A UK passport photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, with the head measuring 29 to 34 mm from the chin to the crown and a plain cream or light grey background. This page opens the photo maker set to those rules, so the head guides and the background colour match HM Passport Office's requirements.
Your photo is edited inside your browser. It is not uploaded to this site, which keeps a picture of your face where it belongs.
How to make a UK passport photo
- Country and Document are already set to United Kingdom and Passport.
- Drop a photo taken within the last month, facing forwards, with a plain expression.
- Let Auto-fit size the head, or drag and zoom until the guides turn green at 29 to 34 mm.
- Keep Background on "As required" for light grey, then select "Make photo".
- Use the online copy to apply online, or print the sheet for a paper form.
The rules in brief
- Size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm high.
- Head: 29 to 34 mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown.
- Background: plain cream or light grey, with no shadows.
- Taken within the last month; plain expression, mouth closed.
- No glasses unless you have to wear them.
- Paper forms need 2 identical prints. Online: at least 600 px wide, JPEG from 50 KB to 10 MB.
Online or on paper
Applying online is the usual route, and the online copy made here meets the size and file rules. For a paper form you need two identical printed photos, and someone who knows you may need to countersign one. The details are on GOV.UK's photo rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can the background be white?
The UK asks for plain cream or light grey. "As required" uses light grey, which avoids a pale face blending into a pure white background.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last month, and it should look like you now.
Is the UK size the same as the Schengen size?
The paper size is the same 35 × 45 mm, but the head range and background differ. Use the Schengen visa photo page for Schengen visas.