UK passport photo (digital)
At least 600 × 750 pixels, 50 KB–10 MB, plain light-coloured background — for the online application.
The UK has two photo standards, one for each way of applying. Apply online and you upload a digital photo, which GOV.UK lets you take yourself; apply on paper and you send two printed 35 × 45 mm photos. This preset is the digital one. It outputs a 4:5 JPEG of at least 600 × 750 pixels — up to 1200 × 1500 when your source photo has the detail — on a plain white, cream or light grey background, and keeps the file between the 50 KB and 10 MB limits. For paper applications use the printed UK preset.
| Head height (chin to crown) | ≈ 64–76 % % — no official figure; the template follows the printed-photo proportions (guide) |
|---|---|
| Background | white / cream / light grey |
| Digital upload | at least 600 × 750 px · JPEG / PNG · ≤ 10 MB · ≥ 50 KB |
| Glasses | Only with a medical certificate; no glare, no tint |
| Taken within | The last month |
| Official source | GOV.UK — Get a passport photo (digital photos) ↗Checked against the official page on 2026-09-20 |
- 100% freeNo account, no paid download, no watermark.
- Nothing is uploadedYour photo is processed on your device and never reaches a server.
- Official rules, citedEvery size and head-height figure links to the government page it comes from.
- Cheap to printDownload a 4×6 sheet and print it at any photo kiosk instead of paying counter prices for two prints.
What GOV.UK requires for a digital photo
The image must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB, in colour, clear and in focus, and unaltered by computer software. It must be taken against a plain light-coloured background with no shadows on your face or behind you. You must be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera, with a plain expression and your mouth closed, eyes open and visible, no hair in front of your eyes, nothing covering your face, and no head covering unless it is for religious or medical reasons. The photo must have been taken in the last month.
GOV.UK does not give a head-height figure for digital photos. The template in the tool uses the same framing as the printed photo — head 29–34 mm on a 45 mm frame, about 64–76 % of the height — which is a close-up of the full head and upper shoulders, exactly what both standards describe. Line the top of the head and the chin up with the two lines and the photo is framed the way the checker expects.
Background: light-coloured, not necessarily cream
The printed rule names cream or light grey; the digital rule says only 'plain light-coloured'. The digital preset therefore offers white as well as cream and light grey. Whichever you choose, the tool replaces the whole background with a single even tone, which is what 'plain' and 'no shadows behind you' actually test for.
Uploading the file
Download the photo and choose it when the application asks for a digital photo. The application checks it automatically and tells you if something fails. If it does, the usual causes are outside the geometry — glasses, a shadow, hair over an eye, an expression — and the reminders under the checklist list them for you to correct before retaking the picture.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the photo myself for an online application?
Yes. GOV.UK allows a photo taken by you or someone else with a phone or camera, as long as it meets the digital rules. The application checks it automatically and tells you if it fails.
Is a white background allowed for the digital photo?
Yes. The digital rule asks for a plain light-coloured background; white, cream and light grey all qualify. The cream-or-light-grey wording applies to printed photos.
Why is the download bigger than 600 × 750?
600 × 750 is the minimum. When your source photo has enough detail the tool outputs up to 1200 × 1500 pixels, which gives the checker more to work with and stays far below 10 MB. It never enlarges the source to get there.
What is a 'digital photo code'?
A code you get from a photo booth or shop that took a digital photo for you. If you use your own photo you do not need one — you upload the file instead.
I am applying by post. Which preset do I use?
The printed UK preset: 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, head 29–34 mm, cream or light grey background, two identical prints. The 4×6 sheet there lays out eight photos with cut lines.