UK passport photo (printed, 35 × 45 mm)
45 mm high by 35 mm wide, head 29–34 mm, cream or light grey background — for paper applications.
Paper passport applications need two identical printed photos, and GOV.UK publishes exact figures for them: 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, with the image of you from the crown of your head to your chin between 29 mm and 34 mm, on a plain cream or light grey background, taken in the last month. This preset draws that template on a 413 × 531 pixel, 300 dpi canvas; the 4×6 sheet lays out eight copies with cut lines for any photo-print kiosk. Applying online instead? Use the digital UK preset.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.75 in) |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to crown) | 29–34 mm |
| Background | cream / light grey |
| Glasses | Only with a medical certificate; no glare, no tint |
| Taken within | The last month |
| Prints needed | 2 identical photos |
| Official source | GOV.UK — Get a passport photo (printed 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 printed photo
Two identical photos, each 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, printed to a professional standard in colour on plain white photographic paper with no border, clear and in focus, without creases or tears, and unaltered by computer software. The photo must be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders, contain no other objects or people, and be taken against a plain cream or light grey background. The image of you, from the crown of your head to your chin, must be between 29 mm and 34 mm high.
The face rules are the same as for digital photos: facing forwards and looking straight at the camera, a plain expression with the mouth closed, eyes open and visible, no hair in front of the eyes, no head covering unless for religious or medical reasons, no shadows on the face or behind you, and no red eye. The photo must have been taken in the last month.
Head 29–34 mm is a large share of the frame
29–34 mm on a 45 mm-high photo is 64–76 % of the height — noticeably more than the US 2 × 2 layout, where the head is 50–69 %. Do not reuse a crop made for another country: select this preset, drag the photo until the crown sits on the top line and the chin falls in the grey band, and the head height is right by construction.
Printing
Download the 4×6 sheet and print it as an ordinary 6 × 4 inch photo at a supermarket or pharmacy kiosk or an online print service; cut along the lines. Eight 35 × 45 mm photos fit on one sheet. GOV.UK asks for plain white photographic paper with no border, which is what a standard photo print is. The print at Walgreens guide shows the kiosk steps; UK retailers work the same way.
Frequently asked questions
Can the background be white?
For the printed photo GOV.UK names cream or light grey, so the preset offers exactly those two. White is allowed for the digital photo, which has its own preset.
Why does the head look big compared with a US photo?
Because the UK rule puts the head at 29–34 mm of a 45 mm frame, about two-thirds to three-quarters of the height. That is the rule, not a mistake in the crop.
Do the photos need to be signed?
Only if your application needs a countersignature; then one photo is signed on the back by your countersignatory as the form instructs. Otherwise both photos stay unmarked.
How many photos fit on a 4×6 print?
Eight 35 × 45 mm photos, laid out with cut lines and small gaps. You need two identical ones; the rest are spares.