UK Visa & Passport Photo Specs
The UK is one of the few European countries that actively steers you away from pure white: light grey or cream is preferred, because white makes it harder for the automated system to find the face outline.
Generate a photo that matches the spec above — processed locally, never uploaded, no sign-up, with a 6-inch print sheet if you need paper copies.
Make a photo to this specSpecification · UK Visa & Passport Photo Specs
| Size | 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 px at 300 dpi), portrait orientation |
|---|---|
| Head height | 29-34 mm from chin to crown |
| Background | Light grey or cream; pure white is not recommended |
| Digital pixels | Minimum 600 x 750 px |
| Recency | Passport applications require a photo taken in the last month; visa applications follow the checklist, usually within 6 months |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, facing the camera |
| Glasses | Not recommended — glare or a frame across the eyes leads to rejection |
| Facial detail | Both ears must be clearly visible; hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows |
| Printed photo | No border, creases or damage; paper applications usually need two identical photos |
How to shoot a photo that matches
- Use a light grey or cream wall, not white —— Indoor lighting turns most white walls grey or yellow anyway; a proper light grey backdrop is simply more predictable.
- Tuck your hair behind your ears —— Both ears, the eyebrows and the hairline need to be clearly visible. This is a high-frequency rejection point.
- Use the 35 x 45 mm preset in our tool —— It outputs 413 x 531 px; keep the head height between 29 and 34 mm, roughly 64%-76% of the frame.
- Check the capture date —— Passport applications need a photo taken in the last month. If you are also applying for a visa, confirm the limit on the visa centre checklist.
- Print without cropping the crown or shoulders —— Keep the full top of the head and a small strip of shoulder — do not crop tight to the chin.
The UK uses the same 35 x 45 mm size as Schengen but with a different emphasis: the background matters more. Light grey or cream is preferred, on the grounds that a pure white backdrop makes it harder for the automated verification system to locate the face outline. Submitting pure white can trigger a request to resubmit.
The second trap is recency. Passport applications require the photo to have been taken within the last month — considerably stricter than the "within 6 months" rule most countries apply. If you were planning to reuse a three-month-old photo because it "still looks new", that does not work on the passport route.
The third is visible ears. The UK enforces this more strictly than most, and hair covering an ear is a routine rejection reason.
FAQ
Why does the UK discourage pure white backgrounds?
The stated reason is that light grey or cream gives a more stable contrast between the face and the backdrop for automated verification. A white background can be judged non-compliant when exposure or colour cast is uneven.
Can I use the same photo for the UK and Schengen?
The size matches at 35 x 45 mm and the background preference is close (both favour light grey), so one photo usually works for both. This is one of the few cases in Europe where you can share an image.
Do digital and printed photos follow the same rules?
The size is the same, but digital files have a separate minimum pixel count (600 x 750) and a file-size range, and must be unedited. Follow the prompts on the official upload page.
Are religious head coverings allowed?
Yes, provided the whole face from chin to the top of the forehead stays visible and the covering casts no shadow on the face.
Will my photo be rejected just because an ear is covered?
It can be. The visible-ears requirement is enforced fairly tightly, so handle it at the shooting stage rather than hoping it passes.