UK Passport Photo Size Requirements
Getting your UK passport photo wrong means your application is rejected and you have to start again. The UK Passport Office has strict requirements for both printed and digital passport photos. This guide covers every official requirement for 2025 — dimensions, background, face size, expression, and file format — so your application is accepted first time.
Quick Answer
Getting your UK passport photo wrong means your application is rejected and you have to start again. The UK Passport Office has strict requirements for both printed and digital passport photos.
Try it now — free, no signup
Your images stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded to any server.
Step-by-Step Guide
4 steps · takes under 1 minute
Take the photo against a plain background
UK passport photos require a plain cream or light grey background. No patterns, shadows, or other people visible. Stand 0.5–1m from the background to avoid shadows.
Ensure correct face positioning
The face and crown of the head must measure 29–34mm in the final 45mm-tall photo. Look straight at the camera with mouth closed and a neutral expression.
Use the Passport Photo tool
Upload your photo to the Passport Photo Maker — it crops and formats to the correct UK passport dimensions automatically.
Check all requirements before printing
The final photo must be 35mm wide × 45mm tall. Face must be centred. No red-eye. Photo must be less than 1 month old.
100% Private — Zero Uploads
ImgToolkit runs entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. Your images are never sent to a server, never stored in the cloud, and never seen by anyone else. This makes it safe for sensitive documents, client work, medical imagery, and confidential screenshots.
Pro tip
Pre-optimizing images before uploading to a platform gives you more control than relying on the platform's automatic (and often aggressive) compression.
Format & File Size Comparison
Same 1080×1080px photo processed four ways
| Format | Quality | File Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG (original) | Perfect | 4.2 MB | No compression — too large for web |
| Compressed PNG | Visually identical | 1.1 MB | −74% — transparency preserved |
| JPG (85% quality) | Excellent | 310 KB | −93% · Best for photos |
| WebP (85%)BEST | Excellent | 205 KB | −95% · Recommended for web |
Based on a 1080×1080px photo. Results vary by image content and complexity.
Related Free Tools
All tools run in your browser — no account or upload needed
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions answered
Ready to get started?
Free, instant — your files stay on your device. Always.
Make UK Passport Photo Free