When you apply for or renew a UK passport online, you upload a digital photo instead of sending printed ones. The rules for that photo are different from the old printed rules in one important way: you should not crop it. Here is what HM Passport Office asks for.
The rules for a digital photo
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pixels | At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, with no maximum |
| File size | 50 KB to 10 MB |
| Age | Taken in the last month |
| Colour | A colour photo, not edited |
| Background | Plain and light-coloured, in clear contrast with you |
| Framing | Your head, shoulders and upper body, not cropped |
Source: gov.uk, photos for passports.
Do not crop it
This is the rule that surprises people. The passport website crops the photo itself, so it asks you to upload it with your head, shoulders and upper body showing, and with space around your head. A photo cropped tightly around the face, like a printed passport photo, can cause problems.
That is why the UK passport page on SafeResize keeps your whole photo. It only makes sure the photo is big enough, within the file size, and saved as a JPEG.
Your face and pose
- A neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes clearly visible.
- Glasses only if you need them, never tinted, and with no glare on the lenses.
- No head covering, unless you wear it for religious or medical reasons.
- Ask someone else to take the photo. The UK service says you will need someone to help you.
Other ways to get the photo
You can also use a digital photo code from a photo booth or a shop that offers them. You enter the code in the application instead of uploading a file. It costs money, but it is an option if you cannot get a good photo at home.
Printed photos for paper forms
If you apply on a paper form, the old printed rules apply: 35 × 45 mm photos, with your face 29 to 34 mm from chin to crown, against a plain cream or light grey background.
UK visa and ETA photos
Visa applications (UKVI) have their own rules, which are close to the passport rules with a few differences:
- At least 600 × 750 pixels, portrait, from 50 KB to 6 MB, in JPG only.
- It must not be the same photo as the one in your passport or ID card.
- It must not be mirrored, flipped or filtered.
The UK ETA app scans your face with your phone camera, so it does not need a photo file. If you apply for an ETA online instead, the visa photo rules apply. See the UK visa photo page and the UK ETA photo page.
How to do it with SafeResize
- Take the photo against a plain, light wall, with someone else holding the phone.
- Open the UK passport photo page and add it.
- Check that the whole photo shows your head, shoulders and upper body.
- Download it and upload it to the passport application.
We checked these rules on gov.uk on 28 September 2026. They can change, so check gov.uk before you apply.