Official document photos in United Kingdom
British passport, driving licence and visa photos are 35 × 45 mm, and the rule that catches people out is the background: a plain light grey or cream surface, not the pure white most countries want. The head must measure 29 to 34 millimetres from chin to crown, with a neutral expression and nothing covering the face. The digital photo uploaded with an online passport application follows the same framing at a slightly different ratio. HM Passport Office publishes the standard; studios print on 10 × 15 cm paper.
- Official authority
- HM Passport Office
- Common print paper
- 10 × 15 cm
Documents in United Kingdom
Pick the document you are applying for — the photo is cut to its own specification, not to a general size.
- UK Passport PhotoVerifiedUnited Kingdom · 35×45 mm
- UK Passport Digital Photo (online application)VerifiedUnited Kingdom · 36×45 mm
- United Kingdom BASC Firearms / Shotgun Licensing PhotoStandardUnited Kingdom · 35×45 mm
- United Kingdom Driving Licence PhotoStandardUnited Kingdom · 35×45 mm
- United Kingdom ID / residence card PhotoStandardUnited Kingdom · 35×45 mm
- United Kingdom Visa PhotoStandardUnited Kingdom · 35×45 mm
Questions about United Kingdom photos
What photo size do United Kingdom documents use?
Most United Kingdom documents in the catalogue use 35×45 mm. Passports, visas and ID cards are not always the same, so each document page states its own size in millimetres and in pixels.
Can I take a United Kingdom document photo with my phone?
Yes. Take it in even daylight against a plain wall, and we crop it to the exact size, replace the background and run twelve checks before you pay anything.
Which United Kingdom documents can I make a photo for?
We cover 6 documents for United Kingdom, including UK Passport Photo, UK Passport Digital Photo (online application) dan United Kingdom BASC Firearms / Shotgun Licensing Photo. Open one to see its size, its head height, its background and the official source behind it.
Guides that help with your United Kingdom photo
- How to take a passport photo with an iPhoneWhere to stand, which camera to use, and why portrait-mode blur costs you the photo.
- Taking the photo at home without helpA door, a window and a timer are enough. Here is the setup that works in an ordinary room.
- Six mistakes that get a photo rejectedA shadow behind the head, a slight smile, glare on glasses — what reviewers actually look at, and the check that catches each one.