Why this page converts better
35×45 mm with the UK's own 29–34 mm head-height rule, which is not the same band as the Schengen one
UK passport photo size: 35×45 mm
HM Passport Office asks for 35×45 mm with the head between 29 and 34 mm tall, on a plain cream or light grey background. The guides mark both, and the photo stays on your device.
Why this page converts better
Plain cream and light grey backgrounds, the two HM Passport Office illustrates
Why this page converts better
413×531 px at 300 DPI for printing, well above the 600×750 px minimum for the online application
Why this page converts better
Works for passports, provisional driving licences and railcards from the same crop
About this tool
A UK passport photo is 35×45 mm — the same outer size as a Schengen photo, but not the same crop. HM Passport Office asks for the head, measured chin to crown, to be between 29 and 34 mm. Schengen asks for 70–80% of the height, which on a 45 mm photo is 31.5–36 mm. The bands overlap but they are not identical, and a photo framed for one can fall outside the other.
The background should be plain and light — cream or light grey — with no objects, no pattern and no shadow. You must be facing forward, looking straight at the camera, with a neutral expression and your mouth closed, and nothing covering your face or eyes, including hair.
If you are applying online, the digital photo needs to be at least 600×750 pixels; a 300 DPI export here is 413×531, so use the 600 DPI setting or scale up when submitting digitally. For a printed photo, 35×45 mm at 300 DPI is what the print shop needs.
Common use cases
Passport application or renewal
Online applications take a digital photo; paper applications need two identical printed ones, and for a first passport one must be countersigned on the back.
Provisional driving licence
DVLA uses the same 35×45 mm format, so one session covers both if you are applying around the same time.
Railcards and travel passes
The same crop is accepted for most photocards, which is worth knowing before paying a booth per set.
Official spec
The UK passport photo is 35×45 mm with the head 29 to 34 mm from chin to crown, on a plain light background. Make one in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Photo size
35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)
Head height
64–76% → 28.8–34.2 mm
Eye line
64% → 28.8 mm
Accepted background
Light grey / Off-white / Grey gradient
At 300 DPI
413 × 531 px
On 4×6in photo paper
6 copies (3 × 2)
These dimensions, head ratios and backgrounds follow the issuing authority's published specification. The tool cannot judge expression, lighting, headwear or clutter behind you, so this is guidance rather than a guarantee of acceptance — check the authority's own checklist before you submit.
Finish in 3 steps
Open the tool1
Upload a forward-facing photo with a plain light background and no shadow behind you.
2
Pick UK passport 35×45mm — the guides move to the 29–34 mm head-height band.
3
Frame until your chin and crown sit inside the guides, then export, or print two identical copies on a sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is a UK passport photo the same as a Schengen one?
The outer size is identical at 35×45 mm, but the head-height rules differ: the UK asks for 29–34 mm, Schengen for 70–80% of the height, which is 31.5–36 mm. Re-frame with the right size selected rather than reusing the crop.
Can I wear glasses?
HM Passport Office prefers photos without glasses. If you must wear them, your eyes have to be clearly visible with no glare and no thick frames obscuring them. Removing them is the reliable option.
What resolution do I need for an online application?
At least 600×750 pixels. A 300 DPI export is 413×531, so use the 600 DPI setting for a digital submission — a printed 35×45 mm photo only needs the 300 DPI version.
Does the background have to be white?
No — plain cream or light grey is what the guidance illustrates, and a pure white background can actually make it harder to see the outline of your head. What matters is that it is plain, evenly lit and free of shadow.