Passport photo booth mistake that could delay your application

There are rules you need to follow and failure to do so could ruin your holiday

A seemingly simple rule about the colour red could delay your passport application. Government officials warn that failing to follow all passport photo requirements could jeopardise your application, and therefore your plans if your travel document is not issued in time.

The GOV.UK website states that you will need a “digital photo to apply for a passport online. You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.”

The quality of your digital photo is important, with issues such as red-eye potentially causing complications. The guidance also states that photos must have been taken within the last month, and warns that applications could be delayed if the images fail to meet the required criteria.

How do I take a digital photo for my passport?

Your photo must be:

• clear and in focus
• in colour
• unaltered by computer software
• at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
• at least 50KB and no more than 10MB

The digital photo must:

• contain no other objects or people
• be taken against a plain light-coloured background
• be in clear contrast to the background
• not have ‘red eye’

If you’re using a photo taken on your own device, ensure it clearly shows your head, shoulders and upper body. Avoid cropping the image yourself, as it will be cropped automatically during the application process.

In your photo, you must:

• be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
• have a plain expression and your mouth closed
• have your eyes open and visible
• not have hair in front of your eyes
• not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
• not have anything covering your face
• not have any shadows on your face or behind you

Avoid wearing glasses in your photo unless they are essential for medical reasons. If glasses are required, they must not be sunglasses or have tinted lenses. Your eyes should be clearly visible at all times, with no obstruction from the frames, glare, reflections or shadows.

How to take a passport photo for babies and children?

• 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.

How can I get a digital photo?

You can obtain a digital passport photo by having it taken at a photo booth or a participating shop before you apply. Alternatively, you can take and upload a photo using your own device as part of the passport application process.

GOV.UK cautions: “Photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than a photo taken using your own device.”

If you have your photo taken at a shop or photo booth, be sure to select the option that provides a photo code. During your passport application, you will be asked to enter this code, which will allow your digital photo to be automatically linked to your application.

Printed photos have additional requirements, including specific size standards and instructions for how they should be submitted with your application which you can read here. However, rules such as avoiding red-eye still apply.