UK passport photo size: printed 35 × 45 mm
For a UK paper application, GOV.UK specifies two identical printed photos measuring 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. The crown-to-chin image height is 29–34 mm. An online application needs a digital photo instead; the printed template should not be treated as its upload specification.
Official source checked · Independent DodoHistory reference
- Format reference
- 35 mm wide × 45 mm high
- Pixels
- Approximately 413 × 531 pixels at 300 ppi
- Backdrop reference
- Plain cream or light grey
Read the complete GOV.UK requirements ↗
Understand the template in the photo studio
Open this document reference. Background editing remains optional and must only be used where the recipient permits it.
Open United Kingdom format reference →Why the pixel conversion is approximate
At 300 ppi, divide each millimetre dimension by 25.4 and multiply by 300. Rounding to whole pixels gives 413 × 531. Pixel dimensions and physical print dimensions are separate settings: a printer can resize an otherwise correctly prepared image. Inspect the actual output rather than relying on the screen size.
Printed quality and alteration rules
GOV.UK requires professional-standard printing, an unaltered image and a plain cream or light grey backdrop. A printed passport photo must not be a cut-down version of a larger picture. Our crop and background editor do not override these restrictions; use the template to understand dimensions and follow the official route for your application.
Keep printed and online workflows separate
First identify whether you are completing a paper or online application. Use the official digital-photo instructions for an online submission. In our tool, the UK preset is explicitly a printed reference. Its preview can help explain proportions, while the download review reminds you to check hair, chin, shoulders and background.
Common questions
Can I replace the background with light grey?
The reference backdrop is light grey or cream, but the printed-photo rules also require the image to be unaltered. A new background colour does not make an edited image acceptable.
Does the face-position check verify the required head height?
No. A detected face box is not a crown-to-chin measurement. Check the official composition requirements separately.