UK passport photo requirements: GOV.UK and HMPO checklist
Every UK biometric passport photo rule: 29-34 mm face, light grey or cream background, no glasses, taken in the last month, no computer alteration.
What HMPO actually checks
UK biometric passport photos follow the spec at gov.uk/photos-for-passports. Three rules stand out: the photo must be recent (taken in the last month), it must not be altered by computer software, and glasses are not allowed. Live spec on our UK passport photo page.
The numbers
- Print size: 35 × 45 mm for a printed photo. A digital photo for an online application is at least 600 × 750 px.
- Face height: 29-34 mm (chin to crown). Larger than the Netherlands (26-30 mm), smaller than Germany (32-36 mm).
- Resolution: our UK file is 600 DPI.
- Background: plain light grey or cream, no patterns.
- Recent: taken within the last month.
- No glasses, even with fully transparent lenses, unless you need them for a medical reason.
- No computer alteration. Face smoothing or beautification can get the photo rejected.
Three avoidable mistakes
- An old photo. A photo you took six weeks ago can be rejected even if it is perfect. Take a new one.
- A white background. It is easy to assume white works everywhere; the UK asks for light grey or cream.
- Visible edits. A beauty filter, smoothing or face restoration can trigger a rejection.
Where you submit it
Apply via gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. You can apply online with a digital photo or on paper with printed photos.
Take it at home
Daylight at a window, plain light wall behind you, phone at eye level. Our AI measures the face height, crops to the 29-34 mm UK range, replaces the background with light grey, and delivers the file at 600 DPI: start your UK passport photo.