UK passport photo requirements — His Majesty's Passport Office

HMPO digital photo checker

The HMPO online passport service runs every uploaded photo through an automated checker that scores it against the official biometric standard. Failures are returned with a specific reason — head too small, background colour, glasses detected — so applicants can correct before resubmitting.

The same checker is used at Post Office Check & Send branches and by overseas British consulates. The standard is identical across new applications, renewals, replacements for lost or stolen passports, and emergency travel documents.

Background, lighting and clothing

Background must be a light plain colour — light grey or cream is the HMPO preference. Pure white frequently fails the auto-checker. The wall behind you must be uniform, free of textures, posters and other people.

Lighting must be even across both sides of the face with no hard shadow under the chin. Wear normal clothing — no uniforms, except religious garments worn daily. Hats and headphones are not allowed; hearing aids are accepted.

Expression, glasses and head position

Expression must be neutral with the mouth closed. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no frown. The HMPO checker is particularly strict on head tilt — anything beyond about 5 degrees off vertical is rejected.

Glasses are banned for all UK passport photos since 2018, including clear prescription, sunglasses, tinted, photochromic and reading glasses. Contact lenses are acceptable; coloured cosmetic lenses that change iris colour are not.

Hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows. Long fringes should be pinned back or styled to one side.

Recency and digital editing rules

The photo must be taken within the last month for new applications and online renewals. Older photos are accepted only in narrow exceptional circumstances (such as recent serious illness) and must be supported by a covering letter.

HMPO permits cropping, brightness and contrast adjustments. Any other digital editing — skin smoothing, eye enlargement, face slimming, AI-generated images — is grounds for rejection and may delay your application by several weeks while it is investigated.

Children, infants and head coverings

For child passport photos, infants and toddlers have eased rules — eyes may be partly closed, expression may not be neutral. The child must be alone in the frame on a plain background. Babies may be photographed lying on a plain white or pale grey sheet.

Religious head coverings (hijab, turban, dastar, sheitel, kippah) are permitted as long as the face from chin to forehead is fully visible and not shadowed. Daily-worn religious head coverings do not require a supporting letter.

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