35x45 UK Passport Photo - Size, Requirements & Online Maker

UK Passport Photo Standards & Dimensions

1. What are the UK passport photo requirements?

   To meet HM Passport Office standards, a UK passport photo must be taken within the last month, be in clear focus against a plain light-grey or cream background, and depict a neutral facial expression with the mouth closed. The photo must be a close-up of your full head and shoulders without any other people or objects in the frame.

   Technical Specifications: Digital vs. Printed

   Feature	Digital Photo (Online)	Printed Photo (Paper)
   Dimensions	Min. 600 x 750 pixels	35mm wide x 45mm high
   File Size/Type	50KB to 10MB (JPEG/PNG)	Professional photo paper
   Quantity	1 digital file	2 identical prints
   Head Height	Must be 29mm to 34mm	29mm to 34mm (chin to crown)

   Visual Standards and Appearance

   Your appearance in the photo must be current and unaltered by computer software or filters. You must face the camera directly with eyes open and visible; hair should not cover the eyes, and “red-eye” is not permitted. While earrings and other jewellery are generally allowed, they must not obscure your features or cause glare. Prescription glasses are permitted if there is no glare or frame obstruction, but sunglasses and tinted lenses are strictly prohibited.

   Background and Lighting Requirements

   • Background: Use a plain, light-coloured background (cream or light grey) without patterns or textures.
   • Lighting: Ensure even lighting with no shadows on the face or behind the head.
   • Composition: Stand 1.5 to 2 metres from the camera to avoid distortion; do not submit “selfies.”

   Exceptions for Headwear and Children

   Head coverings are only permitted for religious or medical reasons and must not obscure any facial features. For children under six, a neutral expression is not required, and babies under one do not need to have their eyes open. However, no hands, toys, or dummies should be visible in the image.

   

   Sources: HM Passport Office (GOV.UK)

2. What are the requirements for a baby passport photo in the UK?

   UK baby passport photo requirements are more relaxed than those for adults, though the image must still be a clear, true likeness of the child. While babies and children must be alone in the frame without toys, dummies, or visible supporting hands, specific rules regarding facial expressions and eye positioning vary depending on the child’s age.

   Age-Specific Passport Photo Rules

   Requirement	Children Under 6 Years	Babies Under 12 Months
   Neutral Expression	Not required (can smile)	Not required
   Looking at Camera	Not required	Not required
   Eyes Open	Must be open and visible	Can be closed
   Mouth Position	Can be slightly open	Can be open
   Manual Support	Must stand/sit alone	Head can be supported (hand hidden)

   Essential Rules for All Children

   • No Accessories: Dummies (pacifiers), toys, and bottles must be removed.
   • No Other People: Parents or guardians must not be visible in the photo.
   • Background: Must be a plain, uniform light-grey or cream colour.
   • Face Visibility: No hair, headwear, or hands should obscure the face (religious/medical exceptions apply).

   How to Take a Baby Passport Photo at Home

   The official GOV.UK guidance suggests laying infants who cannot sit up on a plain light-grey or cream bedsheet. Take the photo from directly above to ensure the background is uniform and no shadows are cast. If the baby’s head needs support, ensure your hand is placed underneath the sheet or tucked behind the child so it is not visible in the frame.

   Sources: HM Passport Office (GOV.UK)

3. What is the UK passport photo size in cm?

   A standard UK passport photo must be exactly 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm wide. For technical precision in digital printing, these dimensions are equivalent to 45 mm high by 35 mm wide. These measurements are the mandatory standard for all printed British passport applications.

   UK Passport Photo Dimensions (Metric)

   Measurement Type	Height	Width
   Centimetres (cm)	4.5 cm	3.5 cm
   Millimetres (mm)	45 mm	35 mm
   Head Height (Chin to Crown)	2.9 cm – 3.4 cm	N/A

   Composition and Cropping Requirements

   In addition to the overall 4.5 x 3.5 cm frame size, the internal composition of the photo is strictly regulated. The distance from the bottom of the chin to the crown (top of the head) must be between 2.9 cm and 3.4 cm. The image must be a close-up of your head and shoulders, ensuring your face is centered and takes up the correct amount of space within the 4.5 cm height.

