UK passport photo: the digital rules, the photo code, and what delays applications
Two rules catch people out on a UK passport application, and neither is about how you look.
The first is that the photo has to be new. GOV.UK states it plainly: “You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed”, and “Your photo must have been taken in the last month.” A good photo from two years ago is not usable, however well it matches the other rules.
The second is the background. It is not white. The printed-photo rules ask for “a plain cream or light grey background”, and the digital rules for “a plain light-coloured background”.
GOV.UK also says what happens if you get it wrong: “Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.”
Digital or printed — which set of rules applies
The two application routes have different photo rules, and mixing them up is a common mistake.
- Applying online — you need a digital photo.
- Applying on a paper form — you need 2 identical printed photos.
The rest of this page covers the digital route first, because that is the one most people use now.
The digital photo rules
GOV.UK sets these out as two short lists. On quality, the photo must be:
- clear and in focus
- in colour
- unaltered by computer software
- at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
- at least 50KB and no more than 10MB
On what it shows, the digital photo must:
- contain no other objects or people
- be taken against a plain light-coloured background
- be in clear contrast to the background
- not have ‘red eye’
And one instruction that is easy to skim past: if you are using a photo taken on your own device, “include your head, shoulders and upper body”. That is a wider frame than a printed passport photo, which is a close-up of the head and upper shoulders. If you crop a self-taken photo down to a tight head-and-shoulders picture before uploading, you are working against the instruction.
Note the sizes are minimums, not targets. There is no maximum pixel dimension published on that page, and the file-size range is wide.
The photo code, and why it exists
There are two ways to get a digital photo for an online application: from a booth or shop before you start, or by taking one on your own device during the application.
If you use a booth or shop, you choose the option to get a code with your photos, and you enter that code during the application. The photo is then attached for you.
GOV.UK is direct about the difference between the two routes:
“Photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than a photo taken using your own device.”
GOV.UK sets out both routes on the same page, and the published requirements above are the same either way. It also says you will need someone to help you take a photo on your own device, so plan for a second pair of hands rather than a mirror.
That sentence is the official comparison, and it is worth weighing against your own circumstances — a delayed application costs more if you are travelling soon.
If you do take your own, this is what PhotoSpec does, as a description rather than a promise about the outcome: it shows the UK figures published above before you shoot, guides the framing by voice, and checks the photo before you save. It crops rather than editing the picture, which is relevant here because GOV.UK asks for a photo unaltered by software. The photo is processed on your phone and stays there — it is not uploaded to us and we do not keep a copy. Whether a photo is approved is decided by HM Passport Office on the application.
If you are applying on paper
The printed rules are stricter about size, and they are measured twice: once for the paper, once for your head.
| Item | Published rule |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 45 mm high × 35 mm wide |
| Number | 2 identical photos |
| Image of you | Crown of head to chin, between 29 mm and 34 mm high |
| Paper | Plain white photographic paper, no border |
| Background | Plain cream or light grey |
The photos must also be printed to a professional standard, clear and in focus, in colour, without creases or tears, unmarked on both sides unless a photo needs to be countersigned, and “unaltered by computer software”. They must not be a cut-down version of a larger picture. When you post them, they go in loose — separated from each other and not attached to the form.
Our UK passport photo size page lists the millimetre and pixel values side by side, and the size converter will do the arithmetic if you are working to a different target.
What the photo has to show
These apply on both routes. The photo must be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders, with no other objects or people, taken against the plain background and in clear contrast to it. In it, you must:
- be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
- have a plain expression and your mouth closed
- have your eyes open and visible
- not have hair in front of your eyes
- not have a head covering, unless it is for religious or medical reasons
- not have anything covering your face
- not have any shadows on your face or behind you
Glasses. GOV.UK says do not wear glasses unless you have to. If you must, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames or by any glare, reflection or shadow. Taking them off is the simpler path.
Babies and children
The rules relax with age, and the relaxations are specific:
- Children must be on their own in the picture.
- Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.
- Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.
- Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support the head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.
Before you upload — the short version
- The photo was taken in the last month, and it is a new photo for this passport.
- Plain light-coloured background, not white, with clear contrast and no shadows behind you.
- Head, shoulders and upper body if you took it yourself.
- Facing forwards, plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and unobstructed.
- At least 600 × 750 pixels, between 50KB and 10MB.
- No software editing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reuse the photo from my last passport?
No. GOV.UK states that you must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed, and that the photo must have been taken in the last month.
Does a UK passport photo need a white background?
No. The printed rules ask for a plain cream or light grey background, and the digital rules for a plain light-coloured background. What matters alongside the colour is that you are in clear contrast to it.
What is a passport photo code?
It is the code a booth or shop gives you with a digital photo. You enter it during the online application and the photo is attached to your application. GOV.UK says photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than one taken on your own device.
How big does the digital photo have to be?
At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB. Those are the published limits on the digital photos page.
Can I edit the photo to fix the lighting?
The published rule is that the photo must be unaltered by computer software. Fix the lighting by moving, not by editing afterwards.
What happens if the photo does not meet the rules?
GOV.UK states that your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.
Sources
Everything here comes from the issuing authority’s own pages. Where the official wording is ambiguous or differs between documents we have said so rather than picked a number. Our sourcing policy is described in sources and verification.
- GOV.UK — Get a passport photo: Digital photos: gov.uk/photos-for-passports
- GOV.UK — Get a passport photo: Printed photos: gov.uk/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements
Last checked 10 September 2026. Rules change — check the authority before you submit.