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Digital Passport Photo Service: F.A.Q.

1. How much is your passport photo service?

   The total price depends on the package you choose. Currently, we offer two options:
    

   • DIGITAL: Includes a digital picture, a photo code, and a printable template—for £2.95
   • DIGITAL + 8 PRINTS: Includes all of the above plus 8 passport photos printed on high-quality paper—for £6.95 (the delivery is free)

    
   Whatever option you choose, you can pay either with your credit/debit card or PayPal / Google Pay.

2. How soon will I get my passport pictures?

   If you choose digital photos (a JPEG file, a photo code, and/or a printable template), you’ll be able to download them right after payment. Plus, we’ll instantly send a copy to your email.
    
   If you order prints, they will be delivered to you within 2-5 working days (by Royal Mail).

3. What if my photo is rejected?

   99.7% of the pictures made here are approved by His Majesty’s Passport Office—but, in the unlikely case that your photo gets rejected, contact us at hello@photobooth.online. We’ll offer you two options:
    

   • Immediate Refund: The full amount will be transferred back to your credit/debit card or PayPal wallet.
   • Free Retake: Get a new passport picture free of charge—with an additional double-check by a human expert.

4. What picture do I have to upload?

   Just take a photo of yourself (or ask someone to take it for you) using any digital camera—for example, the one on your phone. Make sure that your head and shoulders are fully visible (also, leave some space above your head).
    
   The dimensions, aspect ratio, and background can be anything (we’ll edit them for you), but all other passport photo requirements must be met.

5. There are 5 enhancement options, which do I choose?

   You can choose any of them to your liking—each enhancement is compliant with the rules of the passport office.
    
   Here’s a detailed description of each enhancement:
    

   Option	Description
   Enhancement 1	Crop to 35×45, head tilt correction, lighting correction, white background
   Enhancement 2	Everything from Enhancement 1 + a slight brightness increase
   Enhancement 3	Everything from Enhancement 1 + a stronger brightness increase
   Enhancement 4	Everything from Enhancement 1 but the background is light grey
   Enhancement 5	Everything from Enhancement 1 but the background is darker grey

    
   In case you don’t need background removal and enhancements, choose Original (it’s just your initial photo cropped exactly to the 35×45 ratio).

6. What do I do if your expert keeps rejecting my photo?

   If there are mistakes in your passport photo, our checker will give you a description of these mistakes (for example, ‘Head tilted or turned’ or ‘Uneven lighting or shadows on face’) and offer recommendations on how to fix each one. Read these tips closely and take a new picture—when done correctly, it’ll pass our expert check and show a green check mark.
    
   If our expert says your passport photo isn’t correct but you’re sure it is, you can always proceed and complete your order with this picture.

7. How do I print digital passport photos purchased here?

   1. Download the printable 6×4″ template and copy it onto a storage device (for example, a USB drive).
   2. Bring the storage device to any store or photo centre that provides printing services.
   3. Tell the staff that you need to print out passport photos on a 6×4″ sheet—they’ll know what to do.

8. Can you take your own passport photo?

   Yes, HMPO explicitly allows applicants to take pictures using their own devices.
    
   However, you’ll have to make sure your snapshot meets the biometric standards for a UK passport photo. If you’re taking your picture by yourself (that is, without the help of any online services) read these specifications closely—to avoid issues in the application process.

9. How do you take a compliant UK passport photo?

   Follow these tips:
    

   • Dress Appropriately: While there isn’t any strict dress code, it’s best to keep to a neutral business style (say, a plain shirt or a blouse). The colour doesn’t matter as long as your clothes make a good contrast against a light-coloured background—so stick to darker colours like black, blue, green, brown, purple, and so on.
      
   • Remove Headwear: It’s not allowed when used for fashion purposes. You can only keep your headwear on when you need it for medical or religious reasons (if so, it cannot cover your face or obscure your facial features).
      
   • If You Wear Glasses, Remove Them: You can keep them on when worn by prescription, but there can’t be any glare from the lenses and the frame cannot cover your eyes. Fashion glasses are forbidden altogether.
      
   • Keep Your Looks Neat: As for the hairstyle, you’re technically allowed to have anything you like—but make sure your hairdo doesn’t hide your face (if you have long hair, it’s best to braid it or make a bun). Similarly, there are no strict rules on makeup—but we recommend keeping it simple.
      
   • Find a Suitable Background (Or Have It Removed Here): Find a light-coloured wall to use as your backdrop—make sure there are no patterns on the wall or any other objects beside you. Alternatively, you can remove your background using our service.
      
   • Watch the Lighting: See that there aren’t any shadows on your face or neck. If you’re using artificial lights but keep getting shadows on you, stand facing a window with daylight coming in—it’ll make the lighting much softer and more even.
      
   • Don’t Retouch Your Photo: It can’t have any filters or effects.

    
   For more detailed instructions, see our short guide on how to take a passport photo.

10. What do I do if my digital photo is not accepted?

    If HMPO rejects your image, you’ll have the opportunity to submit a new one within a specified time frame to avoid extra fees. Before replacing rejected passport photos, it’s important to ensure your new photo meets all requirements – to avoid delays.
     
    You can use our online photo booth app to create a new, compliant picture within minutes – and then update your application and change the photo on your passport.

11. Where to get a passport photo online in the United Kingdom?

    Getting your compliant headshot right is one of the most important steps in the British passport online application process. Of course, there are plenty of local options in any city or town. But if you don’t feel like going anywhere and you don’t want to have any bureaucratic delays whatsoever, go for web services–they offer the best processing times. So, first of all, select the best nearby places for taking passport-size photographs:
     
    1. At Home. In this modern world, things have become quite easy. You can send in your file to our photo booth online and create a UK digital passport photo quickly and effortlessly right here. There is no need to waste your precious time or obsess over small (and often boring) details. You can simply access our website at any time it’s convenient to you, as it’s open all day and night, over weekends and holidays.
     
    If you choose our stress-free UK passport online tool, you’ll be able to take a snapshot straight away in the comfort of your room! What’s more, this way you can cut payment fees and pay only the price for prints (if you choose prints, remember that they may have to be signed; see our guide on who can sign passport photos).
     
    2. In Max Spielmann Centres, Kiosks, Offline Photo Booths. There are over 250 brands locations in Great Britain with professional instant-print kiosks where you can take passport photos. But in terms of convenience for the end customer, these options leave much to be desired and do not guarantee a satisfactory result at the same time. The thing is, a customer has to go directly to one of the locations and wait in line to get a digital photo.
     
    3. In Tesco Shops. There are more than 150 shops in the Tesco Extra shop chain. It’s one of the most popular spots in the UK, and quite a few of these offer passport photo printing services. However, it’s Tesco shops – they may well be crowded with people, and the staff may not have the time for you.
     
    4. At Post Office. Find a closeby Royal Mail Delivery Office in your area of the United Kingdom. But their passport photos service can be slow, so visiting a mail office to make snapshots for documents can take a bit longer than expected.