Photo booths and shops charge for passport photos, but for many uses you can take one at home with your phone. This guide covers the UK rules and how to use PixOtter's free Passport Photo Maker to get the size right. Your photo is never uploaded.
UK passport photo rules at a glance
| Rule | Online application | Paper form (printed photo) |
|---|---|---|
| Size | At least 600 × 750 pixels | 35 mm wide × 45 mm high |
| File or print | JPG, 50 KB to 10 MB | Professionally printed, not cut from a larger picture |
| Head size | Head, shoulders and upper body visible | Crown to chin 29 mm to 34 mm |
| Background | Plain and light-coloured | Plain cream or light grey |
Source: GOV.UK photos for passports. Rules can change, so check before you apply.
How to take the photo
- Stand in front of a plain light wall, about half a metre away from it so you do not cast a shadow.
- Face a window for soft, even light. Avoid overhead lights that shadow your eyes.
- Ask someone else to take it from about 1.5 metres away, with the camera at eye level. Selfies distort the face.
- Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no glasses unless you have to wear them, hair away from your eyes.
How to size it with PixOtter
- Open the Passport Photo Maker and add the photo.
- Choose the photo type: UK online application, 35 × 45 mm or US 2 × 2 in.
- Drag and zoom so your head fits the red guide. The guide is not included in the download.
- Download the photo, or a 6 × 4 inch sheet with several copies for printing.
PixOtter only crops and resizes. It does not smooth skin, change the background or edit your face, because official photos must not be altered.
Printing a 6 × 4 sheet
For ID cards, travel passes and other less strict uses, print the sheet on 6 × 4 inch (10 × 15 cm) photo paper at 100% or actual size, not "fit to page", then cut along the light lines. Online photo printing services and supermarket kiosks print 6 × 4s cheaply.
Other common sizes
- 35 × 45 mm: UK, Ireland, most of Europe, Schengen visas, Australia and many other countries.
- 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm): US passports and visas, and India.
- UK driving licence: the DVLA online service can reuse your digital passport photo.
Ready to passport photo maker?
Free, private and instant, right in your browser.
Open the Passport Photo Maker tool →Frequently asked questions
Can I use this for a UK passport application online?
Yes. The UK online passport service accepts a digital photo at least 600 × 750 pixels, between 50 KB and 10 MB. Choose UK online application and include your head, shoulders and upper body. The service checks the photo when you upload it.
Can I print my own UK passport photos?
GOV.UK says printed passport photos must be professionally printed and must not be cut down from a larger picture, so for a paper UK passport form use a photo booth or shop. The 35 × 45 mm sheet is useful for ID cards, travel passes, gym and work passes, and other forms that are less strict.
What size is a passport photo in the UK?
35 mm wide by 45 mm high, with your head (crown to chin) between 29 mm and 34 mm tall.