United Kingdom · HM Passport Office · Verified October 22, 2026
UK Passport Photo (Printed, 35×45 mm) — 35×45 mm, Free Maker
- 35×45 mm
- JPG
- Plain cream or light grey
Off by default: this authority rejects edited backgrounds. Take the photo against a plain wall instead — we'll check it.
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Drop a photo and ExactFit turns it into a UK Passport Photo (Printed, 35×45 mm) that meets HM Passport Office's rules. For citizens of the United Kingdom applying or renewing.
UK Passport Photo (Printed, 35×45 mm) requirements
| Document | UK Passport — paper application |
|---|---|
| Issued by | HM Passport Office (United Kingdom) |
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Format | JPG |
| Background colour | Plain cream or light grey |
| Head height | 64.4–75.5% of photo height (29–34 mm) |
| Colour | Colour photo required |
| Taken within | the last month |
| Submitted as | Printed photo |
The rules in plain words
- Two identical photos, 45 mm high by 35 mm wide — not a cut-down larger picture.
- Crown of the head to chin between 29 mm and 34 mm.
- Printed to a professional standard on plain white photographic paper, in colour, unaltered by software.
- Close-up of the full head and upper shoulders against a plain cream or light grey background.
- Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, facing forwards and looking straight at the camera.
- No hair in front of the eyes, no head covering unless for religious or medical reasons, nothing covering the face.
- No shadows on the face or behind you, and no 'red eye'.
- Avoid glasses; if you must wear them, no sunglasses or tinted lenses and no frames, glare or reflections over the eyes.
- Only you in the photo — no other people or objects.
How to take a UK Passport Photo at home
- 1Stand about half a metre in front of a plain cream or light grey wall. Distance from the wall stops shadows behind your head.
- 2Face a window or soft light so both sides of your face are evenly lit — no harsh overhead light.
- 3Ask someone to hold the camera at your eye level, 1–1.5 m away. Selfies at arm's length make noses look bigger and get rejected.
- 4Look straight at the lens with a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, hair away from your eyes.
- 5Take off your glasses unless you have a medical reason to wear them.
- 6Drop the photo here, download the result, then use the print sheet to print at exact size.
Tips specific to this document
- Print the 35×45 mm sheet at a high-street photo kiosk and cut along the marks.
- If someone needs to countersign, they write on the back of one photo — keep the print clean.
Common reasons photos are rejected
- Head size outside 29–34 mm.
- Printed on ordinary paper or at home on an inkjet.
- Photo older than one month.
Questions people ask
What size is a UK Passport Photo?
HM Passport Office requires 35×45 mm. ExactFit sizes your photo to exactly this and shows a checklist so you can confirm before you submit.
How big should my head be in the photo?
Measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair), your head must take up 64.4–75.5% of the photo height — 29 to 34 mm on the print. The tool detects your face and crops to land inside this range automatically.
What background colour is required?
Plain cream or light grey, plain and without shadows or patterns. HM Passport Office does not accept digitally edited backgrounds, so take the photo against a plain wall; ExactFit checks the background but leaves it unchanged by default.
Can I wear glasses?
Avoid glasses; if you must wear them, no sunglasses or tinted lenses and no frames, glare or reflections over the eyes.
How recent does the photo need to be?
It must have been taken within the last month and look like you do now.
Can I take a UK Passport Photo with my phone?
Yes. Have someone take it from about 1–1.5 m away against a plain wall, make it here, then print it at true size with the print sheet (4×6 in, A4 or A6) at a photo kiosk.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. All processing — face detection, cropping, background and compression — runs inside your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.
Will my photo be accepted?
ExactFit checks every measurable requirement against the official rules, but the final decision is made by HM Passport Office. Follow the checklist and the official guidance linked on this page.
Official source
Last verified against the official source: October 22, 2026
ExactFit is not affiliated with any government. Requirements can change; always confirm with the official source. No guarantee of acceptance.
Spotted a change? Tell us and we’ll re-verify within days.