Post Office Passport Photos: Where and How to Get Them
When getting a new UK passport, you need photos that meet the HM Passport Office rules. Compliance-wise, getting them at a post office is a reliable choice—our complete guide will show you how.
Plus, you’ll learn an alternative way to get compliant pictures—instantly from home!
Using this hassle-free method, you’ll be able to get your pictures for £2.95.
Contents
Which Post Offices Do Passport Photos?
As of 2024, there are over 11,500 branches in the United Kingdom, but not every post office has the amenities to take your passport photos.
Yet, you can check if there is a suitable nearby post office that provides the service:
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Go to the Postal Service Website: Open their official branch finder.
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Enter Your Address: Put your postcode, town or street name in the text field, then hit 🔎 to see nearby locations.
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Use the Filter: Click Filter services above the list, go to Passport Applications, select the options you need, and hit Filter branches.
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Pick a Branch: You’ll see a list of your nearby post offices that do passport photos—click on any of them to see the working hours, directions and other details.
How to Get a Passport Photo at a Post Office
Please note: the passport photo service is available only as part of the Passport Check and Send service.
Within this service, the post office employee will take your photo, verify your application and submit it to HMPO. There are two variations of Check and Send:
- Digital: For online applications.
- Paper: For those applying with a paper form.
The process will vary depending on which one you choose.
Digital
- Find a Suitable Branch: Use the store locator (note that at some branches you need to make an appointment first).
ㅤ - Come to the Post Office: If you’re renewing your passport, don’t forget to bring the old one (if there were any changes since, bring proof). In case it’s your first passport, you’ll only need your birth, adoption or naturalisation certificate.
ㅤ - Let the Staff Serve You: They’ll take your photo, check your supporting documents, and fill out and submit your electronic application.
ㅤ - Get Your New Passport by Post: HMPO will text and email you through all the application process steps—in the end, you’ll get your passport by post (usually, it takes no more than 3 weeks).
Paper
When using this option, you need to complete your application form yourself—and take it to a participating branch along with the aforementioned supporting documents.
Then, the process will be roughly the same as the digital one. The staff will take your photo, check your paper application form, and send it off to HMPO.
But there’s also a workaround regarding your pictures.
When using the Paper Check & Send, you can bring your own compliant photos.
ㅤFor example, you can save money and take them using our service—the post office will accept them with no problem.
ㅤGet Photos Now
How Much Are Passport Photos at the Post Office?
The Digital Check and Send is £16, while the Paper version of the service costs £16 plus an extra fee for printing (or you can get photos here for £2.95 and print them out yourself to avoid paying £16+).
Please note: all these are payable to the post office on top of the usual passport application fee!
If you’d like to get the same photos but at a lower price (and without the Check and Send fee), try our quick service—we guarantee acceptance!
ㅤGet Compliant Photos Now
How to Get Passport Photos for £2.95
In case you’re not sure you need the whole Check and Send service, there are cost-effective alternatives.
Take our PhotoBooth Online service, for example.
Here’s how it works: you take and upload any photo of yourself, we convert it into the passport photo format and double-check it against the rules—and you get a 100% valid passport picture!
If you’re doubtful, please note that we guarantee acceptance by HMPO—and offer a 60-day money-back guarantee as well.
Let’s compare it with the traditional method.
PhotoBooth Online vs. Post Office Passport Photo
It only takes 3 easy steps to use our service:
- Take a Regular Picture: Use your smartphone to take an ordinary photo of yourself. This photo can have any size and background—as long as you look straight at the camera and your face is evenly lit without any shadows.
ㅤ - Upload the Picture Here: To do that, use the button below. In an instant, we’ll convert your picture to the approved passport format—it’ll become a valid 35×45 background-free passport photo.
ㅤ - Download Digital Passport Pictures or Order Prints: Get the digital package (a printable digital photo plus a code redeemable at gov.uk) or have 8 prints delivered to you (in this case, you’ll get a digital copy plus code anyway).
Thousands of people in the UK have already used PhotoBooth Online—here are their reviews from TrustPilot:
Summary
Similarly to well-known services like Boots passport photos, the post office remains a tried-and-tested option to handle your UK passport application and pictures. Still, this method can also be time-consuming and costly.
Alternatively, PhotoBooth Online provides a quicker and more money-saving solution, handling the entire passport photo process for you. Plus, it works for documents from other countries.
Hit the button below to try it now!
Frequently Asked Questions
How does your service work exactly?
Simply upload a regular photo you’ve taken yourself!
It can be any size—even if it’s a full-length picture, we’ll just crop it to the standard 35x45mm passport size.
You don’t need a plain background either; whether it shows your room, a street, or any other setting, we’ll replace it with the required light background for UK passport photos.
In other words, we’ll handle everything for you! Watch this video to see how easy the process is: