Publisher: Qudo Tools · Content reviewed:
Passport Photo Requirements: US and UK Examples
There is no universal passport photo size. Even paper and online applications in the same country may use different file requirements. These US and UK examples show how to verify the right rule. For another country or a visa, consult the issuing authority and the exact application channel.
Identify the country and application route
Write down the issuing country, document type and whether you are applying on paper or online. Do not mix visa photo specifications with passport photo rules. The US visa digital image specification, for example, is not the US online passport renewal upload requirement.
If you need both a passport and a visa photo, open the official photo guidance for each application before creating separate outputs.
US paper passport photos
The US Department of State currently requires a color photo taken in the last 6 months. The printed photo must be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), with a chin-to-crown head height of 1–1⅜ inches (25–35 mm). Use a plain white or off-white background, face the camera, and keep both eyes visible. Eyeglasses are normally prohibited; a medical exception requires documentation.
These figures describe US paper passport applications. They do not automatically apply to another country or application route.
US online renewal and UK print photos
For US online passport renewal, the current upload page accepts original JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF files from 54 KB to 10 MB. The application lets you reposition or crop the image, and a staff member ultimately reviews it. Do not substitute the US visa rule of 600–1200 pixels, JPEG and 240 KB for this application.
The current UK printed passport photo size is 45 × 35 mm. UK guidance conditionally permits glasses if they must be worn and do not obscure the eyes or cause glare or shadows. Do not treat the US glasses rule as universal. Check separate UK guidance for a digital application.
A practical preparation check
For a US paper application, take a recent original photo against a plain light background, check for shadows, crop to 51 × 51 mm, then measure chin-to-crown height against the 25–35 mm requirement. For a UK paper application, make a separate 45 × 35 mm version from the original and compare it with the UK examples.
A sizing tool cannot guarantee acceptance. US online renewal requires an original, unfiltered, unretouched photo; do not use background replacement, generative editing or beauty filters to repair a poor source photo. Retake it instead.
Frequently asked questions
Must a US passport photo be 600 × 600 pixels?
Not as a universal rule. The 600–1200 pixel specification appears in certain US visa digital-image guidance; follow the current US passport online-renewal upload page for that process.
Can I wear glasses?
It depends on the issuing country. US paper passport photos normally require removing glasses, with documented medical exceptions. UK print rules conditionally allow necessary glasses.
Sources and scope
These official sources were checked for this article. Confirm the current rules with the platform or issuing authority before publishing or submitting.
Related tool
First identify the issuing country, document and submission route. Compare your photo with that authority's current size, recency, background and file rules. Tool presets help prepare a crop; acceptance rests with the issuing authority.
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