   International Compatibility

   The 4.5 x 3.5 cm format is a widely accepted international standard. Beyond UK passport applications, this specific size is typically required for Schengen Visas, UK driving licences, and various international identity documents. Using a specialized cropping tool like PhotoBooth Online ensures your shot is precisely 4.5 x 3.5 cm, meeting all official UK metric specifications.

   Sources: HM Passport Office (GOV.UK)

4. What is the UK passport photo size in inches?

   A standard UK passport photo measures approximately 1.77 inches high by 1.38 inches wide. While the UK government defines the official requirements in metric units (45×35 mm), these imperial dimensions are the standard equivalent used for physical photo prints and US-based printing software.

   UK Passport Photo Dimensions (Imperial)

   Feature	Dimension (Inches)	Dimension (Fractional)
   Total Height	1.77 in	~1 ¾ in
   Total Width	1.38 in	~1 ⅜ in
   Head Height (Chin to Crown)	1.14 in – 1.34 in	~1 ⅛ in – 1 ⅓ in

   Printing Requirements for Imperial Paper

   When printing UK passport photos on standard imperial-sized photo paper (such as a 4×6 inch sheet), it is critical to maintain the correct aspect ratio. Do not “scale to fit” the paper, as this will distort the required 1.77 x 1.38 inch dimensions. Ensure printer settings are set to “100% scale” or “Actual Size” to meet HM Passport Office standards.

   Using an automated tool like PhotoBooth Online ensures your image is cropped to the exact 1.77 x 1.38 inch ratio automatically, removing the need for manual imperial-to-metric conversions.

   Sources: HM Passport Office (GOV.UK)

5. What is the UK passport photo size in pixels?

   For a UK online passport application, your digital photo must be at least 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels high. To ensure the highest quality and prevent rejection, HM Passport Office recommends a file size between 50KB and 10MB. The image must be a high-resolution file that has not been edited with computer software or filters.

   Technical Requirements for Digital Photos

   Specification	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Standard
   Width	600 pixels	900 pixels
   Height	750 pixels	1125 pixels
   Aspect Ratio	4:5	4:5
   File Format	JPEG / JPG	JPEG

   Digital Composition and Quality

   • Clarity: The image must be sharp with no pixelation or visible grain.
   • Color: Photos must be in natural color; black and white or filtered images are not accepted.
   • Positioning: Ensure the face occupies a significant portion of the pixel area, centered horizontally.

   Using a professional tool like PhotoBooth Online ensures your digital shot is exported at the correct pixel dimensions and aspect ratio, ready for immediate upload to the GOV.UK website.

   Sources: HM Passport Office (GOV.UK)

6. How to resize a photo to passport size?

   It’s easy to change a larger JPEG to the proper proportions for a British passport online. So, instead of spending lots of time and money on a visit to the nearest photo shop, we suggest you try the following (the entire process is super-easy):
    

   1. Visit the PhotoBooth Online website
   2. Select the Upload button
   3. Provide a new photo taken with your iPhone or Android smartphone within the last 30 days
   4. The app will automatically run the cropping format program per the applicable requirements for a British passport photo
   5. Wait a few seconds to get your UK passport-size photo cut to the allowed proportions in pixels
   6. Proceed to download the resulting file for printing

    
   When you obtain your photo, it should be submitted. In case you want to proceed without leaving home, apply immediately at the UK passport online submission page, following the easy step-by-step process. This is the most efficient way in terms of time and money. Plus, they will have your photo checked against the applicable standards beforehand to see if it’s all okay.
    
   If you don’t want to send in your digital passport photo through the online application page, you can do it in person by mail. Simply take the photo to the nearest post office to submit it to the government and use it for your new British travel document.

