos on first upload, and a rejected photo holds up the entire application. This guide covers the dimensions, background, lighting, expression, head position, and rules on glasses and head coverings, plus the practical options for getting a compliant photo through booths, pharmacies, and digital apps. It is informational only. Verify current rules directly with GOV.UK before submitting.
TL;DR: The 60-Second Answer
- Paper photos must be 35mm wide by 45mm tall, in colour, taken within the last month.- Background must be plain light grey or cream, with no patterns or shadows.
- Expression must be neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera.
- Glasses are not permitted on UK passport photos as of 2018.
- Religious head coverings are allowed if the full face is visible from chin to crown.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from GOV.UK
Dimensions and Format
Paper photos for postal applications must measure 35 millimetres wide by 45 millimetres tall, in colour, printed on high-quality photographic paper. Two identical prints are required. The print must be unmarked, undamaged, and not folded.
Digital photos for online applications must be at least 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall and no more than 10 megabytes in file size. JPEG is the accepted format. The face must occupy between 29 and 34 millimetres of the photo vertically when viewed at print size, measured from chin to crown of the head.
The photo must be in sharp focus, clearly defined, with continuous tone quality. Pixellated, blurry, or over-compressed images are rejected by HMPO's automated checks. Photos taken on a modern smartphone camera held by the photographer (not a self-portrait selfie) typically meet the resolution and focus requirements without further adjustment.
Black-and-white photos are not accepted. Faded photos, photos with red-eye, photos with visible printer dot patterns, and photos that have been resized to fit the dimensions are all rejected. HMPO's automated checks are run within minutes of upload on the online service.
Background, Lighting, and Composition
The background must be plain light grey or cream. White is acceptable for digital uploads but not preferred. Patterned backgrounds, walls with visible texture, gradient backgrounds, and any other people or objects in the frame are all rejected.
Lighting must be even across the face. Strong shadows on one side of the face, shadows behind the head, and visible camera flash reflections are common reasons for rejection. The light source should be in front of the subject, not above or to one side. Natural light from a window, with the subject facing the window, produces good results when artificial lighting is not available.
The face must be centred in the frame. The head must take up most of the photo vertically, with a small space above the crown of the head and the chin sitting just above the lower edge. Shoulders should be visible at the bottom of the frame but should not dominate.
HMPO's automated checks include a face-detection algorithm that confirms the face is properly positioned. Photos where the head is tilted, where the face is not centred, or where the face is too small or too large in the frame are rejected.
Expression, Eyes, and Mouth
The expression must be neutral. No smile, no frown, no raised eyebrows. The mouth must be closed, with lips relaxed. Eyes must be open, looking directly at the camera, with no head tilt up, down, or sideways.
Hair must not cross the face or cover the eyes. Long fringes that fall over the eyes must be moved aside. Hair behind the ears is acceptable; the photo does not require ears to be visible. For long hair, the photo should show the natural fall of hair as long as it does not obscure the face.
Red-eye is grounds for rejection. Modern smartphones and most photo booths suppress red-eye automatically. Photos taken with older flash equipment that produces red-eye must be retaken rather than digitally corrected.
Closed eyes (for the most part), squinting, partially open mouth, and exaggerated expressions are all reasons for rejection. The exception is for babies under one, who may be photographed with eyes closed if open-eye photos are impractical.
Glasses, Head Coverings, and Religious Considerations
Glasses are not permitted on UK passport photos since the rule changed in 2018. This applies to prescription glasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, and clear protective eyewear. Applicants who normally wear glasses must remove them for the photo. Contact lenses are permitted.
The 2018 rule change was driven by concerns about reflections on lens surfaces, glare obscuring the eyes, and the variability of glasses styles affecting automated identity comparison. The rule applies to all UK passports issued under the current scheme regardless of medical need.
Religious head coverings are permitted on the condition that the full face is visible from the chin to the crown of the head. The face must be unobscured. Common acceptable coverings include hijab, turban, yarmulke, and kufi. Niqab and face veils that obscure facial features are not acceptable for passport photos. Hospital head coverings and chemotherapy headwear are also permitted under the same visibility rule.
Medical head coverings worn for religious reasons can be combined with the rule above. Applicants with specific medical or religious requirements that do not fit the standard rules can contact HMPO before applying to confirm acceptability.
Where to Get a UK Passport Photo
High-street photo booths offer the cheapest route, typically £5 to £7 for a set of four prints suitable for paper applications. Major booth operators include Photo-Me, Snappy Snaps, and station-based booths in transport hubs. Many booths offer a digital code service that uploads the photo directly to HMPO's online application for an additional fee of £3 to £5.
