Digital UK Passport Photo Online

Passport photo UK requirements

A British passport is a very important and frequently used document in Great Britain. It is essential for travelling abroad, but can also be used for identification purposes. The UK passport service gives applicants the option of completing their passport application or submitting digital passport photos online.

 It is worth choosing the latter route—applying via the UK government website and uploading your biometric passport photo online, making sure you comply with the UK passport photo requirements. It is easier, £9.50 cheaper and usually quicker.

UK passport photo guide

The UK passport photo requirements are very simple. 

• Passport photos should be taken against a plain light coloured background, preferably white or another neutral colour, such as light grey.
• Your entire head must be visible in the picture, from the top of your hair to your shoulders, so that your face covers 70-80% of the photo. 
• You need to make sure your eyes are open and clear in the image.
• Your body and face should be pointing forward and you should be looking straight ahead. 
• Your facial expression must be neutral and you must keep your mouth closed.
• You should pose for your photo without a hat or glasses unless your glasses cannot be removed for medical reasons. Even then, your eyes must be clearly visible and your glasses must not reflect light or create glare.

GB passport photo size

The digital photo should be clear and of good quality. The minimum UK passport photo size is listed as 600 x 750 pixels, but it is recommended that the picture measures 900 x 1200 pixels. The file size needs to be between 50 KB and 10 MB.

Digital photo background

A digital passport photo must be taken against a plain, light-coloured background. This ensures that the person in the picture is in sharp contrast with their background, making their image clearer and highlights facial features, key when taking biometric photos. The background must not be textured and there cannot be any objects visible in the picture.

Face and posture specification for a digital photo

It is important to correctly position the face and body in the photo, when applying for a Uk passport online. Applicants must stand straight in front of the camera and look directly into the lens. Side profile photos are not accepted and will result in the application being rejected.

Facial expression

Keep your facial expression neutral. Do not smile. The mouth must be closed and the head must be kept straight (do not tilt it in any direction!).

Eyes

When posing, the applicant’s eyes must be open and visible, especially the irises. Make sure that there is no ‘red eye’ effect in the photo. Also, there must not be hair over the eyes—if you have a fringe, it must be pushed to one side.

Hair

There are no specific guidelines for hairstyles on digital British passport photos. The hair may be tied back or loose, but it must not cover any part of the applicant’s face. It is, therefore, best to brush it back, although the ears need not be visible. Remember that your eyebrows and eyes must be visible.

Head coverings

For the photo, head coverings such as hats, headbands, and caps are not allowed. Religious and medical head coverings are the exception, although they must still not cover the face.

Shadows

There must be no shadows in your UK passport photo. Make sure that they are not on your face, shoulders, or in the background of the photo.

Glasses

Applicants cannot wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. Prescription glasses and other medical glasses should be removed wherever possible. If not, you must ensure that they do not reflect light or create glare and that the eyes are fully visible.

How to get a digital photo for a British passport?

When applying for a British passport online, applicants are required to take and upload a digital passport photo. The UK passport service has very strict rules and the passport photo must have been taken within the last month. If you want to get a digital photo for a British passport, there are five ways to do it:

• Take a photo with a smartphone or digital camera whilst completing the application. You just need someone to take the picture for you.
• Visit a professional photographer’s studio.
• Go to a photo shop and get a digital photo. Some shops provide a code to add the photo to the passport application.
• Use a photo booth before applying. Applicants can again be given a code to add the photo to the passport application, although not all photo booths offer this service.
• The best option is to use a smartphone or tablet to take pictures with our British Passport Digital Photo Online Tool or through our app, available for download via the App store. In both cases, you can use a photo from your photo gallery (although it must have been taken within the last month) or take a new one.

Taking passport photos using your phone

With our British Passport Digital Photo Online Tool or app, you can easily take a new passport image from the comfort of your home. So, how does it work? The following guidelines for taking UK passport photos with your phone will show you how:

Use a smartphone with a high-resolution camera

Use a digital camera, tablet, iPhone or any other smartphone to take a photo. One important condition - the device must have a digital camera that takes pictures in high resolution, with the ability to adjust the focus.

Don’t set the background!

That’s right. Our Online Tool or app will substitute your background with a perfect white background, so you don't have to worry about what's behind you.

Ensure you have appropriate lighting

A passport photo must have good lighting because, if there are shadows in the image, HM Passport Office may reject it. Remember, natural lighting creates the best results. So, stand in front of the window in the morning and take a picture. If natural light does not work, you can use a lamp.

Prepare yourself

Remember these rules:

• Look straight at the camera, with your body facing forwards.
• Ensure you have a neutral facial expression, with your mouth closed.
• Keep your eyes open; with your pupils and irises fully visible.
• Push your hair back so that it does not cover your face and eyes.
• Remove head coverings unless for religious or medical reasons.
• Ensure there are no shadows on your face, shoulders or in the background of the photo.
• If you wear prescription glasses, remove them wherever possible, otherwise make sure they do not reflect light or create glare and that your eyes are visible.

Also, remember, do not:

• Wear tinted glasses and sunglasses.
• Wear headgear unless for religious or medical reasons 
• Smile or grimace.
• Allow shadows in the background of the photo, on your face or on your shoulders.
• Have hair that covers your face or eyes.
• Wear jewellery that covers your face or causes reflections.
• Use Photoshop - the photo must remain unaltered by computer software.

Use the right online tool

After taking or uploading your photo to our online tool or app, the program’s AI will verify the image’s compliance with the UK passport photo specifications. If everything is ok, it will remove the background and send your photo to the email address you have provided. It’s as easy as that!

How long does the online application for a British passport take?

Normally, it will take around 6 weeks to receive your first UK passport, but the process can take longer. You should allow up to 10 weeks, wherever possible. You must provide all of the information required in the passport application, including supporting documentation to avoid unnecessary delays. 

All other application types, such as renewing a passport or applying for a child passport should take slightly less time. Visit the UK government website for current processing times.

Should you need your passport urgently, the application should be made through the 1 Week Fast Track or Online Premium services! It is also possible to save money - £9.50 - by completing a passport application online and using a digital photo.

How to submit your digital photo with your passport application.

1. Firstly, take a photo of the person who is applying for a passport. Then, you need to log into the UK government website.
2. Go to the page titled “ Apply online for a UK passport" and click on the “start now” button. 
3. In the "Get a digital photo” section, pick the "I’ll take or upload a digital photo" option and click the Continue button.
4. You’re now ready to upload your digital image.
5. You should receive a comment about your photo, confirming that it has been checked for any common errors. After that notification, it is time to click the "Use This Photo" button.
6. That’s it! The photo has been submitted. You can then proceed with the rest of the application form.

Passport photo application - UK

It is best to validate your digital passport photo prior to submission to ensure it meets the UK passport photo specification. For this purpose, use our British Passport passport photo online tool app. This allows you to check the photo online. 

Just attach the file and the application will check its compliance with the requirements for the UK passport online application (background, GB passport photo size, centring, lighting etc.)

Last update: 03/06/2023