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United Kingdom residence permit photo 35 × 45 mm

Updated

Quick answer: This United Kingdom residence permit preset uses 35 × 45 mm with plain neutral background with good contrast to the face. Head occupies 64–76% of photo height (29–34 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, see glasses rule. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .

Source-backedOfficial authority link
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Official — generalVerified 2026-05-17
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Compiled and cited by Yevhen Kravchenko — pending external review Last cited Editorial policy

Photo requirements

Format35 × 45 mm
Head height64–76% of photo height
Head height (mm)29–34 mm chin to crown
BackgroundPlain neutral background with good contrast to the face.
PoseFace strictly straight; entire head visible; no other people or objects in the frame.
ExpressionNeutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
GlassesEyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules →
LightingPhoto must be well-lit, sharp, and without digital alterations.
Digital resolution600 × 750 px
File formatJPEG · sRGB / 24-bit
File sizeCheck the authority portal before upload

How a residence permit photo is verified

UK residence permit photos are administered by **UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)** / Home Office. CRITICAL TRANSITION: physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been DISCONTINUED — the Home Office stopped issuing new BRPs in November 2024, replacing them with the digital eVisa system. As of 1 June 2025, BRPs can no longer be used for international travel. As of 1 April 2025, BRP services are no longer available at Post Office branches. New residence applicants now receive an eVisa accessed via a UKVI online account; photos + fingerprints are captured at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centre (UKVCAS) abroad or self-captured via the UK Immigration ID Check app.

Local application route

AuthorityUK Visas and Immigration
SourceUK permission digital photo guidance
Verified
ConfidenceOfficial — general
What the source confirms
  • GOV.UK requires a digital photo at least 600 px wide and 750 px tall.
  • GOV.UK requires JPG/JPEG, 50 KB to 6 MB, vertically orientated and not mirrored or flipped.
  • GOV.UK requires a plain light-coloured background, clear contrast, no other objects or people, and no red eye.
  • GOV.UK requires the applicant to face the camera, keep a plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, with no shadows on the face or behind.
Still conservative because
  • Document-specific numeric head or eye-line constraints are not fully published in the official source.
  • Some generation prompt fields use conservative biometric fallback wording because the official public source does not publish them separately.

What makes a United Kingdom residence permit photo accepted

One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for United Kingdom residence permit applications. The final decision always belongs to UK Visas and Immigration, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.

✓ Accepted Compliant United Kingdom residence permit photo example (35 × 45 mm) — centered face, plain background, neutral expression, eyes open, even frontal lighting. Meets UK Visas and Immigration biometric requirements.

Compliant United Kingdom residence permit example (35 × 45 mm)

  • Face centred, looking directly into the lens
  • Plain background — no shadow, pattern or texture
  • Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed
  • No glasses, no hair across the face

Top 6 United Kingdom residence permit rejection causes

Rejected United Kingdom residence permit photo example — shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient. UK Visas and Immigration would reject this for residence permit applications.
Background shadow United Kingdom residence permit: Shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient
Rejected United Kingdom residence permit photo example — visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression. UK Visas and Immigration would reject this for residence permit applications.
Smile / open mouth United Kingdom residence permit: Visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression
Rejected United Kingdom residence permit photo example — glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye. UK Visas and Immigration would reject this for residence permit applications.
Glasses with glare United Kingdom residence permit: Glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye
Rejected United Kingdom residence permit photo example — loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face. UK Visas and Immigration would reject this for residence permit applications.
Hair across the face United Kingdom residence permit: Loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face
Rejected United Kingdom residence permit photo example — eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens. UK Visas and Immigration would reject this for residence permit applications.
Eyes off-camera United Kingdom residence permit: Eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens
Rejected United Kingdom residence permit photo example — head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal. UK Visas and Immigration would reject this for residence permit applications.
Head tilted United Kingdom residence permit: Head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal
Current profile Format: 35 × 45 mm Head: 64–76% Background: Plain neutral background with good contrast to the face.

Prepare your United Kingdom residence permit photo

Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.

How to take a United Kingdom residence permit photo correctly

Background setup

Plain neutral background with good contrast to the face. Plain, evenly lit, no shadow or texture. The photo is bound to your active legal residence status — immigration reviewers compare your live appearance to the photo at submission appointments, so quality matters.

Lighting

Use daylight from a window in front of you. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadow under the brow. Many residence permit reviewers run an automated check before the in-person appointment — uneven lighting fails this check.

Head position

Camera at eye level, head straight, looking at the lens. Even a 5° tilt is grounds for rejection at the automated review stage. Place your phone on a stack of books to keep it steady.

Shoulders and frame

Square shoulders, both visible. Centre your head in the frame. Residence permit applications often require both a digital upload AND a physical print — the same photo must work in both formats.

Eyewear

Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections Removing glasses is the safest option for residence permit photos because the document validity is tied to legal status checks that may happen years later.

Expression

Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open. Residence permit photos are biometrically compared during status renewals — match the neutral expression style of an existing passport photo so future renewals do not flag inconsistency.

Attire

Solid dark colours that contrast with the background. Avoid uniforms, religious headwear except where permanently worn, and any clothing or accessories that cover the neckline or face.

Photo recency

Use a photo taken within the last three months. Residence permits are tied to active legal status — submitting an older photo, even one that technically meets the dimension rule, frequently triggers manual review and slows the application.

Authority rejection codes

UK Visas and Immigration publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.

CodeReasonFix
UK-RP-01 Submitting BRP renewal request (BRPs discontinued post-Nov 2024) Apply for eVisa via UKVI online account
UK-RP-02 BRP used for travel after 1 June 2025 Use eVisa share code with carrier instead
UK-RP-03 Self-captured photo via app fails biometric scan Retake in well-lit area per app guidance, or attend UKVCAS
UK-RP-04 Background not plain Re-shoot against neutral backdrop

Where to submit your residence permit application

UK residence permit applications are administered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The physical BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) was discontinued in October 2024 — current applicants receive an eVisa.

Online application via UKVI online + UKVCAS

gov.uk + UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services

Processing
8-24 weeks (category dependent)
Cost
£827-1,500 + Immigration Health Surcharge + biometric fee

Photo + fingerprints captured at UKVCAS center. Successful applicants receive an eVisa via UKVI account — no physical BRP card issued since November 2024.

Authority page
eVisa account setup (existing BRP holders) online

gov.uk/evisa

Processing
Immediate
Cost
Free

Existing BRP holders should transition to eVisa before BRP expires. Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app for identity verification.

Authority page

United Kingdom-specific things to know

Top reasons United Kingdom residence permit photos get rejected

Frequently asked questions

This United Kingdom residence permit preset uses 35 × 45 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 64–76% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. Submit the photo with your application file or online portal as required by the immigration authority.

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Photo rules & guides

Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.