be 45 millimetres (mm) high x 35 millimetres (mm) wide (do not trim your photographs to meet this condition);
be in clear and sharp focus, with a clear difference between your face and the background;
be taken against a plain cream or plain light grey background;
not have red-eye; be of you facing forward, looking straight at the camera; not be torn, creased, or marked; be printed on plain white photographic;
be free from shadows; be taken with your eyes open and clearly visible (no sunglasses or tinted glasses and no hair across your eyes);
be free from reflection or glare on your glasses, and the frames must not cover your eyes (where possible, we recommend that you remove your glasses);
show you with a neutral expression and your mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows);
be of you on your own (no toys, baby's dummy or other people on the photo);
be professionally printed. Photographs printed at home are not likely to be of an acceptable quality;
show your full head, without any head covering, unless you wear it for religious beliefs or medical reasons;
be taken with nothing covering your face. Please make sure nothing covers the outline of your eyes, nose or mouth.
be a close-up of your head and shoulders so that your head, from the bottom of your chin to your crown is between 29mm and 34mm high; and clear of writing on the front and back.
Please see the links below for more detailed information:
24-hour Passport Adviceline: 0300 222 0000 (see terms and conditions). Calls made to 0300 numbers from landlines and mobile phones are charged to customers at their network provider's national rate. Live operators are available to assist with your enquiry 24 hours a day.