7. How to make sure my shot meets the requirements for UK passport photos?

   This can pose quite a challenge, since most photo booths (and, frankly speaking, some stores) do not verify your photo once it’s taken. Instead, they leave it to you to check if you have a plain light-coloured background, keep a neutral facial expression and keep your mouth closed (and eyes open) in your brand-new passport photo.
   Not too great service, isn’t it? Thankfully, there are some options that make the verification much easier:
    

   • Apply on the official government website. Should a British citizen choose to submit his or her passport application online, their shot will be checked automatically. A special meter will evaluate the quality of your photo compliance-wise and tell you if something is wrong.
      
   • Use the Check and Send service at a post branch. For £16, one of the employees will thoroughly check your passport photo and the supporting documents to make sure you can send it all to HMPO without risking rejection. But please mind that they do not provide the service separately—if you want your photo examined by the staff, you’ll have to take it at their premises first.
      
   • Upload your digital passport photo to an online verification tool (other than the one at the gov.uk page). Why do that if there’s an official option? For instance, this option will be useful for those who just want to ensure their shot meets the specifications before making it into a couple of printed photos (to submit them by post).
      
     Our service helps you do just that! Whether you’ve made your photo with your phone or digital camera, simply upload it here. We’ll run our integrated checker and correct your picture (if it needs adjustment in the first place). For instance, we’ll replace the photo background with the compliant one and crop your shot to the standard size.

8. Will a picture prepared here meet UK passport photo rules?

   Yes, it will—PhotoBooth Online has a number of features implemented to keep your picture compliant:

   Correct Photo Size

   The full head dimensions must be between 29 and 34 mm. Our tool will help you verify and validate the head proportions to ensure your application will pass with no trouble.

   Correct Ratio

   The official UK passport photo size in pixels is 600×750—your picture must be 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels high. Get a photo of this size now!

   Plain Light Background

   When renewing your passport or getting a new one, use our digital passport photo maker. If the background is wrong, we’ll automatically set it to cream or light grey.

   High Resolution

   We’ll make sure there is no blurry mess or shadow. Your clear HD photo for documents will be ready for printing and attaching to the application form (or submitting online).

   No Shadows

   Aside from having no shadows, your photo must have the proper brightness, right size and contrast. We’ll help check if it’s all OK so that you’re ready for submitting.

   Any Number of Photos

   Want to process 3, 10 or 15 headshots for your UK passport? Not a problem, we don’t set any limits for uploaded photos. It’s a app with no fee or hidden payments.

   Approved = No Delays

   Getting your travel document is often an urgent matter, since many countries have certain passport validity requirements. With us, you can avoid non-compliance delays. Run a compliance check against the applying rules–we guarantee that your new passport-size photos will comply with the requirements.

   Renew Online

   With our online service, you can save time and simply take a selfie at home and then download a file of the exact digital passport photo size to apply online — just like in a Sainsbury’s photo booth or any other passport photo service!

   By the Guidelines

   PhotoBooth Online sets JPEG or PNG files to the right size per the standards of HM passport office—print them in colour on white photographic paper.

   Right Size

   Check a shot against UK passport photo requirements in our online tool. We’ll make sure its parameters meet the guidelines for British passport pictures.

   Pictures for Any Age

   We make compliant images for every age. They meet the size standards for a British passport photo and age-dependent requirements.

9. What do I need to take a correct UK passport photo by myself?

   Right equipment

   It’s best to use your smartphone camera (however, a tablet or a digital camera will do as well). No selfies though: ask someone else to take your picture.

   Correct background

   It should be plain light-grey without any patterns. Note: if you’re taking your UK passport photo with us, we’ll create the correct background for you.

   Even and natural lighting

   Make sure you’re evenly lit and there aren’t any shadows on you or your background. Natural lighting is perfect for compliant passport-size photos.

   Suitable clothes

   Remove your hat and any accessories (like hair clips or a face mask). Wear business-like clothes—it’ll be perfectly neutral for your passport photo.

   Neutral facial expression

   Keep a plain expression and look into the camera. If you’ve got a picture with red eyes, retake it: any editing is against UK passport photo requirements.

   PhotoBooth Online

   To do it all faster, order UK passport photos online: have your pictures prepared and expert-verified, then order prints in any store or service.