Complete Guide to UK Visa Photo Requirements: Complete Guide

Requirements

Here are the core UK visa-photo requirements you must meet. Tick off each of these before you submit your application:

• Photo size

– Exactly 35 mm wide × 45 mm high

– Head (top of hair to chin) must measure 29–34 mm (≈70–80 % of photo height)

• Recent and colour

– Taken within the last 1 month

– True-to-life colour; natural skin tones with no red-eye or colour casts

• Plain background

– Uniform light grey, cream or very pale blue

– No patterns, textures or shadows behind the head

• Head position & framing

– Directly facing camera, whole head and top of shoulders visible

– Centre the face vertically and horizontally

– Neutral expression; mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible

• No obstructions or accessories

– No hats, caps or head coverings*, headphones, scarves or sunglasses

– Prescription glasses OK only if frames don’t obscure eyes, there’s no glare/reflection, and lenses are clear (no tinted lenses)

– No hair across eyes

• Lighting & image quality

– Even lighting – no hot spots, shadows or red-eye

– Sharp focus, high resolution; no blurring, pixelation or digital noise

– Gloss or matte finish on high-quality photo paper (if printing)

• Paper print requirements (when submitting physical photos)

– Two identical copies

– On plain, lightweight (not heavy cardstock) photographic paper

– Applicant’s name and date of birth lightly written in pencil on the back of each photo

• Digital photo requirements (if uploading)

– JPEG format (.jpg or .jpeg)

– File size: 50 KB–10 MB

– Dimensions: minimum 600×750 pixels; recommended ≥1 000×1 250 pixels

– 24-bit colour depth (8 bits per channel)

• No digital alterations

– Do not retouch or air-brush skin, remove blemishes or change natural skin tone

– No filters, overlays, frames or timestamps

• Special cases

– Infants and young children: eyes must be open if possible; no other person, toys or dummies visible; head and shoulders in same proportions as adult requirements

– Religious head coverings permitted only if you normally wear them; face from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly visible

• Compliance check

– Compare your photo to the official UK Visas & Immigration photo examples

– If in doubt, use a professional visa-photo service that guarantees Home Office compliance

Meeting every bullet above will help ensure your UK visa application isn’t held up by a photo rejection. Good luck!

Step-by-Step Process

Content about UK Visa Photo Requirements: Complete Guide - process

Tips and Best Practices

Here are five of the most common pitfalls applicants run into—and exactly how to avoid them when you get your UK visa photo taken or submitted digitally.

• Getting the size and head-position wrong
• UK requires 45 mm tall × 35 mm wide (not 50×50 mm like some countries).
• Your head (from chin to top of hair) must measure 29–34 mm and be centred so the eye-line sits 20–30 mm from the bottom.
• Common mistake: using a generic passport-style template (50×50 mm) or cropping yourself from a group shot. Always start with a purpose-built UK visa template or have a professional measure the print.
• Uneven or cluttered background
• The background must be uniform pale grey, cream or off-white—no patterns, textures or shadows.
• Common mistake: shooting near a window or colored wall. Even a slight shadow behind your head, or a gradient from sunlight, will lead to rejection. Use soft, diffused front lighting or a professional white-goods background.
• Expression, posture and gaze
• You must look directly at the camera with a neutral expression—mouth closed, eyes open, no raised eyebrows, no grin.
• Common mistake: a half-smile or raised eyebrows to “look friendlier.” Any hint of a grin breaks the biometric requirements and can delay your application.
• Glasses, headwear and hair obstructions
• Prescription glasses are allowed provided the lenses aren’t tinted, there’s no glare, and frames don’t obscure your eyes. Remove sunglasses.
• Religious head coverings are permitted—but your face must remain in full view from hairline to chin and ear to ear.
• Common mistake: letting hair fall over your eyes or wearing a cap/hat “just for the photo.” Even slight obstructions can lead to an outright fail.
• Using an outdated or low-quality image file
• Photos must be taken within the last month. Digital submissions should be JPEG (.jpg) or PNG, between 50 KB–10 MB, in colour, with a minimum resolution of 600×750 px (300 dpi) and a maximum of 1200×1500 px.
• Common mistake: scanning an old passport photo or uploading a selfie shot on a smartphone without adjusting white balance and resolution. Amateur lighting or compression artifacts will trigger automated and manual rejections.

Action Steps:

• Book a UK-visa-specialist photographer or use a compliant photo booth.
• Double-check your head measurements with a ruler or template overlay.
• Confirm background and lighting in real time—no shadows, no texture.
• Wear neutral clothing (no uniforms, logos or busy patterns).
• For digital uploads, preview and verify the file size, resolution and colour balance before submitting.

By proactively addressing each of these five areas, you’ll virtually eliminate the most common reasons for UK visa photo rejections—and keep your application on track.

Conclusion

In summary, a UK visa photo must be a recent (taken within the last six months), high-quality colour image measuring exactly 45 × 35 mm, with your head (top of hair to chin) occupying 29–34 mm, centred against a plain light-grey or cream background. You must face the camera straight on with a neutral expression, eyes fully visible (no tinted glasses or reflections), and avoid shadows, headwear (unless for religious reasons), or accessories that obscure your face. Digital images must meet file-type, size (50 KB–10 MB) and resolution requirements and be free of editing or filters. For infants and children, ensure eyes are open and features clear. Always cross-check the current UKVI specifications on GOV.UK, use a professional service or certified photo app, and review your prints or uploads carefully—getting it right the first time will help you avoid delays or rejections in your visa application.