UK Passport Photo Checker: Test Your Photo Before You Apply

Applying for a UK passport? Our UK passport photo checker online free preview tests your picture against the rules published on GOV.UK before you apply. A photo that breaks the rules delays your application, so it pays to check first. Use this passport photo checker UK applicants can open on any phone or computer, and fix problems before you submit.

1. How to Use the UK Passport Photo Checker

Checking your photo takes about a minute. Follow the three steps below, and retake the picture as often as you need until every check passes.

1.1 Step 1: Upload or Take Your Photo

Select a photo from your camera roll, or take a new one. GOV.UK says the photo must have been taken in the last month, so use a fresh picture. You also need a new photo every time you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.

GOV.UK allows you to take a digital photo on your own device, but you need someone to help you take it. A selfie does not meet that rule, so ask a friend or family member to hold the camera.

1.1.1 Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG and WebP

Upload a JPEG, PNG, or WebP image directly from your smartphone, tablet, or computer (up to 20 MB). Our tool accepts these standard formats and checks your photo against official digital (≥600 × 750 pixels, 50KB–10MB) and print requirements. Note: If your phone saves photos in HEIC format, modern mobile browsers convert it automatically, or you can select JPEG in your camera settings before uploading.

1.2 Step 2: Separate Requirements for Digital vs Paper Applications

Digital and printed passport applications have different rules:

• Digital Application (Online on GOV.UK): GOV.UK requires an uncropped digital photo showing your head, shoulders, and upper body. You must not crop it closely yourself because the GOV.UK online system crops the photo automatically during submission. Your digital file must be at least 600 × 750 pixels, between 50KB and 10MB, in colour, and unaltered by computer software.
• Paper Application (Printed Form): Paper submissions require 2 identical printed photographs measuring exactly 35 mm wide by 45 mm high (crown to chin height between 29 mm and 34 mm) printed on plain white photographic paper with no border.

Our tool checks your image against official parameters and provides outputs matching your application route.

1.3 Step 3: Choose Your Download Option

Once your photo passes the checks, select the download option that matches your application:

1.3.1 Digital file and printable sheet options

• Digital Photo (for online applications): Download a single high-resolution JPEG file formatted to meet GOV.UK digital requirements (minimum 600 × 750 pixels) with your original upper-body framing preserved for the official portal upload.
• Printable 6×4″ Sheet (for paper forms): Download a high-resolution 300 DPI 6×4″ sheet containing multiple identical 35 × 45 mm photos with standard cutting guides, ready for home or pharmacy printing.

2. What Our Passport Photo Checker Tests

We check your picture against the written GOV.UK rules. Here is how the digital and printed rules compare.

Rule	Digital photo (online application)	Printed photos (paper application)
How many	One digital photo	2 identical photos
Size	At least 600 × 750 px	45 mm high × 35 mm wide
File size	At least 50KB, no more than 10MB	Not applicable
Head & framing	Upper body & shoulders included (portal auto-crops)	Crown to chin between 29 mm and 34 mm
Paper / Output	JPEG file upload	Plain white photographic paper, no border
Background	Plain, light-coloured, in clear contrast to you	Plain cream or light grey, in clear contrast to you
Age of photo	Taken in the last month	Taken in the last month
Editing	Unaltered by computer software	Unaltered by computer software

2.1 Face, Pose and Expression Checks

GOV.UK sets clear rules for how you must look in the picture. The checker tests the following:

• You face forwards and look straight at the camera.
• You have a plain expression and your mouth is closed.
• Your eyes are open and visible.
• No hair is in front of your eyes.
• Nothing covers your face.
• No head covering, unless it is for religious or medical reasons.
• No other objects or people appear in the photo.

2.1.1 Head centred, eyes open and mouth closed

Keep your head level and in the middle of the frame, with your eyes open and your mouth closed. For printed photos, GOV.UK says the image of you, from the crown of your head to your chin, must be between 29 mm and 34 mm high. For digital photos, GOV.UK includes your head, shoulders and upper body in the picture and does the cropping for you.

2.1.2 Glasses glare, hair over eyes and red-eye

• Glasses: GOV.UK says not to wear glasses unless you have to. If you must wear them, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and the frames, glare, reflection or shadow must not cover your eyes.
• Hair: Move hair away so none falls in front of your eyes.
• Red-eye: The photo must not have "red eye".

2.2 Background, Shadows and Image Quality Checks

The checker also tests the picture itself and what sits behind you:

• Background: It must be plain and light-coloured for a digital photo, or plain cream or light grey for a printed photo. It must also be in clear contrast to you.
• Shadows: There must be no shadows on your face or behind you.
• Quality: The photo must be clear, in focus and in colour.
• Size and file: A digital photo must be at least 600 × 750 px and between 50KB and 10MB.
• No editing: The photo must be unaltered by computer software.

3. Why Use Our UK Passport Photo Checker?

GOV.UK warns that your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules. A quick check at home helps you catch problems early. You can use it as an online passport photo checker UK applicants can reach from a phone, with no studio visit.

3.1 Pass or Fail Result in Seconds

Upload your picture and see a clear pass or fail for each rule above. You can check as many photos as you like, so you can pick the best one.

3.2 Clear Fix Suggestions for Every Issue

When a check fails, the tool tells you what to change. The fixes below follow the GOV.UK rules.

Problem ❌	Fix ✅
Photo is older than a month	Take a new picture
Image is smaller than 600 × 750 px	Upload the original photo, not a shrunk copy
File is under 50KB or over 10MB	Upload the original file, and do not over-compress it
Photo is cropped by you	Upload the full picture with head, shoulders and upper body
Shadows on your face or the wall	Light your face evenly and use a plain wall
Background is patterned or dark	Use a plain, light-coloured background
Glare on glasses	Remove your glasses if you can, or tilt your head slightly to avoid glare
Hair over your eyes	Move hair away from your eyes
Red-eye	Retake the picture in better light
Filters or retouching	Use the untouched picture

Test Your Passport Photo Online Now

Upload your photo now to run automated checks against UK passport rules and get instant feedback in seconds.

Important Notice: PixPassport is an independent service and is not affiliated with HM Passport Office or GOV.UK. We help you check and prepare your photos against official dimensional standards, but the issuing authority always makes the final decision on every passport application.