UK Passport Photo Size: 35×45 mm Printed Photo Guide

Confirm which application route you are using

The first useful question is not “What size is a UK passport photo?” It is “Am I applying on paper or online?” The GOV.UK printed-photo instructions apply to paper forms. GOV.UK separately explains digital photos and may allow a photo code from an approved provider.

A 35×45 mm file placed on 4×6 paper is therefore not a replacement for the online-photo process.

Outer dimensions and face dimensions

The printed rectangle must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. Inside that rectangle, the person’s image from the bottom of the chin to the crown—the top of the head rather than the top of the hair—must be 29–34 mm. That leaves room around the head while keeping the face large enough for biometric processing.

At 300 DPI, 35 mm is approximately 413 pixels and 45 mm is approximately 531 pixels. Rounding by one pixel is normal because a pixel cannot be divided. Physical measurement of the finished print matters more than the browser preview.

The background is not pure-white by default

UK instructions describe a plain light-coloured background and show rules for contrast, shadows and separation from the background. Do not assume that a U.S.-style pure-white setup is automatically right. Read the current GOV.UK examples, especially if the subject has very light hair or clothing.

Printed-photo quality matters

The current official rules require clear, sharp photos printed to a professional standard. Guidance for examiners explains that accepted home prints must be comparable in quality to booth or studio output and that unsuitable glossy or textured surfaces can cause scanning problems. A printer that produces visible dots, banding, color casts or soft detail may fail even if the rectangle measures correctly.

Using the tool carefully

1. Select “UK Passport Print (35×45 mm).”
2. Open the linked GOV.UK source and confirm you are using a paper form.
3. Upload a recent, unaltered image.
4. Position the crown and chin using the visual guide; do not stretch the face.
5. Generate the 4×6 sheet or download a single image.
6. Use a professional-quality printer or lab where appropriate.
7. Measure 35×45 mm after printing and inspect surface quality.

The tool’s oval is an alignment aid, not a measurement instrument. If the application is important or the source image is difficult, a compliant booth or photographer is the safer option.

Things the crop tool cannot judge

• Whether the photo was taken within the required recent period.
• Whether the face is a true likeness without digital manipulation.
• Whether lighting is balanced and skin tone is natural.
• Whether hair, glasses or clothing obscure required facial features.
• Whether the paper finish and print process meet the standard.
• Whether a child-photo exception applies.

Why “UK/EU” is an unsafe label

Older photo tools often group “UK/EU” into one 35×45 option. That shortcut hides the fact that the UK has its own passport process and that European countries and Schengen visa posts can publish additional instructions. Our selector separates UK printed passports from the Schengen visa preset and gives each a different warning.

Final checklist

1. Paper or online route confirmed.
2. Two identical prints if the paper form requires them.
3. Rectangle measures 35×45 mm.
4. Chin-to-crown distance measures 29–34 mm.
5. Current GOV.UK expression, background and quality examples checked.
6. No retouching, filters or synthetic submission image.

Source reviewed: GOV.UK, “Get a passport photo: Printed photos,” plus HM Passport Office photo standards. Review date: June 28, 2026.