UK Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Background, Countersigning & Digital Photos
Passport Photo Guide · United Kingdom
A UK passport photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, with the head 29 to 34 mm from crown to chin, on a plain cream or light grey background. It must have been taken in the last month.
Last checked against GOV.UK guidance on October 14, 2026.
Three rules that surprise people
The photo must have been taken in the last month, not the last 6 months like most countries. You need a new photo for every new passport.
The background is plain cream or light grey, with clear contrast to you. A bright white studio background is not what GOV.UK asks for.
First passports, child renewals for ages 11 and under, and some other paper applications need one photo countersigned on the back.
UK passport photo requirements
| Requirement | What GOV.UK asks for |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, not cut down from a larger picture |
| Head size | 29 to 34 mm from the crown of the head to the chin |
| Framing | A close-up of the full head and upper shoulders, with no other objects or people |
| Background | Plain cream or light grey, with clear contrast to you, and no shadows |
| Expression | Face forwards and look straight at the camera, plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible |
| Hair | Not in front of your eyes |
| Glasses | Do not wear them unless you must. No sunglasses or tinted lenses, and no frames, glare, reflection or shadow over the eyes |
| Head coverings | Only for religious or medical reasons, with nothing covering the face |
| Professional standard, in color, on plain white photographic paper with no border, unaltered, with no creases or tears | |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last month |
| Number | 2 identical printed photos for a paper application, sent loose and not attached to the form |
ThisPix · Midtown Manhattan
Get your UK passport photo in NYCWalk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. We photograph to the UK's 35 × 45 mm size on a light background, measure the head, and print two identical photos while you wait.
Book your passport photo212-753-4671Applying online or on paper
| Online application | Paper form | |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | One digital photo | 2 identical printed photos |
| Size | At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall | 35 × 45 mm |
| File | 50 KB to 10 MB, in color | Plain white photographic paper, no border |
| Background | Plain and light-coloured, with clear contrast | Plain cream or light grey |
| Countersigning | Follow the instructions in the online application | On the back of one photo, when required |
GOV.UK says photos from photo booths or shops are more likely to be approved than photos taken on your own device. If you take a digital photo yourself, include your head, shoulders and upper body, and do not crop it: the system does that for you.
Countersigning the photo
For some paper applications, someone who knows you must sign one of your two photos and your form.
- When it is needed. A first adult or child passport, a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport, a renewal for a child aged 11 or under, or an adult renewal when you can no longer be recognised from your current passport.
- What they write. “I certify that this is a true likeness of” followed by the title and full name of the person getting the passport, then their signature and the date. You do not sign the photos yourself.
- From the US. The countersignatory must hold a current British, Irish or other EU, US or Commonwealth passport. If it is not British or Irish, include a color photocopy of its photo page. Applications are processed faster with a British or Irish countersignatory.
Apart from the countersignature, both sides of the photos must be unmarked. Send the two photos separately, loose, and not attached to the form.
Babies and children
- Alone in the picture. No other people, and no toys or dummies.
- Under 6. Children do not need to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression.
- Under 1. Eyes do not need to be open. You can support the head, but your hand must not be visible. For a digital photo, lay the baby on a plain light-coloured sheet and take the photo from above.
Common reasons photos are refused
- A photo older than one month
- A US 2 by 2 inch photo instead of 35 by 45 mm
- A photo cut down from a larger picture
- A background that is not plain cream or light grey
- Shadows on the face or behind you
- Glasses with glare, tinted lenses or frames over the eyes
- Smiling or an open mouth
- Hair in front of the eyes
- Edited, blurry, creased or marked photos
- A child holding a toy or dummy, or a visible hand
Since 1986
British passport photos in Midtown ManhattanFor 40 years ThisPix has photographed New Yorkers to the size and rules of consulates around the world. Tell us it is for a UK passport and we will set up the right background and size.
Get your photo at ThisPix212-753-4671Questions, answered
What size is a UK passport photo?
45 mm high by 35 mm wide. The head must measure 29 to 34 mm from the crown to the chin.
How recent does a UK passport photo need to be?
It must have been taken in the last month, and you need a new photo for each new passport even if your appearance has not changed.
What color background does a UK passport photo need?
Plain cream or light grey for printed photos, and plain and light-coloured for digital photos, with clear contrast between you and the background.
Can I smile in a UK passport photo?
No. You need a plain expression with your mouth closed. Children under 6 do not need a plain expression.
Can I wear glasses?
Only if you must. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not allowed, and frames, glare, reflection or shadow must not cover your eyes.
Who can countersign a UK passport photo from the US?
Someone with a current British, Irish or other EU, US or Commonwealth passport. If their passport is not British or Irish, include a color photocopy of its photo page.
What are the digital photo requirements for an online application?
A clear color photo at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB, unaltered, on a plain light-coloured background.
Where can I get a UK passport photo in New York?
At ThisPix, 805 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, at East 50th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Sources. Requirements change, so always confirm on GOV.UK before you apply. Last checked October 14, 2026.