UK Passport Photo Size in mm: The Complete 2026 Guide

Published August 20, 2026

What Is the UK Passport Photo Size in mm?

The official UK passport photo size is 35mm wide by 45mm high. This is the standard set by HM Passport Office, and it applies whether you're applying online with a digital photo or submitting printed photos with a paper application form.

It's a small detail, but getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons passport applications get delayed. If your photo is the wrong size, cropped incorrectly, or doesn't meet the technical standards, your application can be rejected and you'll need to start that part of the process again.

Here's a quick summary of the key dimensions:

• Photo size: 35mm x 45mm
• Head size (chin to crown): between 29mm and 34mm
• Digital photo (online applications): at least 600 pixels wide x 750 pixels high, and between 50KB and 10MB in file size

The 35x45mm format is used across much of Europe, so if you've had ID photos taken for visas or driving licences in the EU, the dimensions will look familiar. However, it's different from the US passport photo, which is 2 x 2 inches (roughly 51mm x 51mm) — so don't assume one photo will work for both.

The Full UK Passport Photo Requirements

Size is only part of the picture. HM Passport Office checks several things when reviewing your photo, and failing any of them can cause a rejection. Here's what you need to know.

Dimensions and composition:

• The photo must measure 35mm x 45mm (or meet the pixel requirements for digital submissions)
• Your head, from the bottom of your chin to the top of your crown, must measure between 29mm and 34mm
• Your head must be centred and facing straight at the camera
• The photo must show your full head and the top of your shoulders

Expression and appearance:

• Neutral expression with your mouth closed — no smiling
• Eyes open and clearly visible
• No hair covering your eyes or face
• No head coverings, unless worn for religious or medical reasons (your face must still be fully visible)
• No tinted glasses or sunglasses; clear glasses are allowed as long as there's no glare, reflection, or frames covering your eyes

Quality and background:

• Plain, light-coloured background — cream or light grey works best
• No shadows on your face or behind you
• No other people or objects visible in the frame
• Sharp focus, true colours, and no filters or retouching
• Taken within the last month

For printed photos, there must be no creases, marks, or damage, and the photo should be printed on proper photo paper rather than plain printer paper.

Digital Photos vs Printed Photos

The rules differ slightly depending on how you apply.

Online applications require a digital photo file. The minimum resolution is 600 x 750 pixels, and the file must be a JPEG. The file size must be at least 50KB and no larger than 10MB. Most modern phone cameras produce files that meet the resolution requirement easily, but the challenge is usually cropping the photo to the correct proportions and positioning your head properly within the frame.

Paper applications require two identical printed photos at exactly 35mm x 45mm. If you print at home, make sure your printer settings are set to 100% scale — any "fit to page" option will distort the dimensions and your photos will be the wrong size.

A quick way to check a printed photo: a UK passport photo is slightly taller than a credit card is wide. If you have a ruler handy, measure both dimensions before posting your application. It takes ten seconds and can save you weeks of delay.

How to Resize Your Photo to 35mm x 45mm

If you're taking your own passport photo — which is completely acceptable and increasingly common — you'll need to crop and resize it to the correct format. Doing this manually in a basic photo editor can be fiddly, because you need to get both the aspect ratio and the head positioning right.

The easiest option is our UK passport photo tool, which is built specifically around HM Passport Office requirements. Upload your photo, and it crops and resizes everything to the correct 35x45mm proportions with your head positioned at the right size. It handles the technical checks for you.

If you already have a correctly composed photo and just need to adjust dimensions, you can use a general image resizer to set exact pixel dimensions. For a digital application at 300 DPI (standard print quality), 35mm x 45mm works out to roughly 413 x 531 pixels — but aiming a little higher, around 600 x 750 pixels or above, gives the Passport Office's system more to work with.

For broader passport and visa photo needs, our passport photo resizer supports multiple countries and document types, which is useful if you're applying for visas as well as a UK passport.

Common Reasons UK Passport Photos Get Rejected

Even when the size is right, photos get rejected for other reasons. These are the most frequent problems:

1. Shadows. Standing too close to a wall or using a single harsh light source creates shadows behind your head or across your face. Use soft, even lighting and stand about half a metre from the background.

2. Wrong background. Patterned wallpaper, curtains, or outdoor backgrounds are all automatic rejections. Stick to a plain, light wall.

3. Head size out of range. If your head measures less than 29mm or more than 34mm from chin to crown, the photo fails. This usually happens when people crop too tightly or leave too much space above the head.

4. Smiling or open mouth. It feels unnatural, but you need a genuinely neutral expression.

5. Glare on glasses. If you wear glasses and can't avoid reflections, it's simpler to remove them for the photo.

6. File size problems (digital applications). Some photos straight from a camera are fine, but heavily edited or repeatedly saved images can balloon in size. If your file is too large, you can compress it to 100KB without meaningfully affecting quality — well within the 10MB limit and comfortably above the 50KB minimum.

Taking a few test shots and checking them against the official rules before you submit is always worth the extra five minutes.

Printing Your UK Passport Photo at Home

If you're applying by post and want to print your own photos, a few practical points matter.

First, use photo paper — glossy or matte both work. Plain paper produces dull colours and visible print texture, which can lead to rejection. Second, set your printer to its highest quality setting and make sure scaling is at exactly 100%. Third, print a sheet with multiple copies so you have spares; paper applications need two identical photos anyway.

Cut the photos cleanly with a guillotine or sharp scissors. Ragged edges or photos trimmed slightly small can cause problems. If you'd rather not risk it, photo booths in supermarkets and high-street shops are calibrated for the 35x45mm UK standard and remain a reliable fallback.

FAQ

What is the UK passport photo size in mm?

The UK passport photo size is 35mm wide by 45mm high. This applies to printed photos submitted with paper applications. For online applications, the digital photo must be at least 600 x 750 pixels, which maintains the same proportions.

What size should my head be in a UK passport photo?

Your head must measure between 29mm and 34mm from the bottom of your chin to the top of your crown. This is measured within the 35x45mm frame. If your head is too small or too large in the photo, it will be rejected.

Can I take a UK passport photo on my phone?

Yes, HM Passport Office accepts photos taken on smartphones for online applications. Have someone else take the photo (selfies often cause angle and distance problems), stand against a plain light background, and use even lighting. Then crop it to the correct format using a passport photo tool.

Is the UK passport photo the same size as a US passport photo?

No. The UK uses 35mm x 45mm, while the US requires a 2 x 2 inch photo (approximately 51mm x 51mm). The proportions and head positioning rules also differ, so a photo prepared for one country generally won't be accepted by the other.

What file size does a digital UK passport photo need to be?

For online applications, your photo file must be at least 50KB and no more than 10MB, in JPEG format. Most phone photos fall within this range naturally, but if your file is too large after editing, compressing it slightly will bring it within limits without visible quality loss.

Do I need to smile in my UK passport photo?

No — you must keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows can all cause rejection because they interfere with the facial recognition checks used during processing.