UK Passport Photo Requirements: Digital Upload vs Printed Photo, Rule by Rule

Most rejected UK passport photos are not rejected because the picture is bad, but because it was made to the wrong version of the rules. GOV.UK describes one set of appearance rules but different technical rules for a photo you upload and a photo you print. This guide puts them side by side. The appearance rules are UK-specific wording of the international biometric portrait standard, ICAO Doc 9303.

The rules that apply to every UK passport photo

Whether you apply online or on paper, GOV.UK says your photo must:

• have been taken in the last month;
• be clear and in focus, in colour, and not altered by computer software;
• be taken against a plain light-coloured background, in clear contrast to the background;
• contain no other objects or people;
• show a plain expression with your mouth closed, your eyes open and visible, and no hair in front of your eyes;
• show no shadows on your face or behind you;
• show no head covering unless it is for religious or medical reasons.

Digital vs printed: the differences

The background line is the one people miss. For a digital upload GOV.UK asks for a plain light-coloured background; for printed photos the requirement is more specific — cream or light grey. If you print your photo, aim for the colours GOV.UK names rather than pure white.

Glasses, hair, head coverings

• Glasses: GOV.UK says “Do not wear glasses in your photo unless you have to do so.” If you must, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames or by glare, reflection or shadow. Adjust the light, not your head, to get rid of reflections.
• Hair: no hair in front of your eyes. Tie it back or move it behind the ears.
• Head coverings: not allowed unless worn for religious or medical reasons; the face must still be fully visible.
• Expression: plain, with your mouth closed. A smile with teeth breaks the rule.

Children and babies

The photo of a child must show the child on their own. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies. GOV.UK relaxes the rules by age: children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression, and children under one do not have to have their eyes open. Everything else — the light background, no shadows, taken in the last month — still applies.

How to avoid the most common mistakes

1. Take the photo in the last month. An old photo that “still looks like you” is not enough.
2. Stand away from the wall. Shadows behind your head are the easiest way to break the “no shadows” rule.
3. Use even light from the front. A window on one side leaves half your face darker; face the window instead.
4. Do not edit. GOV.UK requires a photo unaltered by computer software; filters, smoothing and background changes are the main way a good photo becomes an invalid one.
5. Check the file. Under 600x750 pixels or under 50KB is too small; over 10MB is too big.

If you would rather start from a checked template, you can prepare a UK-size photo with our UK passport photo tool: it produces the 35x45 mm format and the digital-size file, on a light background.