UK Passport Photo (digital, online application): size and requirements
The UK Passport Photo size is 900 x 1125 pixels for online upload (minimum 600 x 750), file under 10 MB. Plain light-coloured background; head 60 to 80 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last month. Last verified 2026-09-30 against HM Passport Office.
For a British passport applied for online at gov.uk, where you upload a digital photo. Not for a UK visa or BRP, and not for a driving licence (DVLA has its own upload).
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 900 x 1125 pixels for online upload (minimum 600 x 750), file under 10 MB
- Head height
- Head 60 to 80 percent of the photo height (include your head, shoulders and upper body; HM Passport Office crops the photo for you)
- Background
- plain light-coloured background
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Only if you must; no tint, no glare
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last month
- We deliver
- 900 x 1125 px , under 10240 KB, plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- Checkgov.uk says the photo must have been taken in the last month, which is stricter than most countries' six months.
- Checkgov.uk says do not crop your own photo: HM Passport Office crops it. We keep head, shoulders and upper body in frame and leave the tight crop to them.
- CheckThe photo must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall and between 50 KB and 10 MB. We render 900 x 1125 pixels so there is room for HMPO's crop.
- Checkgov.uk warns that photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than a photo taken on your own device, mostly because of lighting and shadows. Our checker flags exactly those problems.
Known portal issues
- Note
Your photo might not meet the rules
Compare the photo against our checklist: plain light background, no shadows on the face or behind you, eyes open and visible, nothing in front of the eyes. Read the fix - Note
Poor quality: reflections on face
Take the glasses off for the photo if you can. Read the fix - Note
Your eyes seem to be closed
Light the face from the front at eye level so the eyes are not in shadow. Read the fix - Note
This doesn't look like a digital photo
Upload the file straight from the camera with no filters, smoothing or background swap. Read the fix - Note
Photo only fair, therefore chance of rejection
Check the face is in clear contrast to the background and the photo is in focus. Read the fix
Good to know before you pay
If you already have a photo code from a UK photo booth or shop, enter that code in your application instead of uploading a file.
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-09-30 at HM Passport Office.
at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
at least 50KB and no more than 10MB
be taken against a plain light-coloured background
Your photo must have been taken in the last month.
Do not wear glasses in your photo unless you have to do so.
Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
