GOV.UK asks for printed photos 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, with 29 to 34 mm from the crown of your head to your chin, on a plain cream or light grey background. This page starts on that spec.
Applying online? Choose "Passport (online application)" in the picker. GOV.UK crops that photo itself, so the tool leaves your head, shoulders and upper body in and only straightens the background and size (at least 600×750 px, 50 KB to 10 MB).
The official requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm |
|---|---|
| File we make | 413×531 px |
| Head (chin to crown) | 29–34 mm (64%–76%) |
| Background | light grey |
| Format | JPEG |
“measure 45 millimetres (mm) high by 35mm wide”
Get a passport photo: printed photos (GOV.UK)
“from the crown of your head to your chin - must be between 29mm and 34mm high”
Get a passport photo: printed photos (GOV.UK)
Last checked 3 November 2026. Rules change: open the official page before you apply.
Things the tool can't check for you
- Plain cream or light grey background.
- Glasses only if you must wear them: no tint, no glare, frames clear of the eyes.
- Taken in the last month.
How to do it
- Stand in front of a plain light wall, facing a window for even light.
- Take or upload the photo. The tool finds your face and frames it.
- Check the list: head size, centring, background, sharpness, eyes open.
- Download the single photo or the 4×6 print sheet.
Private by design
Face detection and background removal run on your device with Google's open MediaPipe models. Your photo is never uploaded, stored or used for anything else. The download is free, full size and has no watermark.
Only need a file under a KB limit, with no face framing? Try Resize image to KB, which sets the KB, pixels and DPI for any photo, scan or signature.
Does the application want a certificate, ID proof or the signed form as a PDF too? Compress the PDF to a set KB, without uploading it.
Questions people ask
What background colour does a UK passport photo need?
Plain cream or light grey, with no shadows or patterns. The tool uses a neutral light grey.
How big should my head be?
29 to 34 mm from the crown of your head (top of the hair) to your chin, on a 45 mm tall photo.
Can I use this for the online application?
Yes. Pick the online-application option. GOV.UK checks the photo again when you upload it and crops it for you.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken in the last month.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser.