UK Passport Digital Photo Rules: Size, Pixels and File Size
For an online UK passport application, GOV.UK says your digital photo must be clear and in focus, in colour, unaltered by computer software, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50KB and 10MB, and taken in the last month. It must show your head, shoulders and upper body against a plain light-coloured background. Do not crop it; the service does that for you.
The technical rules at a glance
| Requirement | GOV.UK rule |
|---|---|
| Pixel size | At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall |
| File size | At least 50KB and no more than 10MB |
| Colour and quality | Clear, in focus, in colour |
| Editing | Unaltered by computer software |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last month |
| Cropping | Do not crop; include head, shoulders and upper body |
What the photo must show
- No other objects or people, against a plain light-coloured background, in clear contrast to it.
- You facing forwards and looking straight at the camera, with a plain expression and your mouth closed.
- Eyes open and visible, with no hair in front of them and no red eye.
- Nothing covering your face, no head covering unless it is for religious or medical reasons, and no shadows on your face or behind you.
- No glasses unless you have to wear them; never sunglasses or tinted lenses.
Children must be on their own in the picture, and babies must not hold toys or use dummies. Children under 6 do not need to look straight at the camera or have a plain expression, and babies under one do not need their eyes open.
Do you need to resize your photo?
Usually not. A photo straight from a modern phone is normally a few megabytes and thousands of pixels across, which is already inside GOV.UK's limits. Because the photo must be unaltered and uncropped, the safest choice is to upload the original file.
You only need to change the file if it falls outside the limits:
- Over 10MB (some high-resolution cameras): reduce the file size only, without cropping, filters or other edits. In our image resizer, set a target such as 5,000 KB and leave the width and height empty so the picture keeps its full shape.
- Under 50KB or under 600 × 750 pixels: the photo is too small. Take a new one with your phone's main camera rather than enlarging a small file, which makes it blurry.
Taking the photo at home
- Stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall in even daylight, away from windows that cast shadows.
- Ask someone else to take the photo from about arm's length or a little further, at your eye level.
- Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and look directly at the camera.
- Check that your head, shoulders and upper body are in the frame, then upload the original photo.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Photos for passports: rules for digital photos (checked October 2026)
Rules can change. Always follow the instructions shown in the GOV.UK application itself.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a UK digital passport photo be?
At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB, according to GOV.UK.
Should I crop my photo before uploading?
No. GOV.UK says that if you take the photo on your own device you should include your head, shoulders and upper body and not crop it, because the service crops it for you.
Can I edit or filter my passport photo?
No. The photo must be unaltered by computer software, so do not use filters, beauty modes, background removal or retouching.
How recent must the photo be?
It must have been taken in the last month, even if your appearance has not changed.
Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?
Only if you have to. If you must wear them, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames or any glare, reflection or shadow.