UK Passport Photo Requirements (2026 HMPO Guide)

Photo Size and Dimensions

• Photo size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall
• Face height (chin to crown of head): 29 mm to 34 mm
• Minimum resolution: 300 DPI (413 × 531 pixels)
• Two identical photos required per passport application (printed)

Background Requirements

The background must be plain white, light grey, or cream with no patterns, textures, shadows, or other objects visible. HMPO requires a uniform, light-coloured background. Kindro’s AI automatically removes your background and replaces it with a clean, compliant white — no need to find a perfect wall.

Facial Expression and Pose

• Face the camera directly — no tilting or turning
• Keep a neutral expression with mouth closed
• Both eyes must be open and clearly visible
• Head must be centred and not cropped at the top

Glasses — Not Allowed Since 2018

Since November 2018, HMPO no longer accepts passport photos with glasses of any kind. This includes prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses. The change was made to improve facial recognition accuracy at border control.

If you normally wear glasses, simply remove them before taking your photo. This is one of the most common reasons for rejection — many people are unaware of the 2018 rule change.

Clothing and Accessories

• No hats or head coverings unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons
• No headphones or wireless earbuds
• Avoid white clothing that blends with the background
• Hair must not cover the face or eyes

Photo Quality

• Must be in colour (no black and white)
• Taken within the last month
• No filters, effects, or digital alterations to facial features
• Properly exposed — no overexposure, underexposure, or red-eye
• Printed on photo-quality paper with no visible pixels or inkjet lines
• No creases, scratches, or ink marks on the photo

Digital Submission Specifications

When applying online through GOV.UK, you can upload a digital photo instead of posting printed photos. The digital photo must meet these additional specifications:

• At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
• JPEG format
• File size under 10 MB
• No red-eye, shadows, or glare
• Taken against a plain light background

Kindro outputs at 413×531 pixels (300 DPI), which meets the digital requirements. The JPEG file is typically well under 1 MB.

Common Rejection Reasons

• Wearing glasses (banned since 2018)
• Shadows on face or background
• Head too large or too small in the frame (face must be 29–34 mm)
• Non-plain or uneven background
• Incorrect dimensions (not 35 × 45 mm)
• Low-resolution or blurry image
• Photo older than 1 month
• Expression not neutral (smiling, mouth open)

Baby and Child Passport Photos

Children and infants must meet the same photo requirements as adults (with minor allowances for very young babies). Tips for photographing babies and young children:

• Lay the baby on a plain white sheet or blanket
• Take the photo from directly above
• Make sure the eyes are open and looking at the camera
• No dummies, toys, or other people visible
• Mouth should be closed (slight allowance for very young babies)
• Children under 6 do not need a neutral expression (slight smile acceptable)

Related Guides

• Free UK Passport Photo Tool →
• UK Passport Photo Cost →
• How to Print Your Photo →
• Passport Photo FAQ →
• Rejection Reasons & Fixes →