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UK Passport Photo Maker (35 × 45 mm)

Get a printed-size UK passport photo or the digital version for online applications, framed to GOV.UK’s head-size rules.

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    How to make a UK passport photo

    UK passport photos come in two forms. Paper applications need two identical 35 × 45 mm prints, and online applications need a digital photo of at least 600 × 750 pixels. Both must show your head at the right size against a plain cream or light gray background. This page creates either version from a photo you take at home.

    1. Step 1

      Photograph yourself

      Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera, with nothing covering your face.

    2. Step 2

      Choose printed or online

      Pick “UK passport, printed” for paper forms or “UK passport, online application” for the GOV.UK upload.

    3. Step 3

      Check the head size

      The guide lines show the 29 to 34 mm crown-to-chin range. Zoom slightly if your hair makes the head look large.

    4. Step 4

      Download

      Save the digital JPG for uploading, or a 4 × 6 in or A4 sheet to print two identical copies.

    GOV.UK photo rules at a glance

    • Printed size: 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, not cut down from a larger photo.
    • Head: 29 to 34 mm from the chin to the crown of the head.
    • Background: plain cream or light gray, clearly different from your face and hair.
    • Digital photo: at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB.
    • Recent: taken within the last month.

    These figures come from the GOV.UK passport photo pages, which the tool links next to each option. HM Passport Office updates its guidance from time to time, so check it on the day you apply.

    Applying online: the digital photo

    The online service checks your photo automatically as you upload it. The digital preset saves a 900 × 1125 pixel JPG, comfortably above the minimum, with your head framed using the same proportions as the printed rule. File sizes land well within the allowed range, and the tool warns you if a photo would fall under the 50 KB minimum.

    For a child’s passport the same sizes apply, but GOV.UK relaxes some rules for young children; babies under one, for example, do not need their eyes open. Lay a baby on a plain cream or gray sheet and photograph from above; the AI handles the framing afterward.

    Paper forms: two identical prints

    Paper applications ask for two identical photos, and one of them usually needs a countersignature on the back. Our 4 × 6 inch sheet fits six 35 × 45 mm photos, so you get spares in case one is damaged, and A4 fits thirty. Print at actual size on photographic paper; plain office paper is not accepted. Thin gray lines mark where to cut, and the photo itself has no border, as GOV.UK requires.

    Light gray or cream?

    Both are allowed. Light gray tends to suit darker hair and is the safer default, because it keeps clear contrast around the edges. Cream can look warmer with pale skin and light hair. White is not on the UK list, which is why this preset leaves it out. Whichever you pick, it replaces your real wall, so you can take the picture at home against anything reasonably plain.

    If the tool leaves a faint halo of your old wall around curly or flyaway hair, open “Fix background” and use the brush to tidy it before saving.

    Frequently asked questions

    What size is a UK passport photo?

    Printed photos are 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Digital photos for online applications must be at least 600 by 750 pixels.

    How big should my head be?

    Between 29 and 34 mm from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head on a 45 mm photo.

    Can I use a white background for a UK passport?

    GOV.UK asks for a plain cream or light gray background, so this preset offers only those two colors.

    Can I take my UK passport photo at home?

    Yes. Many people use a phone photo for the online application. Ask someone else to take it, as selfies are not accepted.

    How many prints do I need for a paper form?

    Two identical photos. The 4 × 6 inch sheet gives you six, so you have spares.

    Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

    No. The AI runs in your browser and the photo never leaves your device until you choose to upload it to GOV.UK yourself.

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