United Kingdom — Passport
UK passport photos are 45×35 mm with the head 29–34 mm, plain cream or light grey background, and must be taken within the last month.
| Photo size | 45 × 35 mm |
|---|---|
| Head size | Crown of the head to the chin must be 29–34 mm. HM Passport Office looks for the eyes in the top 40–70% of the photo. |
| Background | Plain cream or light grey for printed photos; plain light-coloured for digital ones. |
| Digital file | At least 600×750 pixels, between 50 KB and 10 MB, in colour. |
| How it is submitted | Digital photo for online applications; two identical prints for paper forms. |
| Photo age | Taken within the last month — the strictest recency rule we verified anywhere. |
Can the photo be edited?
Yes — background edits are explicitly accepted
“You can accept a photo that has been digitally edited if this does not affect the image of the customer … For example, you can accept a photo if the background has been edited to remove shadows or marks.”
No competitor publishes this, and it decides whether a tool like ours is usable at all for your application. The quote below is the official text.
Most common reasons for rejection
- •Background edits are allowed, but any digital enhancement of the face must be rejected — the same guidance document says both.
- •Printed photos must not be a cut-down version of a larger picture, and must be printed to a professional standard.
- •Mirror images are not accepted; glasses only if you must wear them; no shadows on the face or behind you.
Official source: GOV.UK — passport photo requirements
Last checked by us:
This page states what the official source says. It is not legal advice and rules change — check the source link before you submit.
Check the photo you already have against these numbersFree, in your browser — the file never leaves your device.Open the ID photo tool
Preset to pick in the tool: Schengen visa — 35×45 mm
Frequently asked questions
Yes — our photo checker is free. It never alters your photo and never uploads it: the analysis runs locally in your browser against the verified numbers on this page.Open the free photo checker
For online applications the digital photo must be at least 600×750 pixels, between 50 KB and 10 MB, and in colour — that is the GOV.UK rule linked in the source line above. Paper forms use two identical 45×35 mm prints instead.
35×45 mm — that is 3.5×4.5 cm, or about 1.38×1.77 inches. And plain white will not do: printed photos need a cream or light grey background, digital photos a plain light-coloured one.