🇬🇧 Official UK guidelines

Every UK ID photo,
done in three minutes.

2 document types — passport, visa, and ID photo specs for UK, with the dimensions and background rules each one expects.

Government-compliant specs
Your face is yours.

Select your document

Specs and tools for every document we support.

Guides for every situation

Practical writeups from the team that handles compliance review.

Cross-border

Australia Visa Photo (UK)

Australian visa photo for UK applicants: same 35x45mm size but different rules. No glasses, no smiling, white background. ImmiAccount specs and common mistakes.

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Cross-border

France Visa Photo (UK)

France visa photo specs for British applicants: 35x45mm, light grey/blue background. Same size as UK passport but background differs and glasses are allowed. Post-Brexit visa guide.

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Application

Apply / Renew Passport

Apply for or renew a UK passport online at gov.uk. Costs £88.50 for adults online. Processing takes around 10 weeks. Step-by-step guide with photo requirements.

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For Foreigners

UK Photo Guide (Foreigners)

UK biometric photo specs for foreigners: BRP, visa extensions, ILR, and Skilled Worker visa. 35×45mm, light grey background, no glasses. Where to get photos and what's different from your home country.

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Cross-border

Portugal Visa Photo (UK)

Portugal visa photo specs for British applicants: 35x45mm, light grey background. Post-Brexit visa types (D7, D8), VFS Global locations, and common mistakes.

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Troubleshooting

Photo Rejected

Why your UK passport photo was rejected and how to fix it. The 7 most common reasons: wrong background colour, glasses, photo too old, shadows, and more.

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Printing

Where to Print

Print UK passport photos at Boots, Tesco, Photo-Me booths, Timpson, and more. Step-by-step instructions, prices, and paper tips for each retailer.

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Requirements

UK Visa Photo Requirements

UK visa photos must be 35×45mm on a light grey or cream background. No glasses allowed. Covers Skilled Worker, Student, Family, Visitor, and BRP photos.

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Requirements

UK Passport Photo Requirements

UK passport photos must be 35×45mm on a light grey or cream background. Complete official specifications, digital requirements, and photo code system explained.

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Common rejection reasons

Pro tips from our review team

Most UK photo rejections come down to the same five mistakes. Get these right and the rest is easy.

Even lighting

Face a window for soft, natural light. Avoid shadows on your face or behind you — overhead lighting alone usually casts shadows under the eyes.

Neutral expression

Look straight at the camera with both eyes open and mouth closed. A small natural smile is fine; an exaggerated one is not.

Clear face

Hair should not cover your eyes or cast shadows on your face. Remove sunglasses, hats, and most head coverings unless worn daily for religious reasons.

Everyday clothing

Wear what you normally would. Uniforms, camouflage, and white clothing against a white background are common reasons for rejection.

Plain background

Stand against a plain, light-colored wall with no shadows or patterns. We can also remove the background automatically if you can't find a clean wall.

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