United Kingdom passport photo size & requirements

United Kingdom passport photo requirements

• Photo must be 35 x 45 mm (the standard size; do not crop it yourself for online applications).
• Plain light-grey or cream background with no patterns or objects.
• Distance from crown to chin must be between 29 mm and 34 mm.
• Neutral expression with mouth closed; eyes open and clearly visible.
• No glasses if you can avoid them; never wear tinted glasses.
• No head coverings unless worn for religious or medical reasons.

Common reasons United Kingdom passport photos get rejected

Even a technically correct photo can be turned away for these issues. They come up repeatedly in official rejection notices.

• Head height below 29 mm — the most common UK rejection reason. Many photo booths and apps crop the face too small.
• Shadows on the face or background — HMPO's automated checker specifically tests for shadows and will reject even subtle shadow gradients.
• Glasses worn in the photo — HMPO guidance strongly discourages glasses and the online checker will flag any glare.
• Head tilted or rotated, even slightly — the HMPO biometric check measures facial alignment precisely.
• Background that is patterned, coloured, or has visible objects — a plain curtain or wall with subtle texture will fail.
• Photo that is not taken against a cream or light-grey background — a white background, while acceptable, may trigger a recheck on the automated system.
• Eyes obscured by hair or glasses frames.

Make your United Kingdom passport photo

The tool below is preset to 35 x 45 mm. Crop, fix the background, and download — free and private.

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Country & size

United States — 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)Albania — 35 x 45 mmAustralia — 35 x 45 mmBrazil — 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 inCanada — 50 x 70 mmChina — 33 x 48 mmFrance — 35 x 45 mmGermany — 35 x 45 mmIceland — 35 x 45 mmIndia — 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in)Ireland — 35 x 45 mmItaly — 35 x 45 mmJapan — 35 x 45 mmLuxembourg — 35 x 45 mmMalaysia — 35 x 50 mmNetherlands — 35 x 45 mmNew Zealand — 35 x 45 mmNigeria — 35 x 45 mmNorway — 35 x 45 mmPakistan — 35 x 45 mmPhilippines — 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in)Russia — 35 x 45 mmSaudi Arabia — 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)Schengen / EU — 35 x 45 mmSingapore — 35 x 45 mmSouth Africa — 35 x 45 mmSouth Korea — 35 x 45 mmSpain — 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mmSwitzerland — 35 x 45 mmThailand — 35 x 45 mmTurkey — 50 x 60 mmUnited Arab Emirates — 43 x 55 mmUnited Kingdom — 35 x 45 mmVietnam — 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm) Custom / Manual size — set your own

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Other countries

United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Albania 35 x 45 mm Australia 35 x 45 mm Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in Canada 50 x 70 mm China 33 x 48 mm France 35 x 45 mm Germany 35 x 45 mm Iceland 35 x 45 mm India 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in) Ireland 35 x 45 mm Italy 35 x 45 mm Japan 35 x 45 mm Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm Malaysia 35 x 50 mm Netherlands 35 x 45 mm New Zealand 35 x 45 mm Nigeria 35 x 45 mm Norway 35 x 45 mm Pakistan 35 x 45 mm Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) Russia 35 x 45 mm Saudi Arabia 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm Singapore 35 x 45 mm South Africa 35 x 45 mm South Korea 35 x 45 mm Spain 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm Switzerland 35 x 45 mm Thailand 35 x 45 mm Turkey 50 x 60 mm United Arab Emirates 43 x 55 mm Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)