United Kingdom Passport
Last verified 2026-05-31 against HM Passport Office (GOV.UK)Standards: ICAO Doc 9303 · ISO/IEC 19794-5Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 600 × 771 px
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm · 435 DPI
- Background
- grey#D3D3D3
- Face height
- 64–76% · target 70%
- Eye line
- 55%–66% from bottom
- File size limit
- 10 MB
Note: Plain light grey or cream background; head 29–34 mm; glasses not permitted; taken within last month
Dimensions
- Print size: 35 × 45 mm, aspect ratio 7:9 (printed photo for paper applications)
- Pixel size: 600 × 771 px (≈ 7:9, matches the print aspect; clears GOV.UK's ≥600 × 750 digital minimum)
- DPI: ≈ 435 DPI
- File / size: GOV.UK does not mandate a file format; the digital photo must be at least 600 × 750 px and between 50 KB and 10 MB. (JPEG is the common format but is not a stated GOV.UK requirement.) We output 600 × 771 so the same image satisfies the digital minimum and prints at a true 35 × 45 mm without distortion — GOV.UK publishes the digital minimum (4:5) and the printed size (7:9) independently.
- Color mode: sRGB color only
Head position
- Head height (chin to crown): 29–34 mm
- Head height as fraction of frame: ≈ 64%–76% (slightly lower than the ICAO 70%–80% default, matching HMPO's published 29–34 mm band)
- Head position: Directly facing camera; head upright, no tilt
- Shoulders: Square to camera
Background
- Color: Plain light grey or cream — not pure white (HMPO explicitly requires a plain light-grey or cream background)
- Requirements: No shadows, no objects, no other people behind the subject
Expression
- Expression must be neutral, mouth closed
- Both eyes open and clearly visible, looking at the camera
- Eyes must not be covered by hair
Accessories
- Eyeglasses: NOT permitted unless you must wear them — in which case eyes must be fully visible with no glare and the frames must not cover the eyes. Removing glasses is the safe default.
- Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
- Head coverings: Permitted for religious or medical reasons; the full face from chin to forehead must be visible
- Hats / non-religious head coverings: Prohibited
Other rules
- Photo must be taken within the last month and reflect current appearance
- No digital alterations, filters, or beautification
- Plain expression, even lighting, no red-eye
Notes
- Background is the key differentiator: UK requires plain light grey or cream, not white — the photo is composited onto light grey, not white.
- The 29–34 mm head band runs slightly lower than ICAO 9303's biometric default (≈ 70%–80%), so the head sits a little smaller in the frame than for an Australian or Schengen photo.
Sources
What background colour does a UK passport photo need?
A plain light grey or cream background — not pure white. This is the most common reason UK passport photos are rejected, so check the background carefully.
Can I wear glasses in my UK passport photo?
It is best to remove them. Glasses are only allowed if you must wear them, and then your eyes must be fully visible with no glare and the frames must not cover your eyes. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are never allowed.
Can I wear a head covering in the photo?
Head coverings are permitted for religious or medical reasons, as long as the full face from chin to forehead is visible. Other hats and coverings are not allowed.
Can I smile in a UK passport photo?
No — keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, looking straight at the camera.
How recent and what size does the UK passport photo need to be?
Taken within the last month. Print size 35 × 45 mm; digital photos must be at least 600 × 750 px and between 50 KB and 10 MB. Head height should be 29–34 mm on a plain light grey or cream background.
Live validation
against the actual rulebook.
Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."
The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.
- Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
- Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
- File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
- Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.
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