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United Kingdom Passport Photo Maker

Upload any photo: the tool removes your existing background, drops in the plain light grey or cream background required for United Kingdom passport, and produces a spec-exact 35×45mm image ready to submit.

Drop your photo hereChoose your photo
or click anywhere in this box to choose a photo

JPG, PNG, HEIC or WebP · Max 25 MB · Face forward, eyes on the camera.

100% private: deleted after processing Free preview, $3 to download or included on Pro Spec-exact 35×45mm output

How to make a United Kingdom passport photo in 3 steps

Upload any photo of yourself, and the tool handles the entire United Kingdom passport spec pipeline, background removal, colour swap, spec-exact crop, file-size compression, in one pass.

1

Start from a photo you already have

A phone shot against any wall works, because the background gets replaced. Remove glasses before you shoot: they are rejected.

2

Background replaced with plain light grey or cream

Your outline, including hair and clothing edges, is separated from the original photo and composited onto the plain light grey or cream that United Kingdom requires for a passport.

3

Cropped to 35×45mm at 300 DPI

That is 413×531 pixels (1.38×1.77 inches). The head is placed 29-34mm from chin to crown, 64-76% of the frame height. Drag the crop box if you want the face sitting differently in the frame.

Understanding the United Kingdom passport spec

HM Passport Office requires a 35×45mm color photograph, either uploaded through the online application or printed for postal submission. The background should be plain light grey or cream, not pure white. The head must be 29-34mm from chin to crown. The online application runs an automated check that rejects photos outside these measurements before you can submit.

Dimensions
35×45 mm
1.38 × 1.77 in
Resolution
300 DPI
Print-ready
Background
plain light grey or cream
AI-swapped
Head height
29–34 mm
Chin to crown

Requirements at a glance

  • 35x45mm print (or 600x750 pixels for digital)
  • Plain light grey or cream background: not pure white
  • Head 29-34mm from chin to crown
  • Face clearly shown: no hair covering eyes
  • Neutral expression, mouth closed
  • Taken within the last month
  • No smiling, no glasses (from 2019 rules)

Common mistakes that get photos rejected

  • Pure white background (should be light grey / cream)
  • Smile: HMPO increasingly rejects smiling photos
  • Head too high or too low in frame
  • Wearing glasses

Where United Kingdom passport photos are actually used

UK passport photo rules are among the strictest in Europe: the automated checker on GOV.UK measures exact head height and rejects photos that fail before you reach submission. Photo booths at Post Office branches are the most common source, but DIY photos work if the background and head size are correct.

Applications that accept this photo spec

  • UK passport application (first-time or renewal) via GOV.UK
  • UK driving licence photocard through DVLA
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) for visa holders
  • UK visa applications (family, student, Skilled Worker)
  • Citizenship application (naturalisation or registration)

United Kingdom passport photo FAQ

What size is a United Kingdom passport photo?

35×45mm (1.38×1.77 inches) at 300 DPI, on a plain light grey or cream background. The head must measure 29-34mm from chin to the top of the head.

What background color does United Kingdom require for passport photos?

Plain light grey or cream. A background that does not match, the wrong shade, a gradient, a shadow cast behind you, or any visible texture or pattern, is one of the most common reasons a photo is sent back. This tool replaces whatever is behind you with the one the spec asks for.

Can I take a United Kingdom passport photo with my phone?

Yes. Modern phone cameras produce more than enough resolution for the 35×45mm output. What matters is even lighting (no harsh shadows on your face), a straight-on angle, and a neutral expression. This tool handles the background and sizing.

What file size does this tool produce?

The output JPEG is kept under 10000 KB while preserving the 300 DPI resolution the spec requires. Upload limits vary between government portals and consulates, so check the one you are filing through: if it caps lower, use our Image Compressor to reduce further.

Is my uploaded photo saved on your servers?

No. It is processed in memory and discarded as soon as the result is produced. The background model runs on the server because it is too large to run in a browser; nothing is written to disk or logged.

Can I print the United Kingdom passport photo at home?

Yes. The output is a 300 DPI JPEG at exactly 35×45mm, so any inkjet or laser printer produces the correct physical size when you print at 100% scale (not "fit to page"). Use the 4×6 print sheet option to get multiple copies on one sheet of photo paper.

Do I need to sign up or pay?

No sign-up. Making the photo and checking it against the spec is free, guests get 2 a day and a free account 5 a day, 10 a month. The finished photo without the watermark is $3, paid once, or included on Pro and Business plans.

What if the background removal is not perfect?

Hair, clothing edges and skin tones come out cleanly in most photos. If an edge looks wrong, re-shoot in indirect daylight, or skip the background swap and use the crop alone.
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