United KingdomBN(O) Passport Photo Requirements: Digital Photo of 600 x 750 px or More, Taken in the Last Month
BN(O) passports follow UK passport photo rules: a digital photo of 600 x 750 px or more, taken in the last month, or two 45 x 35 mm prints on paper.
Key points
5 points- British National (Overseas) passports are issued by HM Passport Office under the same photo rules as other British passports.
- Online: a digital photo, at least 600 x 750 pixels, 50 KB to 10 MB, plain light-coloured background, taken in the last month.
- Paper form: 2 identical prints, 45 mm high x 35 mm wide, head 29–34 mm, cream or light grey background.
- HM Passport Office cannot accept a Hong Kong identity card issued before 26 November 2018 as evidence of your Hong Kong status.
- From 8 April 2026, an adult online application from overseas costs £116.50 (£102 from inside the UK).
A British National (Overseas) — BN(O) — passport is a British passport issued by HM Passport Office (HMPO) to people who registered as BN(O)s with a connection to Hong Kong. When you renew or replace it, you need a new photo that meets the standard UK passport rules.
Digital photo (online application)
- Get a new photo for every new passport, even if you look the same, taken in the last month.
- At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, file size 50 KB to 10 MB, in colour, clear, not altered by software.
- Plain light-coloured background in clear contrast, no other objects or people, no shadows, no red eye.
- Facing forwards, plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no hair over the eyes, no head covering unless for religious or medical reasons.
- Glasses only if you have to wear them: no sunglasses or tinted lenses, and no frames, glare or reflections over the eyes.
You can get a photo with a code from a booth or shop and enter the code in your application, or take one on your own device with someone's help. If you use your own device, include your head, shoulders and upper body and do not crop — the service crops it. GOV.UK says booth or shop photos are more likely to be approved.
Printed photos (paper form)
| Requirement | Printed photo |
|---|---|
| Number | 2 identical photos, left loose |
| Size | 45 mm high x 35 mm wide, not cut down from a larger picture |
| Head | Crown to chin 29–34 mm |
| Background | Plain cream or light grey |
| Professional standard, colour, plain white photo paper, no border |
Hong Kong ID card: the 2018 cut-off
HMPO's guidance for examiners (version 52.0, published 28 July 2026) says it cannot accept a Hong Kong identity card issued before 26 November 2018 as evidence of your Hong Kong immigration status, because from October 2025 older cards are no longer valid in Hong Kong. If you live in Hong Kong and send an older card, HMPO will ask you to get a replacement from a Registration of Persons Office.
The same guidance says HMPO issues a BN(O) passport for renewal, replacement and change applications. Children who were only listed on a parent's BN(O) passport are handled separately: HMPO confirms their identity before issuing their first BN(O) passport.
Fees from 8 April 2026
| Application | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Online from overseas | £116.50 | £75.50 |
| Paper from overseas | £130 | £89 |
| Online from inside the UK | £102 | £66.50 |
| Postal from inside the UK | £115.50 | £80 |
These are the standard British passport fees GOV.UK announced on 18 March 2026.
Make a photo to UK passport rules on our BN(O) passport photo page.
05Questions
5 answers01What are the photo rules for a BN(O) passport?
The same as for other British passports. Online: a digital photo at least 600 x 750 pixels, 50 KB to 10 MB, plain light background, taken in the last month. Paper: two identical 45 x 35 mm prints.
02Can I reuse the photo from my old BN(O) passport?
No. GOV.UK says you must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.
03Can I take the photo on my phone?
Yes, during the online application, with someone helping you. Include your head, shoulders and upper body and do not crop it.
04Is my old Hong Kong ID card accepted?
HMPO cannot accept a Hong Kong identity card issued before 26 November 2018 as evidence of your Hong Kong status.
05How much does it cost to renew from overseas?
From 8 April 2026 the standard fee for an adult online application from overseas is £116.50, or £130 on paper.
06Official sources
- GOV.UK — Get a passport photo: digital photos (HM Passport Office)
gov.uk - GOV.UK — Get a passport photo: printed photos
gov.uk - GOV.UK — British national (overseas) passport processing, guidance version 52.0
gov.uk - GOV.UK — New fees for passport applications (18 March 2026)
gov.uk - GOV.UK — Overseas British passport applications
passport.service.gov.uk
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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Make your photo to the current rules
Pick your document and upload a selfie — we crop it to size, replace the background and check it. Free. The sizes come from the same official sources as the news.