1
Shadow on face
Indoor lighting from above creates eye-socket shadows; ceiling lights are the worst. Face a window during daylight instead.
Rejection guide
UK passport photo rejected — HMPO reasons and how to fix each
HM Passport Office (HMPO) runs the strictest automated photo check in the world. Roughly 1 in 5 photos uploaded through the GOV.UK passport service is rejected on the first attempt. This guide covers the seven most common rejection causes and how to fix each.
Fast diagnosis
Top 3: shadows, head position, background colour
HMPO's top three rejection causes are: shadows on the face from indoor lighting, head not perfectly straight (over a few degrees of tilt), and a background that reads as not plain enough. All three are fixed by shooting under window daylight against a blank wall.
Top 7 rejection reasons
2
Head tilted or rotated
HMPO's biometric check rejects any visible tilt. Use a tripod and check the eye-line is horizontal before shooting.
3
Background not plain light grey or cream
HMPO prefers light grey; plain white is also accepted. Patterned wallpaper, brick, gradient lighting all fail.
4
Eyes not fully visible
Hair across the eye, glasses glare, squinting under strong light. Reshoot under softer light with hair pulled back.
5
Smile detected
HMPO's check is very strict on smile. Even a closed-lip smile is rejected. Mouth fully closed, jaw relaxed.
6
Wrong head size in frame
Crown of head to chin must be 29-34 mm in the 45 × 35 mm portrait frame. Use a tool that fits this automatically.
7
Photo retouched
Beautification filters, skin smoothing, eye enhancement all fail HMPO's check. Disable filters; use the unedited image.
5-step recovery checklist
- 1Stand 1-2 metres from a plain light grey wall.
- 2Face a window during daylight. Avoid any artificial light source.
- 3Use a tripod or stable surface at eye level. Set a 3-second timer.
- 4Mouth fully closed, eyes open and looking at the lens, head straight.
- 5Upload through our tool — it crops to HMPO 45 × 35 mm with the correct head ratio.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can I re-upload to HMPO?
GOV.UK passport service allows multiple uploads per application. Each upload runs the same automated check; there is no penalty for trying. Most applicants take 2-3 attempts before passing.
Can I use my Schengen visa photo for a UK passport?
No. The size is slightly different (Schengen 35 × 45 mm vs UK 45 × 35 mm — different orientation), and HMPO's automated check is stricter. Take a fresh photo for the UK passport application.
Why was my photo rejected but my friend's nearly identical photo accepted?
HMPO's automated check measures dozens of parameters; tiny differences (1 mm head height, 1-degree tilt, slightly different background shade) can be the difference between pass and fail. Reshoot rather than try to match the friend's photo.
Other rejection guides
Reshoot in 2 minutes
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