UK visa photo requirements and the eVisa
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) uses one shared photo specification across all major visa categories: at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation, plain light background, head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop. This pillar covers the shared photo standard and links to a dedicated page for each of the 6 most common visa categories.
Quick answer
At least 600 × 750 px, plain light background, 50KB–6MB
A UK visa photo is at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation, file size 50KB to 6MB, in jpg or jpeg. Framing: head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop. Background: plain light-coloured, with your face in clear contrast to it. Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open; glasses only if you have to wear them. It must be a new photo, not the one in your passport. Last reviewed .
Do you need a visa at all? The £20 ETA
If you are travelling for a short stay on a passport from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or a number of other countries, you most likely need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rather than a visa. An ETA costs £20 and lets you travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for stays of up to 6 months. To apply you need the passport you will travel on, and you upload or take a photo of your face — so the photo rules on this page still apply. GOV.UK lists which nationalities need an ETA and which need a visa. gov.uk apply for an ETA ↗
The UK visa photo specification
| Size | at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation [1] |
|---|---|
| Head height | head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop [1] |
| Background | plain light-coloured, with your face in clear contrast to it [1] |
| Pose | Front-facing, head level, both ears typically visible [2] |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed (no smile allowed) [1] |
| Glasses | Only if you have to wear them; never sunglasses or tinted lenses, with your eyes clear of the frames, glare and shadow. See full rules → |
| Head covering | Religious or medical head coverings allowed when facial features remain fully visible |
| Age of photo | A new photo that looks like you now. GOV.UK sets no fixed age for a visa photo; a UK passport photo must have been taken in the last month |
| Digital upload | jpg or jpeg, at least 600 × 750 pixels, vertically orientated, file from 50KB to 6MB [3] |
Sources
- [1] GOV.UK Get a passport photo — the official UK passport photo specification (printed and digital). gov.uk passport photo rules ↗
- [2] ICAO Doc 9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 9 — portrait quality, head position and biometric framing adopted by HMPO. ICAO 9303 ↗
- [3] GOV.UK Take a photo of your face for a visa application or permission — the UKVI requirements for the digital file: pixels, file size, format and framing. gov.uk visa photo rules ↗
Verified . We monitor GOV.UK passport guidance and Home Office immigration rules for changes; visa fees and processing times for each category are sourced from each GOV.UK visa page (see sub-pages for direct links).
Choose your UK visa category
The photo specification is identical across these categories. The application route — fee, processing time and supporting evidence — is category-specific.
UK visa categories at a glance
| Visa | Fee | Processing | Biometrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa | £135 for a visit of up to 6 months | 3 weeks standard | Yes — appointment at a visa application centre |
| Skilled Worker visa | £819 per person for a visa of up to 3 years or £1,618 for more than 3 years when you apply from outside the UK | 3 weeks standard outside the UK | Yes — at a visa application centre for new applicants |
| Student visa | £558 to apply from outside the UK and the same £558 to extend or switch inside the UK | 3 weeks standard from outside the UK, 8 weeks inside the UK | Yes — at a VAC for new applicants |
| Spouse / Family visa | £2,064 to apply from outside the UK, £1,407 to apply inside the UK, and the same amount again for each dependant | 12 weeks standard | Yes — at a visa application centre |
| UK Ancestry visa | £726 visa fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each of the 5 years | 3 weeks standard at most VACs | Yes — at a VAC |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | £340 visa fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year — £1,552 for the two years | 3 weeks standard | Yes — at a visa application centre |
What is an eVisa and where does your photo go?
The UK no longer issues plastic BRP cards. All Biometric Residence Permits have expired and been replaced by eVisas — a digital record of your identity and immigration status inside your UK Visas and Immigration account. There is no card with a photo on it to carry any more. The photo you upload with the application is assessed by the caseworker, and the biometric capture taken at the visa application centre goes into the Home Office record you are matched against when you enter the country.
The practical implication: the photo you control is the one you upload. Plain light background, even light, calm face — a weak upload is a reason for refusal on its own. The capture at the visa application centre is done by staff on their own equipment; there, all you can do is turn up neat and unhurried. Once the visa is granted you prove your status online: sign in to your UKVI account and share a code through the "view and prove" service, which is what banks, employers and landlords check. An expired BRP is now good only for signing in to that account or applying to extend — for 24 months after the date printed on it, and no later than 31 December 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a UK visa photo?
For a UK visa you upload a digital photo: at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation, file size 50KB to 6MB, in jpg or jpeg. Framing: head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop. The printed 45 × 35 mm format belongs to the UK passport, not to the visa.
Do I need to bring a printed photo to the UK visa appointment?
No. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) captures the biometric photo at the Visa Application Centre during your appointment. You upload a digital photo with the online application; you do not bring a printed copy to the VAC.
Will I get a card with my photo on it?
No. The UK has moved to eVisas: your immigration status is kept as a digital record in your UK Visas and Immigration account, and a plastic card with a photo is no longer issued. All Biometric Residence Permits have expired and been replaced by eVisas; an expired card can still be used only to get into your UKVI account or to apply to extend your permission — for 24 months after the date printed on it or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. To show your status to a bank, an employer or a landlord you use the "view and prove" service and a share code.
Can I smile in a UK visa photo?
No. UKVI requires a neutral expression with mouth closed. The UK photo standard is one of the strictest in the world — even a soft smile is rejected. Look straight at the camera with a relaxed face.
Can I wear glasses in a UK visa photo?
There is no ban on glasses in the UK. GOV.UK asks you not to wear glasses unless you have to. If you must wear them, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames or by any glare, reflection or shadow. UKVI does not ask for a doctor's letter for this.
What if my GOV.UK photo upload is rejected?
GOV.UK runs an automated check on the uploaded photo. Common rejection causes: face not clearly visible, shadows on your face or behind you, background not plain, file smaller than 50KB or larger than 6MB, file not in jpg or jpeg, a landscape frame instead of a portrait one, or a photo cropped to passport size instead of showing your head, shoulders and upper body. It also must not be the same photo that is in your passport or identity card. Reshoot in a well-lit room against a plain light wall and try again.
Related cross-country guides
Prepare your UK visa photo
Upload a portrait — Anfas.Pro applies the UKVI 45 × 35 mm format, light background and biometric framing automatically.