Where to Print Passport Photos in the UK (2026)
Whether you already have a digital passport photo or need one from scratch, here are all your options — from Photo-Me booths at train stations to Boots and Tesco photo counters. Cheapest route: our online service plus any photo printer, under £2 total.
Cheapest Option
Online service (£1.35) + self-service print (~£0.35) = under £2 total
This printing guide works for all UK document photos — passport, driving licence, visa, and BRP. The print process is the same regardless of document type.
Which Option Is Right for You?
There are two different situations:
A) You need a passport photo from scratch — photo taken, processed, and printed. Retailers like Boots, Timpson, and Photo-Me booths handle everything in one visit (£5-£15). Alternatively: take the photo at home, process with our online service (£1.35), and print at any photo kiosk (£0.30-£0.50).
B) You already have a digital passport photo file — from our service, a photographer, or another app. You just need to print it. Skip to the retailer instructions below.
Self-Service Kiosks Print 1:1
Photo kiosks at Boots, Tesco, and other retailers print your file exactly as uploaded — they don’t resize or crop. If you’re printing your own file, it must already be in the correct format. Our tool generates a print-ready 6×4 inch sheet with the photos already sized at 35×45mm.
Price Comparison
| Method | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Online service + kiosk print | ~£1.70 | 5 minutes |
| Photo-Me booth | £5–8 | 5 minutes |
| Boots photo service | £10–12 | 15 minutes |
| Timpson / Max Spielmann | £10–15 | 15 minutes |
| Post Office | £8–12 | 20 minutes |
Photo-Me Booths
Photo-Me operates over 8,000 booths across the UK — in train stations, supermarkets, shopping centres, and post offices. They are the most accessible option for most people.
Find a booth
Photo-Me booths are in most major train stations, Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, and shopping centres. Use photo-me.co.uk to find your nearest booth.
Select passport photo
Choose 'UK Passport Photo' on the touchscreen. The booth is pre-configured with the correct light grey background and 35×45mm dimensions.
Take your photo
Sit on the adjustable stool, position your face within the guide on screen. The booth takes multiple shots and lets you choose the best one. Remove glasses before sitting down.
Pay and collect
Pay £5-£8 by card or coins. Prints are ready in about 2 minutes. Some newer booths also provide a digital photo code for the online passport application.
Tip: Newer Photo-Me booths (the white ones with touchscreens) produce better quality and offer digital codes. Older blue booths still work but may not offer the code option.
Boots
Boots offers two services: a full passport photo service at the photo counter, and self-service photo kiosks for printing your own files.
Boots Photo Service (£10-£12)
A trained member of staff takes your photo against the correct background, verifies compliance, and provides prints plus a 16-character digital photo code for the online application. Available at most larger Boots stores. No appointment needed.
Boots Self-Service Kiosk (£0.30-£0.50 per print)
If you already have a digital file:
- Find the photo kiosk in store (usually near the pharmacy)
- Insert a USB stick, connect via Bluetooth, or use the Boots Photo app
- Select 6×4 inch print size
- Choose glossy photo paper
- Pay at the kiosk and collect your prints
Boots vs. Photo-Me: Boots photo service gives you a photo code, which is convenient for online applications. Photo-Me booths are quicker if you just need physical prints.
Timpson / Max Spielmann
Timpson and Max Spielmann (same group) offer passport photo services at over 2,000 locations, often inside shopping centres and on high streets. Price: £10-£15 for prints and a digital code. The process is similar to Boots — staff take the photo and handle compliance.
Max Spielmann also has self-service kiosks in some stores for printing your own digital files.
Tesco
Many larger Tesco stores offer passport photo services, either through a dedicated photo counter or a Photo-Me booth in the entrance area.
- Tesco photo counter: £7-£10 for passport photos with code
- Photo-Me booth in Tesco: £5-£8 (same as standalone booths)
- Tesco Photo kiosk: Print your own file on 6×4 glossy for around £0.35
Post Office
The Post Office offers a passport photo service including a Check & Send option where staff verify your entire passport application, including the photo. Cost: £8-£12 for photos, plus £16 for the Check & Send service if you want the full review.
This is the most expensive option but gives you the most peace of mind — they’ll flag any issues before you submit.
Snappy Snaps
Snappy Snaps is a photo specialist chain with locations in London and major cities. They offer a professional passport photo service for £12-£15 with a digital code. Quality is excellent, but availability is limited compared to Boots or Photo-Me.
Printing Tips
Paper: Always use glossy photo paper. Matte is generally accepted but glossy is the standard. Never use plain paper — it will be rejected.
Size: Print on 6×4 inch (15×10cm) paper. Our tool generates a sheet with multiple 35×45mm passport photos already positioned on a 6×4 print.
Don’t use a home inkjet printer. The print quality of consumer inkjet printers is almost never good enough for passport photos. Ink can smear, colours may be inaccurate, and the resolution is often too low. A 6×4 print at Boots or Tesco costs under 50p — it’s not worth the risk.
Cut carefully. Each passport photo on the printed sheet should measure exactly 35mm × 45mm. Use scissors or a paper trimmer — don’t tear.
Digital Photo for Online Applications
If you’re applying online at gov.uk, you can upload a digital photo directly — no printing needed. Our tool provides a compliant JPEG file ready for upload. You only need physical prints if applying by post or using the Check & Send service at the Post Office.
Photo Code vs. Digital Upload
When applying online at gov.uk, you have two options:
Photo code route: Get photos at Boots, Timpson, or another retailer that issues a 16-character photo code. Enter this code in the online application and your photo is linked automatically. The code is valid for 90 days.
Upload route: Take your own photo (or use our service), and upload the JPEG file directly. The file must be at least 600×750 pixels and under 10MB. Our tool produces a file that meets these specs.
Both routes are equally valid. The photo code is slightly more convenient; uploading gives you more control over the photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I print passport photos in the UK?
Boots, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Max Spielmann, Timpson, Snappy Snaps, and Photo-Me booths at train stations and supermarkets. Photo-Me booths are the most widely available — over 8,000 across the UK.
How much do passport photos cost at Boots?
Boots passport photo service costs around £10-£12 for a set of prints plus a digital photo code. If you bring your own digital file, you can print at a Boots photo kiosk for around £0.30-£0.50 per 6×4 inch print.
Can I print passport photos at Tesco?
Yes. Tesco offers passport photo services at many stores, typically £7-£10 for prints and a photo code. Tesco also has self-service photo kiosks where you can print your own file.
What size paper should I use for UK passport photos?
Print on 6×4 inch (15×10cm) glossy photo paper. Our tool generates a 6×4 inch sheet with multiple 35×45mm passport photos — print the sheet as-is and cut them out.
Can I print passport photos at home?
Technically yes, but home inkjet printers rarely produce the quality needed for official documents. The ink can smudge and the resolution may be too low. For a few pence at a Boots or Tesco kiosk, the result is much more reliable.
What is a passport photo code?
A 16-character code given by certain UK retailers (Boots, Timpson, Post Office) that links your photo to the online passport application. It's optional — you can upload your own digital photo instead.
Get Your Digital Photo First
Before you print, you need a compliant digital file. Upload a selfie — we remove the background, set the correct light grey, crop to 35×45mm, and verify it meets HM Passport Office standards.
Create My Passport Photo£1.35 for the digital file + print-ready version. Photos never leave your device.