UK Passport Photo Maker
Official 35 × 45 mm for passport and driving licence in United Kingdom — cropped correctly, then 6 copies on one printable sheet.
A photo of your face never leaves your deviceDrop your photo here
or click to browse — a phone selfie against a plain wall works
JPG · PNG · WebP · HEIC from iPhone
Requirements change. Confirm with HM Passport Office before printing — official specification.
Three steps
No account at any point, and the photo never leaves your device.
Add your photo
A phone photo against a plain light grey or cream works. HEIC straight from an iPhone is fine — it is converted here.
Match 29–34 mm chin to crown
Drag and zoom until your chin and the top of your head sit on the two dashed lines. That range is what HM Passport Office measures, and getting it wrong is the usual reason a photo comes back.
Print 6 at once
Download a 4 × 6 sheet holding 6 photos at 35 × 45 mm, then cut along the guides. One cheap print instead of a booth.
UK requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height | 29–34 mm chin to crown |
| At 300 dpi | 413 × 531 pixels |
| Background | Plain light grey or cream. Pure white is specifically not advised — your face needs to stand out from the background. |
| Glasses | Not allowed. Not allowed since November 2016, a change made so facial recognition at the border works reliably. If a medical condition stops you removing them, you need a letter from your GP or ophthalmologist, and there must be no glare on the lenses. |
| Expression | Neutral only. Completely neutral. Mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera. HMPO rejects smiles. |
| Authority | HM Passport Office |
| Per 4 × 6 sheet | 6 photos |
What makes United Kingdom different
The background rule is where UK applicants trip over international advice. Almost every guide online says 'plain white wall' — that is the American standard. HMPO wants light grey or cream, because pure white leaves too little contrast against pale skin for the facial recognition check.
What catches people out
- The light-grey background rule catches people out constantly — a pure white wall is the standard advice everywhere else and the wrong answer here.
- You can submit a digital photo with an online application, or two printed ones by post.
- No head coverings except for religious or medical reasons, and your full face must still be visible.
Beyond the background, the common failures are a hint of a smile and hair falling across the eyes. HMPO reads a slight smile as a non-neutral expression.
Where the photo goes
Apply online with a digital photo, or by post with two identical prints. Photo booths that display the HMPO logo produce a code you can type into the online application instead of a print.
Printing 6 for the price of one
At 35 × 45 mm, 6 photos fit on a single 4 × 6 inch print — the cheapest product at any kiosk or online print service, against a booth that charges for a set of four.
Print at actual size and turn off "fit to page", "scale to fit" and borderless printing. Each of those resizes the image by a few percent, which is enough to push the head outside the 29–34 mm chin to crown that HM Passport Office requires.
Our main passport photo page covers the general advice on lighting, distance and expression that applies wherever you are applying. The rules above are the ones specific to United Kingdom.
Common questions
What size is a UK passport photo?
35 × 45 mm, with the head measuring 29–34 mm chin to crown. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in a UK passport photo?
Not allowed since November 2016, a change made so facial recognition at the border works reliably. If a medical condition stops you removing them, you need a letter from your GP or ophthalmologist, and there must be no glare on the lenses.
Can I smile?
Completely neutral. Mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera. HMPO rejects smiles.
What background colour is required?
Plain light grey or cream. Pure white is specifically not advised — your face needs to stand out from the background.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The cropping happens inside your browser using your own device. A photo of your face is never transmitted, which is also why there is no account and no watermark.
Other countries
The rules genuinely differ — background colour, glasses and expression are not the same everywhere.