UK passport photos are 35×45mm — that's 1.38×1.77 inches or 413×531 pixels at 300 DPI. This rectangular format follows the ICAO standard used across most of Europe. The HM Passport Office (HMPO) enforces a narrower head height range (64-76%) than most countries, making UK passport photos among the stricter to get right.
Exact UK Passport Photo Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Width | 35mm / 1.38″ / 413px |
| Height | 45mm / 1.77″ / 531px |
| Aspect ratio | 7:9 |
| Minimum DPI | 300 |
| Digital minimum | 600×750px (HMPO portal) |
| File format | JPEG or PNG |
| File size | 50KB–10MB |
| Background | Light grey |
| Glasses | Conditionally allowed |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
Get a compliant passport photo online
Head Height Requirements for UK Passport Photos
Your head — measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the skull — must occupy 64-76% of the photo's 45mm vertical space.
In concrete terms:
- Minimum (64%): 29mm from chin to crown
- Maximum (76%): 34mm from chin to crown
- Target (70%): approximately 31.5mm — the safest position
- Eye line: Approximately 56% from the bottom of the image
The UK's 64-76% range is narrower than the ICAO default of 60-80%. This means photos that pass in France or Germany (which accept 60-80%) may still fail in the UK if your head is at the lower end of that range. HMPO is stricter about framing — too small or too large, and the photo is rejected.
Glasses and Appearance Rules for UK Passport Photos
The UK is one of the few countries that still conditionally allows glasses in passport photos. The rules:
- Glasses: Allowed if they are prescription glasses with clear (non-tinted) lenses. The frames must not cover any part of your eyes or create glare or reflections. Anti-reflective lenses are strongly recommended. Sunglasses and heavily tinted lenses are not permitted.
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed. No smiling.
- Background: Light grey — not white. This is a distinctive UK requirement that differs from France, the US, and most other countries.
- Hair: Must not cover the face or forehead. Both ears should be visible.
- Head coverings: Only for religious or medical reasons. The full face from forehead to chin must remain visible.
The glasses allowance is notable. Most countries (France, the US, Japan, China, Australia) have banned glasses entirely. The UK, Germany, and Canada are among the few that still permit them conditionally.
UK Passport Photo Digital vs Print Requirements
Digital upload (HMPO portal): Minimum 600×750 pixels in JPEG or PNG format, between 50KB and 10MB. This is more generous than the US portal (exactly 600×600px, max 240KB). The 600×750px floor is higher than the 413×531px you'd get at 300 DPI — HMPO wants extra resolution for biometric processing. Higher resolution files within the 10MB limit are fine.
Print (paper applications): 35×45mm on photographic paper with no border. Two identical printed photos are required. Any high-street photo booth or print service can produce this size.
The 413×531 pixel figure you may see elsewhere is the theoretical minimum at 300 DPI — the actual HMPO portal requires 600×750 pixels as its floor for digital uploads.
UK Passport Photo Size vs Other Countries
| Country | Size | Head height | Background | Glasses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 35×45mm | 64–76% | Light grey | ✅ Conditional |
| France | 35×45mm | 60–80% | White | ❌ Banned |
| Germany | 35×45mm | 60–80% | Light grey | ✅ Conditional |
| United States | 51×51mm | 50–69% | White | ❌ Banned |
| Canada | 50×70mm | 44–51% | White | ✅ Conditional |
| India | 35×35mm | 60–80% | White | ❌ Banned |
| Spain | 26×32mm | 63–78% | White | ❌ Banned |
The UK shares its 35×45mm format with France and Germany, but the background and glasses rules differ. France requires white and bans glasses. Germany matches the UK on grey background and glasses allowance. India shares the same 35mm width but uses a 35×35mm square — the aspect ratios are different.
Where to Get Correctly Sized UK Passport Photos
Post Office photo booths. Available at most Post Office branches across the UK. These machines are pre-programmed with HMPO specifications and produce compliant photos reliably. Cost is typically £5-8. Some branches also offer a "Check and Send" service that verifies your entire application, including the photo.
High-street photo booths. Snappy Snaps, WHSmith, Timpson, and Boots all offer passport photo services. Prices range from £5-15. These are pre-configured for UK specifications.
Supermarket photo booths. Photo-Me booths in Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Asda produce compliant passport photos for around £5-6.
Professional photographers. Studios charge more (£10-25) but can be better for children's photos and for applicants who wear glasses (the photographer can adjust lighting to eliminate glare).
DIY at home. Stand against a light grey wall (not white — this is a common mistake). Use good natural light. Photograph from about 1.5 metres away. Crop to 600×750 pixels minimum and save as JPEG under 10MB.
UK Passport Photo Size for Babies and Children
Children's UK passport photos follow the same 35×45mm size and 64-76% head height requirements.
Infants (under 1 year): Lay the baby on a plain light grey sheet and photograph from directly above. Both eyes should be open. The mouth can be slightly open for very young babies. No dummies, toys, or other people should be visible. The 64-76% head height is harder to achieve with babies — their heads are proportionally larger, so you may need to move the camera further away.
Children (1-5 years): Same rules as adults — neutral expression, eyes open, face centred. Post Office and high-street photo booths handle children's photos, but a professional studio is often easier for toddlers who won't sit still.
All children under 16: UK children's passports are valid for 5 years (vs 10 for adults). This means more frequent renewals and more frequent photos.
Common UK Passport Photo Sizing Mistakes
Using a white background instead of grey. The UK requires a light grey background — not the white used by France, the US, and most other countries. Photos taken for other countries may fail on background alone.
Wrong aspect ratio from phone cameras. Phones default to 4:3 or 16:9 — neither matches the UK's 7:9 ratio. Crop to 7:9 before resizing.
Submitting below 600×750 pixels. Many guides cite 413×531px (the 300 DPI minimum), but the HMPO portal actually requires 600×750px as the minimum for digital uploads. Photos at 413×531 will be rejected online.
Wearing glasses with glare. Glasses are allowed, but any reflection, shadow, or frame covering the eye causes rejection. If in doubt, remove them — it's easier than retaking the photo.
Face too small from selfie distance. Arm's-length selfies produce a face at roughly 50-55% of the frame — below the UK's 64% minimum. Use a tripod or have someone else take the photo.
Verifying Your UK Passport Photo Size
Use our passport photo checker to validate your photo against UK requirements before uploading to the HMPO portal. For background colour rules, see our guide on UK passport photo background requirements. For glasses rules, see UK passport photo glasses guide. View all specifications on the United Kingdom passport photo hub.
