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UK Passport Photo Guidelines

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Special Requirements

Your photo must be clear and in focus.

Your photo must be in colour

Your photo must be unaltered by computer software

Your photo must not contain other objects or people

Your photo must be taken against a plain light-coloured background

Your photo must be in clear contrast to the background

Your photo must not have ‘red eye’

Your photo must be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera

Your photo must have a plain expression and your mouth closed

Have your eyes open and visible

You must not have hair in front of your eyes

You must not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)

You must not have anything covering your face

You must not have any shadows on your face or behind you

Do not wear glasses in your photo unless you have to do so. If you must wear glasses, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and you must make sure your eyes are not covered by the frames or any glare, reflection or shadow.

Special Requirements for Children’s photo

Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.

Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.

Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.

Children under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet. Take the photo from above.