A printed UK passport photo is 35 x 45 mm, with the head measuring between 29 and 34 mm from chin to crown. The digital route asks for a photo you upload rather than print, and the rules for the two are not identical. Check GOV.UK for the flow you are actually using before you submit.
The printed UK specification is below. If you are applying online you may be uploading a photo instead of sending one, and that route has its own rules — check which applies to you before you start.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Head height | 29-34 mm (chin to crown) |
| Background | Plain light grey or cream |
| Minimum resolution | 300 DPI for a printed photo |
The UK runs both. A paper application takes printed photographs; the online service takes a photo you upload, and it is checked automatically before you submit. The two are not interchangeable, and the requirements are published separately.
Whichever route you use, the photo must be taken by someone else. Selfies are refused, partly because of the arm in frame and partly because the short lens distance distorts facial proportions.
The UK asks for a plain light grey or cream background rather than white. That is a deliberate choice: against pure white, light hair and pale clothing lose their outline, and an automated check cannot find the edge of the head.
If the only plain wall you have is white, stand further from it and light yourself from the front so the wall falls slightly darker than you do.
Cropping and resizing are fine. Anything that changes how you look is not, and this is the point where a phone can work against you.
This tool helps you crop and prepare a photo. It does not guarantee acceptance by any government, embassy, consulate, airline or application service, and it cannot check the things that get photos rejected in practice — lighting, expression, glare on glasses, or whether the image has been retouched.
Photo rules change, and they can differ by document type, application method and applicant age. Check GOV.UK before you submit: https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements
Last reviewed: August 2026. Requirements can change after that date — the official page above is the authority, not this one.
35 x 45 mm printed, which is the standard European rectangle rather than the square format used by the US.
Between 29 and 34 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. That is a narrower band than most countries publish, so it is worth measuring rather than judging by eye.
A plain light grey or cream background. Pure white is riskier than people expect, because a white wall with no shadow can leave too little contrast at the edge of the head.
The digital application route accepts a photo taken by someone else on a phone, provided it meets the rules on size, sharpness, lighting, expression and background. Selfies are not accepted.
No. Do not smooth skin, reshape features, remove blemishes or replace the background. Crop and resize only, since anything that changes your appearance risks rejection.