Pharmacy passport photo services are commonly £6 to £10. Boots, Superdrug, and most independent pharmacies offer passport photo printing with a colleague reviewing the photo for compliance before printing. The pharmacy service is usually slower than a booth but produces consistently compliant photos.
Photography studios offer a higher-end service at £10 to £25, with professional lighting and the option of multiple retakes. This route makes sense for difficult cases: children who struggle with booth photos, applicants with specific medical needs, or applicants whose previous photos have been rejected.
Digital photo apps such as Passport Photo Online and ID Photo App produce HMPO-compliant photos taken on a smartphone, with prices ranging from £5 to £15. The apps run automated checks before producing the final image. Photos produced by apps can be uploaded directly to the HMPO online application.
Common Reasons HMPO Rejects Photos
The most common reason for rejection is shadows on the background or face, accounting for the majority of automated rejections. The fix is even lighting, ideally from the front, with the subject standing far enough from the background that no shadows fall on it.
The second common reason is incorrect head size or position in the frame. The face must be between 29 and 34 millimetres tall, centred, with the head straight. Photos that crop too tight on the head, leave too much space above the head, or show the head tilted are rejected.
Background problems are the third common issue. Pattern walls, gradient lighting on the background, and stray objects in the frame all trigger rejection. A plain light grey or cream backdrop, well-lit and free of texture, is the safest choice.
Expression rejections happen with smiles, partial smiles, squinting, and any visible teeth. The neutral expression with closed mouth is a deliberate choice that simplifies automated face comparison at border posts. Photos taken at booths where the photographer says "smile" by mistake will be rejected.
Editorial Disclaimer
Content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute regulated immigration, legal or financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and does not provide regulated immigration advice. Rules, fees and processing times change without notice. Verify current information directly with GOV.UK, HM Passport Office, or an OISC-registered adviser before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact dimensions for a UK passport photo?
Paper photos must measure 35 millimetres wide by 45 millimetres tall, with the face occupying 29 to 34 millimetres vertically from chin to crown. Digital photos must be at least 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall, in JPEG format, no more than 10 megabytes. The photo must be in colour, in sharp focus, taken within the last month, and printed or uploaded without any cropping or resizing that distorts the dimensions.
Can I wear glasses in my UK passport photo?
No. The rule changed in 2018 to disallow all glasses on UK passport photos. Prescription glasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, and clear protective eyewear are all excluded. The change was driven by concerns about reflections, glare on lenses, and the variability of glasses styles affecting automated identity comparison. Contact lenses are permitted. Applicants who normally wear glasses must remove them for the photo, regardless of medical need.
Can I take my own UK passport photo at home?
Yes, on the condition that the photo meets all HMPO specifications: dimensions, background, lighting, expression, head position. Photos taken on a modern smartphone with the photographer holding the camera (not a selfie) typically pass HMPO's automated checks if the subject stands against a plain light wall with even front lighting. Digital photo apps marketed for passport applications add a compliance check before producing the final image, reducing the chance of rejection.
Are head coverings allowed in UK passport photos?
Religious head coverings are permitted on the condition that the full face is visible from chin to crown. Hijab, turban, yarmulke, and kufi are acceptable when worn in a way that does not obscure the face. Niqab and face veils that obscure facial features are not acceptable. Medical head coverings worn during chemotherapy or for other clinical reasons are also permitted under the same visibility rule. HMPO can confirm acceptability of specific cases on request.
How much does a UK passport photo cost in 2026?
Photo booths charge £5 to £7 for a set of paper prints, with digital code services adding £3 to £5. Pharmacy photo services charge £6 to £10 with colleague review before printing. Photography studios charge £10 to £25 for professional lighting and multiple retakes. Digital photo apps charge £5 to £15 to produce a compliant photo from a smartphone shot. The cheapest legitimate route is a booth photo at around £5; the most reliable is a pharmacy or studio service that catches compliance issues before printing.
What happens if HMPO rejects my photo?
HMPO emails the applicant with the reason for rejection and the option to upload a replacement. The application is on hold until a compliant photo is supplied. Online applications can have a new photo uploaded directly. Postal applications require new prints to be sent in by tracked mail. A rejected photo typically adds three to five working days to the application timeline, plus the time required to retake and upload or print the new photo.
How we verified this
Photo dimensions, format requirements, glasses rule, and head covering rules cited above were taken from the GOV.UK Photos for passports service and the linked Your photo guidance, both reviewed in May 2026. The 2018 glasses rule change is documented in HMPO operational guidance published on GOV.UK.
