UK passport & UK visa photo

Digital UK passport and visa photos must be at least 600 × 750 pixels and over 50 KB, on a plain light background. Printed passport photos are 45 × 35 mm on cream or light grey.

Digital photo (passport online / visa) — 50–6000 KB · min 600 × 750 px

• JPEG, at least 600 × 750 px; 50 KB – 10 MB (passport) or 50 KB – 6 MB (visa)
• Plain light-coloured background (cream or light grey) with clear contrast; no shadows or red-eye
• Face the camera and look straight at it; plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no hair over the eyes
• Visa: not mirrored, not a scan or photo of another photo, and not the photo already in your passport or ID card
• Passport: taken in the last month; head, shoulders and upper body only, no other people or objects

Printed passport photo 45 × 35 mm — 35 × 45 mm

• Two identical photos, 45 mm high × 35 mm wide (only one if your renewal needs no countersignature)
• Head (crown to chin) 29–34 mm; plain cream or light grey background; taken in the last month
• Professionally printed in colour on plain white photo paper, no border, no creases, unmarked on both sides

Other rules

• Glasses only if necessary, never tinted, no glare.
• UK photos must not be digitally altered, so Official-ready keeps your original background and face — it only frames, sizes and checks the photo.

Official sources (last checked 2 Nov 2026)

• GOV.UK — Get a passport photo (9 Sep 2026)
• HM Passport Office photo standards (4 Mar 2026)
• UKVI — Take a photo for a visa application (4 Aug 2026)

Questions

What size is a UK digital passport photo?

At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, JPEG, between 50 KB and 10 MB.

Can a UK passport photo have a white background?

Printed UK passport photos must be on plain cream or light grey. Digital photos need a plain light-coloured background.

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