UK Passport photo — correct size, accepted first time
Upload your photo and OnSpec formats it to the exact United Kingdom specification: 35 × 45 mm at 600 DPI, with the head positioned inside the accepted range. The crop and a watermarked preview are free.
Spec verified against the official United Kingdom requirements · last checked 2026-07-15.
Upload a photo to position it inside the frame
35 × 45 mm · 827 × 1063 px @ 600 DPI
The crop and a watermarked sample are free. Unlock removes the watermark and gives you the print-ready file plus a 4×6 sheet, backed by our acceptance guarantee for the specifications we control.
Your photo is processed on this device — including background removal. If you hand it over from your phone, that transfer is end-to-end encrypted: our server only ever holds a blob it can’t read, deleted the moment your computer picks it up.
United Kingdom photo requirements
A UK passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall — a portrait rectangle, not a square — and HM Passport Office is specific about the head size: the distance from the crown of your head to your chin must be between 29 mm and 34 mm. The background should be plain cream or light grey (not white), with your face in clear contrast to it. OnSpec sizes the file to exactly 35 x 45 mm at 600 DPI and draws the crown and chin guides so you can land inside that 29–34 mm window.
- Photo size
- 35 × 45 mm
- File at 600 DPI
- 827 × 1063 px
- Head height
- 29–34 mm
- Background
- #D9D9D9
- Printed photo must measure 45 mm high by 35 mm wide.
- Photo must be taken within the last month — the UK's recency rule is the strictest.
- Your head, from the crown to your chin, must measure between 29 mm and 34 mm high.
- Use a plain cream or light grey background, with your face in clear contrast to it.
- Face forwards and look straight at the camera with a plain expression and no smiling, mouth closed.
- Keep your eyes open and visible, with no hair across them and no 'red eye'.
- Do not wear glasses unless you must; if you do, they cannot be tinted and your eyes must be clear of frames, glare, reflection, or shadow.
- No head covering, except worn for religious or medical reasons.
- No shadows on your face or behind you, and nothing covering your face.
How to make a compliant United Kingdom photo
- 1.Choose a recent, front-facing colour photo taken against a plain cream or light-grey background with even lighting.
- 2.Upload it to OnSpec and select UK Passport.
- 3.Position the top of your head at the upper guide and your chin at the lower guide so your head measures 29–34 mm in the final print.
- 4.If your background is busy or the wrong colour, turn on background removal to place yourself on plain light grey.
- 5.Download the 35 x 45 mm file for an online application, or the 4x6 sheet for printed submission.
Why United Kingdom photos get rejected
- Photo not taken within the last month — the UK requires it be taken in the last month, the strictest recency rule anywhere.
- Head outside the required 29–34 mm crown-to-chin measurement.
- Pure white or dark background instead of plain cream or light grey.
- Smiling or mouth open — a plain expression with the mouth closed is required.
- Red-eye, or hair falling across the eyes.
- Glasses causing glare, reflection, or shadow over the eyes.
- Shadows on the face or on the background behind you.
Requirements formatted from the official United Kingdom guidance. Spec last verified 2026-07-15. Rules can change — always check the official source before submitting.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a UK passport photo?
35 mm wide by 45 mm tall. At 600 DPI that is an 827 x 1063 pixel file, which OnSpec produces exactly.
How big should my head be in a UK passport photo?
The image of your head, from the crown to your chin, must be between 29 mm and 34 mm high — a little under two-thirds of the 45 mm photo height.
What background colour does the UK require?
A plain cream or light grey background, with your face in clear contrast to it. Pure white is not recommended. OnSpec composites you onto a compliant light grey.
Can I smile in a UK passport photo?
No. You must have a plain expression with your mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
Can I wear glasses?
It's best not to. If you must wear them they cannot be tinted, and your eyes must be clear of the frames and free of glare, reflection, or shadow.