The photographic standards announced by the Identity and Passport Service in August 2004 and fully implemented in September 2005, are designed to ensure that photographs submitted with passport applications are suitable for biometrically enabled passports. These passports meet the requirements set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO, the governing body that recommends standards for travel documents).

We cannot advise on photographs for British passport applications made overseas. Please contact your nearest British representation or check the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk

The ICAO standards require a facial image / biometric, which can be captured from the photograph submitted. To capture this biometric, we installed new scanning equipment in our passport issuing system, which scans photographs to a much higher resolution than before whilst retaining all the additional functionality such as ICR, OCR, extraction of signatures etc. These technological advances mean not only that the customer has to ensure their pose is correct, but there are specific technical requirements of the photograph. The information on these pages is designed to help you ensure that:

• Customers are accurately represented and
• Photos are free of common defects that can cause delays

The basics

You can download a copy of our photo checking template here. This is the same template that Post Offices use. It ensures that there is sufficient distance between the key facial reference points for us to obtain a facial biometric. This template is locked to ensure that it is not inadvertently amended during download and print, but please make sure you do not scale it. We recommend that you print this PDF onto clear acetate, as there are two templates on the PDF - you should simply cut into two. For ease of use we suggest you affix one edge of the template to a white backing board, enabling you to slide the photo under the acetate. In order for photos to pass this template, we recommend that you ensure that the measurement of the face from the bottom of the chin to the crown (i.e. the top of the head, not the top of the hair) is between 29mm and 34mm.

Where possible, we further recommend that you try to meet the upper limit of these parameters, subject to ensuring that there is a suitable distance between the edge of the image and the edge of the subject's face (Download the guidelines for Passport photographs PDF (301kb) for some examples). It is not necessary for all of the subject's hair to be in shot.

Quantity and format

• We require applicants to submit two identical photos. These must be produced from the same film or from the same electronic file capturing the digital image. Digital enhancement is not acceptable as this can result in the capture of an inaccurate biometric.

Size and paper

• Photos must measure 45mm by 35mm
• Heavy weight paper i.e. cardboard, is unacceptable
• Photos must be printed on high quality, medium / low gloss or matt photographic paper. Photos produced at home are unlikely to be acceptable, as they will not meet the high standards delivered by professional equipment and may not allow us to capture an accurate biometric, leading to potential difficulties when travelling
• Corrugated paper is not acceptable
• Trademarks or other printing on the reverse is acceptable, provided it does not show through when the photo is scanned onto our system. This is most likely to occur where bold back print is used, and the image captured is very pale. Proper lighting and exposure are essential in order to capture the level of detail required for all customers, but this takes on added importance where back printed paper is used
• Photos must have a backing that allows the countersignatory to certify one of the photos and sign in ink, without smearing

Glasses

Glasses can often show reflection or glare from flash, and the frames can obscure the facial features we need to capture. This can cause problems when trying to capture the biometric. We strongly recommend that customers wearing glasses are asked to remove them to ensure that we are able to obtain an accurate biometric. Whilst this may mean that their passport photo does not show them as they usually appear, their photo will still be a good likeness.

Customers with a visual impairment should also follow this guidance. Customers who wear dark, tinted or mirrored glasses for cosmetic reasons must remove them otherwise a biometric cannot be captured.

General photo requirements

• Eyes must be open and clearly visible, with no flash reflections and no "red eye"
• Facial expression must be neutral (not frowning nor smiling) with the mouth closed
• Photos must show both edges of the face clearly
• Photos must show a full front view of face and shoulders, squared to the camera
• Photos must not show the subject looking over one shoulder (portrait style) or with head tilted to one side or backwards or forwards
• The face and shoulder image must be centered in the photo
• There must be no hair across the eyes
• Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tone
• Photos must be clear, sharp and in focus
• Photos with shadows on the face or background are unacceptable
• Photos must be taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows or flash reflection on the face and head
• Photos must show a plain, uniform, light grey or cream background. 5 - 10% grey is recommended as a background.
• Hats or head coverings are not permitted except when worn for religious reasons and only if the full facial features are clearly visible
• Black and white photos are not acceptable

• Where very young children are being supported, ensure that hands are not visible. We recommend that infants who are unable to support themselves are laid on a light grey sheet and photographed from above.

• Photos must not be manipulated, for example, by removing spots or softening lines, shadows, etc

Exceptions to our photo policy

• For children aged over 1 and under 6 years, the requirements for mouths to be closed and eyes looking at the camera are waived.
• When photographing infants under the age of 12 months, we only require that the image shows a good likeness. The requirements on eyes open and mouth closed, for example, are waived. In practice, we have also waived the template check requirement for babies. As we still need a good likeness of the subject however, we have not mentioned this in our application pack guidance.

Some applicants, because of either physical or mental disabilities, will find it difficult to meet our requirements. We are able to therefore accept a customer's statement that they cannot meet the requirement because of disability. In these instances we ask that as good an image as possible is captured.

For detailed technical information you can also refer to the ISO Standard on Face Biometrics (including image capture) known as ISO 19794-5 which can be found on the British Standards Website (http://www.bsigroup.com/).

A copy of the guidance on passport photograph standards sent to customers can be downloaded below. 

Further help

For further advice, please contact the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000. If they are unable to assist, your message will be passed onto the relevant person. Alternatively, you can send an email with any queries concerning photographic standards. Please note however that we are unable to test images or agree to endorse your services. We are however able to offer guidance where your images are being rejected as unsuitable.

If you are a commercial organisation and wish to produce branded templates for customers, retail branches etc, please contact us  using the same link so we can discuss this with you. You can also use this link to let us know of any other problems you may be experiencing in getting your photos accepted by us.

These pages will be kept up to date to reflect the latest developments, guidance and advice. Although we have no current plans to amend either the template or our photographic requirements, we suggest you visit these pages at lease once a month to ensure there are no changes.