Home / UK / Passport

UK Passport Photo — Free Online Maker

Make a compliant UK Passport photo at home in 5 minutes. Free, no upload, runs 100% in your browser.

Quick answer: A UK Passport photo is 35×45mm (413×531px at 300dpi) with light grey or white background; the head (chin to crown) must measure 29–34mm (64–76% of height). It must have been taken within the last 6 months; final acceptance is by the issuing authority.

▶ Make my UK Passport photo now

Official-style requirements we encode

Print size	35 × 45 mm
Digital size	413 × 531 px @ 300 dpi
Background	light grey or white
Head size	29–34mm chin to crown (64–76% of photo height)
Head position	No position rule published — centre the head vertically
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, full face visible

Compliance check is advisory; final acceptance is by the issuing authority.

UK Passport: what gets applications rejected

UK passport photos go through HMPO online renewal or Post Office check-and-send. The UK is the outlier on background: plain light grey or white is accepted, 35×45mm, no border. Online uploads are auto-checked for shadows and red-eye before a human ever sees them.

35×45mm, plain light-grey or white background, no border or shadow
Face the camera straight on, plain expression, mouth closed
No red-eye, no hair across eyes; remove glasses to avoid glare flags

How it works (3 steps)

Photograph: white wall 1m behind you, ceiling light on, no flash, camera at eye level.
Upload & align: open the maker (pre-set to UK Passport), drag/pinch to fit the dashed head guides.
Download: single 413×531 file + free 4×6″ print sheet, cut along gray lines.

Photo tips that actually matter

No hat, no hair over eyebrows; remove glasses if possible (no glare).
No shadow on face or wall — step away from the wall, face the light.
Plain wall only; busy background? cut it out free first.
Blurry old scan? preview an upscale before printing.

FAQ

What are the UK Passport photo requirements?

A UK Passport photo is 35×45mm (413×531px at 300dpi) with light grey or white background; the head (chin to crown) must measure 29–34mm (64–76% of height). It must have been taken within the last 6 months; final acceptance is by the issuing authority.

What head size does a UK Passport photo need?

The head (chin to crown) must measure 29–34mm, which is 64–76% of the photo height. The tool draws this range as a guide you align your head to.

What background color for UK Passport?

Light grey or white background is required. The tool lets you pick any colour and warns if it is off-spec, because a transparent cutout can legitimately be re-backed.

Can a UK passport photo have a white background?

Yes — HMPO accepts plain light grey or white. White is the safer default (it also passes Schengen/airline checks), so the tool defaults to white and lists light grey as the tolerated alternative.

Can I take the photo with my phone?

Yes. Stand 1m from a white wall, use ceiling light (no flash), keep the camera at eye level, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. The page checks sharpness before download.

How do I print it?

Download the free 4×6″ sheet and print borderless on 4R photo paper at any print shop, then cut along the gray lines.

Will this photo be accepted?

The tool follows published size/background guidance, but final acceptance is by the issuing authority. Our compliance check is advisory.