What size is a UK passport photo?
A printed UK passport photo is 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, with the head 29–34 mm from chin to crown, on a plain cream or light grey background. For an online application, the digital photo must be at least 600 × 750 pixels and between 50 KB and 10 MB, taken in the last month.
How to make a passport photo online
- Pick the country and document, for example USA passport, UK passport or Schengen visa.
- Choose a photo of your face taken against a plain light background in even light.
- Drag and zoom the photo until the top of your head touches the red line and your chin is inside the green band. Use Straighten if your head is tilted.
- Download the digital photo for online forms, or the print sheet with several photos on one 10 × 15 cm print.
- Print the sheet at a photo shop, pharmacy or online print service and cut along the grey lines.
How do I crop a photo to a UK 35 × 45 mm passport size?
Most rejected passport photos are not badly taken, they are badly cropped: the head is too small, too big or off-centre. This tool crops your photo to exactly 35 × 45 mm and shows a red line for the top of the head and a green band for the chin, so you can check that the head is 29–34 mm from chin to crown before you print anything. You get a digital file for online applications and a 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 in) sheet with several photos, ready to cut out.
What size is a passport photo in each country?
| Country / document | Photo size | Head height (chin to top) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA passport & visa | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 25–35 mm (1–1 3/8 in) | White or off-white |
| Canada passport | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | White or light |
| UK passport | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Cream or light grey |
| Schengen visa | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey or white |
| Germany, Italy, Croatia | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm (Croatia 31.5–36) | Plain light |
| France | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm, hair excluded | Light grey or light blue, not white |
| Spain DNI & passport | 26 × 32 mm | about 22–26 mm | White |
| Australia passport | 35–40 × 45–50 mm | 32–36 mm | White or light grey |
Most countries follow the ICAO standard for machine-readable passports, which is why 35 × 45 mm with a 32–36 mm head is so common. The USA, Canada and Spain use their own formats.
How do I make the background white on a passport photo?
After you load your photo, choose White or Light grey under Background. An AI portrait-matting model (MODNet), downloaded once and run on your own device, works out for every pixel how much of it is you and how much is wall, and a second model (ViTMatte) then refines just the band around your hair, the same trimap-and-matting method photo editors use for hair, so even single strands are kept. Everything behind you is then filled with a flat colour. The colour each country prefers is marked recommended; France does not accept white at all.
- Best results: start from a plain, evenly lit wall. The tool is meant to remove shadows and an off-white tint, not to replace a room or a busy background.
- Check the edges: zoom in on your hair and shoulders. If parts of the hair are cut off or the old wall shows through, take a new photo instead.
- Rules on edited photos: the UK, Canada, the USA and Australia say photos must not be altered by software. The safest photo is one taken against a white or light grey wall to begin with.
Tips for a photo that gets accepted
- Light: face a window or soft lamp so there are no shadows on your face or behind you.
- Distance: have someone else take it from 1–2 m away; selfies at arm's length distort the face.
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera.
- Glasses: take them off. The USA bans them, and most other countries only allow them without glare.
- No edits: don't use beauty filters or retouching; authorities reject altered photos.
Official sources
The sizes and rules on this page are based on these official guidelines. Check them before you apply, because rules can change.
Questions
Can I take my own photo for a UK online passport application?
Yes. For online applications HM Passport Office accepts a digital photo you take yourself, as long as it follows the rules: taken in the last month, plain light background, neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses unless you need them.
Does a UK passport photo need a white background?
No. The rules ask for a plain cream or light grey background with clear contrast to your face. Choose Light grey under Background if your wall isn't plain.
Is a UK passport photo 35 × 45 mm?
Yes. Printed UK passport photos are 45 mm high and 35 mm wide and must not be cut down from a larger picture. You need two identical copies for a paper application.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo is cropped and resized by your own browser. Nothing is sent to Okviro Tools or any other server.
Can I change the background to white?
Yes. Under Background choose one of the colours offered for your document (for example White for the USA, Light grey or Cream for the UK). An AI portrait-matting model that runs in your browser (downloaded once, about 40–60 MB) separates you from the wall and puts a plain colour behind you. Use it only to clean up a wall that is already plain and light, because many passport offices reject photos changed with software.
Can I use an iPhone HEIC photo?
Yes. HEIC photos from an iPhone are converted to JPG automatically in your browser, so you can use them straight from your camera roll.
Will my photo definitely be accepted?
The tool makes the size and head position match the official rules, but the authority also checks lighting, focus, expression and background. Follow the tips above and the official link shown for your document.