Your photo, from home to your application
1. Take and upload
Ask someone to take a clear photo against a plain light-coloured background. Upload your photo through our existing order form.
2. Choose your product
Choose a digital photo, prints or the photo-code-and-print option. Review the delivery option and total before payment.
3. Receive your order
Follow the email instructions for your chosen product. Contact our support team if you need help with an order.
Digital and printed photos have different requirements
For an online UK passport application, your digital image must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, with a file size from 50KB to 10MB. It must be a sharp colour photograph taken in the last month and unaltered by computer software.
Use a plain light-coloured background and even lighting. Include your head, shoulders and upper body when taking your own photo; do not crop it yourself. Ask someone to take the photo. Face the camera with your mouth closed and eyes visible; avoid shadows, red eye and anything obscuring your face.
For a paper application, provide two identical professional colour prints, each 45mm high by 35mm wide. The distance from the crown of your head to your chin must be 29–34mm. Use plain white photographic paper without a border and a cream or light grey background. Printed measurements are not digital file dimensions.
Do not use beauty filters, facial retouching or software to change your appearance or replace the background. If the lighting or background is unsuitable, take another photograph. Official guidance requires an unaltered photo.
Guidance checked on 10 October 2026 against GOV.UK passport photo guidance and its digital and printed photo guide. HM Passport Office makes the final acceptance decision.
UK guidance. Clear choices. Real support.
UK focus
Guidance for UK applications, with official source links so you can check the rules yourself.
Visible pricing
Compare digital images, prints and photo-code options before starting your order.
Help from our team
Contact us by email or phone about your photo or your existing order.
What to look for before you upload
Good starting point
Even lighting, a plain light-coloured wall, sharp focus and clear separation from the background.
Take another photo
A dark shadow, patterned background, glare over the eyes, red eye or another person in the picture.
Keep your appearance natural
Use the original photograph. Skip beauty filters, facial retouching and background replacement. No software check guarantees acceptance.
One-time photo options
Digital photo · £6.99
For an online application. The current order form lists email delivery within 24 hours.
4 printed photos · £6.99
UK home delivery. Postage is charged separately.
Photo code + printed photos · £13.98
Choose the named combined option on the order form; check the delivery charge before payment.
Standard postage is £4.50 (listed as 3–5 working days). Special delivery is £10.00 (listed as next-day delivery for orders before noon). A separate £10.00 hourly digital delivery option is listed for Monday–Friday, 9:30am–4pm. Availability and the final total are shown in the order form.
Prices checked against the live order form on 10 October 2026. A digital image and a photo code are different outputs: choose the product you need.
See the apps and customer feedback
Read current customer feedback on the app stores. Ratings and review counts can change, so check the live listings.
Passport Photo Code UK on the App Store · Passport Photo Code UK on Google Play
Compare UK passport photo providers
Prefer a shop or booth? Compare current options for Timpson, Max Spielmann, Boots, Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Photo-Me. You can also see our passport photos near me guide for shop, booth and online routes, or read our Passport Photo Code UK vs PhotoAiD comparison.
Other UK identity photo guides
Need a photo for another UK service? See our current guides to UK driving licence photos and Blue Badge photos. These services have their own application journeys, so do not assume a passport photo code works outside a passport application.
Taking a baby or child passport photo?
Children must appear alone, without a toy or dummy. Children under six do not have to look straight at the camera or keep a plain expression. Babies under one do not have to have their eyes open. Keep supporting hands out of the picture; for a baby under one, GOV.UK recommends a plain light-coloured sheet and a photo taken from above.
What is a passport photo code?
A photo code lets the online passport application retrieve your digital photograph from a participating supplier. It is different from an ordinary image file, and it does not mean your application or photograph has government approval.
Questions before you order
Do I need prints for an online passport application?
Online applications use a digital photograph. Paper applications require printed photographs. Choose the correct product for your application.
Does a photo code guarantee acceptance?
No. HM Passport Office makes the final decision. A code is a way to retrieve a photo, not government approval.
Can I use a filter or replace the background?
Official UK guidance requires an unaltered photograph. Take another photo against a suitable background instead.
How can I get help?
Email photocodeuk@gmail.com or call +44 7702 396886. For an existing order, include your order reference and the exact error message. Never send card details or your passport application password.
Ready to prepare your UK passport photo?
Check the requirements, choose the right product and keep your order reference for support.