UK passport photo size — 35×45 mm HMPO exact dimensions

Exact dimensions and pixel size

The UK passport photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall — a portrait rectangle, not a square. At the recommended 600 DPI the digital equivalent is approximately 827×1063 pixels. The HMPO online renewal flow at gov.uk accepts JPG only, sRGB colour, between 50 KB and 10 MB; we target around 200 KB for fast uploads.

Although the printed format is 35×45 mm, the digital photo checker at HMPO actually validates by aspect ratio and pixel density rather than absolute pixel count — but staying close to 827×1063 at 600 DPI avoids any rounding ambiguity. The same dimensions apply to UK passport renewal, first-time applications, child passports, and emergency travel documents at UK consulates.

Head height and positioning

Head height from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head — including hair where present — must measure between 29 and 34 mm. In percentage terms, that's 65-75% of the photo's height. Faces framed too small (selfie at arm's length) account for the bulk of HMPO digital-checker rejections.

Eyes must be open and looking straight at the lens, on an even horizontal line. No head tilt, no looking up or down. Shoulders should be visible at the bottom edge of the frame, and the head must be centered horizontally with similar margin on both sides.

Background — light grey or cream, not pure white

HMPO accepts plain light grey or cream backgrounds. Pure white is technically allowed in the published guidance but the gov.uk digital checker frequently flags it as 'background too similar to clothing' when applicants wear light-coloured tops. A neutral light grey near #EEEEEE bypasses that edge case.

Background must be uniform — no patterns, no doorframes, no second person in frame. Shadows from indoor light behind the head are the single biggest cause of HMPO digital-checker failures, and the reason most high-street photo booths still outperform amateur DIY attempts.

Recency, glasses and expression

HMPO requires the photo to be taken within the last month for new and renewal applications. For child passports the same one-month rule applies, with the additional requirement that the child be alone in the frame with eyes open and mouth closed. Babies may be photographed on a plain background of any neutral colour.

Glasses are not permitted — HMPO removed the medical exception in 2018. Religious head coverings are permitted only if the face is fully visible from chin to forehead. Expression must be neutral, with mouth closed and a relaxed (not exaggerated) jaw; subtle natural mouth lines are fine but smiling is not.

HMPO digital photo checker upload requirements

The gov.uk 'Apply for a UK passport' service runs every uploaded image through the HMPO digital photo checker before payment. The checker validates background uniformity, head position, face occlusion, gaze direction, expression, and lighting in a single pass — failures are returned with a numeric reason code.

complypic produces JPGs sized to 35×45 mm at 600 DPI on a #EEEEEE background, targeting the centre of the checker's acceptance window. The same digital file can also print onto a 4×6 inch sheet for paper-based applications at Post Office Check & Send counters.

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