UK Passport Photo Size
GOV.UK asks for a photo of 45 × 35 mm in print, or at least 600 × 750 pixels and between 50 KB and 10 MB online. Here are the rules, what they mean in practice, and where this tool helps.
1. Position the frame
Drag the frame to move it and the round handles to resize it. Put the top of the head at the top of the dashed oval and the chin at its bottom.
2. Preview and options
Use it only where the form allows edited photos. The US, UK and Canada reject photos with a changed background.
Higher removes more background but can eat into hair or shoulders.
3. Your photo
🔒 Runs in your browser. Your files and text are not uploaded.
How to use the UK Passport Photo Size
- Choose “United Kingdom – passport (35 × 45 mm)”. The output is a 600 × 750 px JPEG with a minimum of 50 KB.
- Drop a portrait taken against a plain, light wall. The frame has the 7:9 proportion.
- Place the crown and chin at the top and bottom of the dashed oval and press “Create photo”.
- Check the list, then download the JPEG. For prints, open “Printable sheet” and choose 4 × 6 in: eight 35 × 45 mm photos fit.
UK photo requirements at a glance
| Item | Digital photo (online) | Printed photo (paper form) |
|---|---|---|
| Size | At least 600 × 750 pixels (wide × tall) | 45 mm high × 35 mm wide, not cut down from a larger picture |
| File size | At least 50 KB and no more than 10 MB | Not applicable |
| Head size | Head, shoulders and upper body for a self-taken photo; the service crops it | Crown to chin between 29 and 34 mm |
| Colour and background | In colour; plain light-coloured background in clear contrast to you | In colour; plain cream or light grey background; plain white photographic paper with no border |
| Quality | Clear, in focus, unaltered by computer software | Printed to a professional standard, unaltered by computer software |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last month | Taken in the last month |
| Glasses and headwear | No glasses unless you must wear them, no tint or glare; no head covering unless for religious or medical reasons | The same |
Source: GOV.UK, get a passport photo. Last reviewed: October 2026. Photo rules change from time to time, so always confirm the current requirements on the official page before you apply.
Do not crop or edit your own digital photo
For an online application with a photo taken on your own device, GOV.UK says to include your head, shoulders and upper body and not to crop the photo, because the service does it for you. It also says the photo must be unaltered by computer software. In practice, the safest approach is to upload the original camera photo, and to use this tool only for the file-size rules: if your picture is over 10 MB, compress it with the image compressor, and if it falls under 50 KB raise it with Increase Image Size in KB (or re-take it at a higher resolution, which is usually the better fix).
Where the cropping tool helps
The preset is useful when you need a UK-sized picture for something other than the passport application: a visa application, an ID card or a badge that asks for a UK-style 35 × 45 mm photo, or a print for a paper form that you want to lay out on a sheet. It crops to the 7:9 proportion with the head guide, outputs 600 × 750 pixels at 300 dpi and sets the minimum 50 KB, which also suits the digital limits above.
If you are making prints, remember that GOV.UK asks for photos that are not cut down from a larger picture and printed on plain white photographic paper, and that a photo booth or shop is the safest route for a paper application. Check the printed size with a ruler before you send it.
Babies and children
Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not hold toys or use dummies, and children under 6 do not have to look at the camera or keep a plain expression. Children under one do not have to have their eyes open, and should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet and be photographed from above. You may support a baby’s head with your hand, but the hand must not be visible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK passport photo size in pixels?
For online applications the photo must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB. At 300 dpi, a 35 × 45 mm print is 413 × 531 pixels, which is smaller than the digital minimum.
Can I crop my own UK passport photo?
GOV.UK says not to crop a photo taken on your own device, because the service does this for you. It also says the photo must be unaltered by computer software.
What background should a UK passport photo have?
For digital photos, a plain light-coloured background in clear contrast to you. For printed photos, plain cream or light grey.
Why does my photo need to be at least 50 KB?
The system rejects tiny files as too low quality. Retake the picture at a higher resolution, or raise the size with the Increase tool.
Can I wear glasses?
Not unless you must. If you do, they cannot be tinted, and no frame, glare, reflection or shadow may cover the eyes.