UK Passport Photo: 35×45 mm, 600×750 px Minimum
A printed UK passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. This tool outputs 700 × 900 px — the exact 35:45 shape, and comfortably above the GOV.UK digital minimum of 600 × 750 px. It runs in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded.
Passport photo rules change over time. Always confirm the current requirements with the official issuing authority before you submit. This tool prepares your file; it cannot guarantee acceptance.
Read this before you upload to GOV.UK
The UK has two different photo routes, and mixing them up is one of the most common reasons a photo is rejected:
- Paper application, or printing photos: crop to the 35 × 45 shape. That is what this tool does, and 700 × 900 px prints sharply at that size.
- Online application on GOV.UK: do not crop tightly. GOV.UK wants your head, shoulders and upper body in frame and crops the image itself.
That second rule catches almost everyone out, because it is the opposite of what US and Indian portals ask for. If you are applying online, upload a photo that simply clears 600 × 750 px and 50 KB and let their system do the framing — you may not need to crop at all. If the file is under 50 KB, our compress tool can bring it into range.
Official UK passport photo specifications
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall |
| Digital minimum | 600 px wide × 750 px tall |
| This tool outputs | 700 × 900 px, the exact 35:45 ratio |
| File size | 50 KB minimum, 10 MB maximum |
| Format | JPEG, full colour, unedited |
| Background | Plain light colour — white, cream or light grey |
| Head height, printed | 29 mm to 34 mm, chin to crown |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last month |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, no glasses |
How to make a UK passport photo
- Take or choose a photo from the last month: face the camera squarely, plain light wall, even lighting, no glasses, neutral expression.
- Upload it here — the output is already locked to 700 × 900 px.
- Position the crop so your head and the top of your shoulders sit in frame, with your eyes a little above centre.
- Click Resize & compress, then download your JPEG and print it at 35 × 45 mm.
Why UK passport photos get rejected
- Cropping tightly before uploading to the online GOV.UK service.
- A patterned, shadowed or dark background that fails to contrast with your hair.
- Wearing glasses, or glare and reflections obscuring the eyes.
- Smiling with an open mouth — the expression must be neutral.
- A photo older than one month, even if you look exactly the same.
- Filters, beauty modes or any software editing.
- Hair across the eyes, or the head tilted rather than square to camera.
One honest note: this tool gets the dimensions and file size right, which removes the most common technical rejection. It cannot judge your head position, lighting or expression — no browser tool can. Check your photo against the official rules at gov.uk/photos-for-passports before you submit.
UK passport photo — FAQ
What size is a UK passport photo?
A printed UK passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall. For an online application you upload a digital photo instead, which GOV.UK requires to be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50 KB and 10 MB.
Should I crop my photo before uploading it to GOV.UK?
No. GOV.UK asks you to include your head, shoulders and upper body, and states plainly that the cropping is done for you. Cropping tight to a 35 × 45 head-and-shoulders frame is a common cause of rejection on the online service. Crop to 35 × 45 only when you are printing photos for a paper application.
Does the background have to be white?
No, and this is where UK rules differ from US rules. GOV.UK requires a plain light-coloured background with clear contrast between you and the background. Cream and light grey are both accepted and are often preferred to pure white, because a bright white wall can lose the edge of light hair.
How recent does the photo need to be?
It must be taken within the last month, even if your appearance has not changed. That is the strictest recency rule of any major passport authority — the US allows six months by comparison.
Can I wear glasses in a UK passport photo?
Glasses are not permitted. If you must wear them for medical reasons, your eyes must be clearly visible with no glare, no reflection and no frames crossing the eyes.
Does this tool guarantee my photo will be accepted?
No, and be wary of any tool that claims otherwise. This prepares a file at the correct pixel dimensions and file size, which removes the most common technical rejection. Acceptance also depends on head position, lighting, background and expression — check your result against the official rules on GOV.UK before submitting.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. The photo is cropped and compressed entirely inside your browser. For an identity document that matters — nothing is transmitted, stored or seen by anyone but you.
Passport photo sizes by country
Every country sets its own pixel size, file size and background rules. Each page below locks the tool to that exact official spec.
Other tools
Shot on an iPhone? Convert HEIC to JPG first. Need a different exact size? Use the resize tool.