UK Passport Photo Size: Official HMPO Requirements

Get your UK passport photo size wrong and His Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) will reject your application outright. The rules are specific: exact millimetre dimensions, a defined window for face height, background colour requirements, and digital upload specs that differ from print specs. This guide covers every requirement so your photo passes first time.

UK Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Exact Dimensions: MM and Pixels

The official UK passport photo size is 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. This is the same format used across most of Europe — including Schengen visa applications — so if you have been through the Schengen visa photo process, you already know this shape.

At 300 DPI (the standard for print), that translates to 413 × 531 pixels. At higher resolutions:

For digital online applications through GOV.UK, the pixel requirements differ from print. HMPO requires a minimum of 600 × 750 pixels, with a maximum file size of 10 MB in JPEG format. The minimum is well above the 300 DPI print equivalent — shoot at higher resolution if you plan to submit digitally.

Resize your photo to the exact pixel dimensions using Pixotter's resize tool. Set width to 413 and height to 531 for print, or 600 × 750 for the online portal minimum.

Face Position and Head Size Requirements

HMPO specifies that the face must take up 70–80% of the frame height. In practical terms, the distance from your chin to the crown of your head must measure 29 mm to 34 mm in the printed photo.

Translated to the 300 DPI pixel equivalent:

Head position rules:

• Face the camera directly — no three-quarter angle, no chin tilted down or up
• Both eyes fully visible and at the same horizontal level
• Head centered in the frame horizontally
• No head coverings (religious head coverings worn daily are permitted)

Crown clearance: Leave a small gap between the top of your head and the top edge of the photo — approximately 2–4 mm. Too much empty space above the head pushes the face below the required zone.

Background Requirements

HMPO requires a plain white or light grey background. No patterns, no texture, no shadows. The background must be consistent across the entire image — a shadow cast by the subject on the background wall is grounds for rejection.

If your photo has the wrong background, Pixotter's background removal tool strips the existing background and lets you replace it with plain white. Then resize to the correct dimensions and you are done.

Lighting matters too. Photograph against a wall or sheet that is actually white (not cream or off-white). Use even front lighting — a window facing you, or two lamps at 45-degree angles. Avoid flash pointed directly at a close wall, which creates a hot spot on the background.

Expression and Appearance Rules

Expression: Neutral, relaxed face. Mouth closed. No smiling, no frowning, no raised eyebrows. HMPO's automated photo checker flags unnatural expressions.

Eyes: Open, looking directly at the camera lens. Both eyes must be clearly visible. If you wear contact lenses with visible tints or patterns, remove them — lenses that alter natural eye colour are not permitted.

Glasses: Not allowed. HMPO banned glasses from UK passport photos in November 2016. This applies to all glasses — prescription lenses, reading glasses, tinted lenses, and sunglasses. The only exception is a signed letter from a doctor certifying that you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons.

Hair and accessories: Hair should not cover the face. Headbands and decorative hair clips worn across the forehead can cause rejection if they obscure any part of the face outline. Hearing aids and other medical devices are permitted.

Digital Upload Specs for the GOV.UK Online Application

The online passport application through GOV.UK uses different specs from print:

The GOV.UK portal accepts a slightly warmer background than print — "plain cream" is listed alongside white and light grey. The face position and expression rules are identical.

File size: JPEG compression means most passport-sized photos come in well under 10 MB. If yours is larger, use Pixotter's image compression tool to reduce file size without visible quality loss.

Submitting a digital photo: During the online application, GOV.UK asks whether you are uploading a digital photo or having someone else confirm your photo. Uploading directly is the faster route. The portal applies automated checks — if it rejects your photo, the rejection message specifies which rule failed, so you can fix and resubmit.

Children's Passport Photos

Children under 16 must follow the same core rules as adults with one important difference: babies and infants do not need to keep their mouths closed. For young children who cannot hold a neutral expression reliably, HMPO allows a natural, relaxed expression — including a slight open mouth.

Practical adjustments for children:

• Lay babies on a white sheet and photograph from directly above — keep the camera parallel to the face to avoid distortion
• For toddlers, photograph at eye level; do not tilt the camera down
• Remove dummies (pacifiers) and large hair clips before taking the photo
• The same 35×45mm dimensions and 29–34mm face height requirement apply

For babies: the face tends to fill a larger proportion of the frame naturally. Check that the face height measurement still falls within the 29–34mm window — an overly close crop fails the same way an adult photo does.

Children's passport applications also require a countersignatory (a person who has known the child for at least two years and holds a valid British or Irish passport or another acceptable form of ID). The countersignatory signs and dates the back of one of the two printed photos.

How to Prepare Your Photo Step by Step

1. Take the photo — plain white wall, face the camera directly, neutral expression, no glasses
2. Check face height — measure chin-to-crown against the 29–34mm window (or 343–402px at 300 DPI)
3. Remove the background if it is not perfectly white — use Pixotter's background removal tool
4. Resize to the correct dimensions — 413×531px for print, 600×750px minimum for digital — use Pixotter's resize tool
5. Check file format and size — JPEG, under 10 MB for digital submissions
6. Compress if needed — use Pixotter's compression tool if the file exceeds 10 MB

All three steps can be done in sequence in Pixotter without leaving your browser. Your image never leaves your device.

UK vs Other Passport Photo Sizes

Applying for multiple travel documents? Different countries use different formats:

UK and Australian passport photos share the same 35×45mm dimensions. The face height windows are close but not identical — do not assume one compliant photo works for both without checking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UK passport photo size in mm?

The official UK passport photo size is 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. Both photos submitted with a postal application must be identical and measure exactly 35×45mm. The post office or pharmacy's photo booth will produce the correct size automatically if you specify a UK passport format.

What is the UK passport photo size in pixels?

At 300 DPI, the UK passport photo size is 413 × 531 pixels. For digital online applications through GOV.UK, HMPO requires a minimum of 600 × 750 pixels in JPEG format. Submit at the higher resolution where possible — it gives the automated checker more data to work with.

Are glasses allowed in UK passport photos?

No. HMPO banned glasses from UK passport photos in November 2016. All types of glasses are excluded, including clear prescription lenses. If you cannot remove glasses for a medical reason, you need a signed letter from a doctor — but this is rare. Simply remove your glasses for the photo.

What background colour is required for a UK passport photo?

HMPO requires a plain white or light grey background for printed photos. The GOV.UK online portal also accepts plain cream. The background must be uniform — no shadows, patterns, or objects in the frame. If your background is wrong, remove and replace it before resizing.

How recent does a UK passport photo need to be?

HMPO requires passport photos to have been taken within the last month. This is stricter than most countries (Canada and Australia allow 6 months). If your existing passport photo is more than a month old, take a new one.

What is the face height in a UK passport photo?

The distance from your chin to the crown of your head must measure 29 mm to 34 mm in the printed photo. That equates to roughly 343–402 pixels at 300 DPI. Face height under 29mm or over 34mm will cause rejection.

Can I smile in my UK passport photo?

No. HMPO requires a neutral expression with your mouth closed. The automated photo checker used by the GOV.UK portal specifically flags smiling expressions. Keep your face relaxed, eyes open, and look straight at the camera.

Do children need a different photo format?

No — the 35×45mm size and 29–34mm face height requirement apply to all ages. The only exception is that babies and young infants do not need to keep their mouths closed. For babies, lay them on a white sheet and photograph from directly above to keep the camera parallel to the face.