The GOV.UK Passport Photo Check: What It Looks For and What to Do If It Flags Your Photo
When you upload a photo to an online passport application, it is screened automatically before anyone sees it. What that screen can and cannot catch, what a warning usually means, and when to retake instead of carrying on.
By Helal · Last updated
Rules last checked against official guidance on
What does the online passport photo check do?
When you upload a photo to an online UK passport application, the service screens it automatically against the photo rules before your application is submitted. If something looks wrong, you see a warning and can retake the photo there and then. It is a first screen, not a decision: an examiner at HM Passport Office still looks at the photo later and can ask for a new one.
HM Passport Office does not publish the exact wording of its warnings, so this guide does not quote them. What it does publish is the rule set the check is built around, and its guidance for examiners describes what happens when the check finds a problem.
The rules the check is screening for
GOV.UK's photo rules for a digital passport photo say your photo must show:
- "a plain light-coloured background – without texture or pattern"
- "balanced light – no shadows on your face or behind you"
- "no objects behind you"
- "a good likeness taken in the last month"
- "your whole face is visible with your eyes open"
- "a plain expression – no smile and mouth closed"
- "no reflections or glare (if you have to wear glasses)"
- no headwear, "unless for religious or medical reasons"
And it must be "in colour, with no effects or filters", "not blurred or have 'red eye'", and "unedited – you can't 'correct' your passport photo." The file itself must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall and between 50KB and 10MB.
Children get two allowances: "children under 1 don't have to have their eyes open" and "children under 6 don't need to have a plain expression."
What each kind of warning usually means
Warnings fall into a handful of groups. The fix for each is almost always a retake rather than an edit, because editing is itself against the rules.
What the check picks up | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Face not found, or face not clear | Too far from the camera, face turned, heavy shadow, blur | Retake with your face square to the camera, in even light |
Photo too dark or too bright | Backlit by a window, or a single lamp overhead | Face the window instead of standing with it behind you |
Background not plain | Patterned wall, door frame, objects or another person in shot | Use a bare light wall and step away from furniture |
Shadows | Standing against the wall, or side lighting | Move away from the wall; light from the front |
Eyes not visible | Glasses glare, hair across eyes, eyes half closed | Glasses off if you can; hair back; retake |
Expression | Smiling or mouth open | Neutral face, mouth closed |
Head position | Tilted, turned, or not centred | Camera at eye height, look straight into the lens |
File problems | Too small, or squeezed below 50KB by a messaging app | Use the original file from the camera |
Our lighting guide covers the two most common causes, shadows and glare, and the background colour guide covers what counts as "plain".
How to take a photo the check is happy with
GOV.UK's own instructions for a digital photo are specific:
- Stand 50 centimetres from your background, with the person taking the photo 1.5 metres from you.
- Use a plain light-coloured background with no texture, pattern or objects.
- Face natural light, for example a window, so there are no shadows on your face or behind you.
- Include your head, shoulders and upper body. Don't crop the photo; GOV.UK says "it will be done for you."
- Take your glasses off if you can, keep your hair away from your face, and keep a plain expression with your mouth closed.
If you are using your own phone, GOV.UK says you'll need someone to help you take the photo. A photo at arm's length is the usual reason a home photo fails; see can you use a selfie for a passport photo.
Should you carry on with a flagged photo?
You can. HM Passport Office's examiner guidance describes what the service does: if the check finds errors, it shows you the reason and tips for fixing it, and you can "use the photo if [you] think the reason for the result is not correct", "use the photo if [you] cannot meet the rules because of a religious or medical reason", or "choose to use another photo." If you go ahead with a flagged photo, you must explain why in a mandatory drop-down box before you submit.
But the same guidance is clear that an override is not an approval: where you override the message, the examiner "must still reject the photo if it does not meet our standards." So usually, don't. If the service raises a concern, retaking costs a few minutes. An examiner rejecting the photo later costs days, because you have to supply a new photo and wait for your application to resume. See what happens when a passport photo is rejected.
There are two situations where carrying on can be reasonable:
- A genuine medical or religious reason makes a rule impossible to meet, such as glasses you cannot remove or a head covering worn for religious reasons. The rules allow for these, and our guide to photos with a medical condition or disability explains how.
- A young child whose expression or eyes cannot be controlled, which the rules for under-1s and under-6s already allow for.
In any other case, fix the cause and retake.
A photo that passes can still be rejected
The automated screen checks what software can measure. It is less reliable on things an examiner judges by eye: whether the photo is a true likeness, whether it has been retouched, whether a shadow hides part of your face, or whether it is a mirror image. Examiners make the final decision on every photo. Passing the check lowers the risk; it does not remove it.
The best protection is to check the photo against the full rules yourself before uploading. Our 15-point photo checklist takes a couple of minutes, and the top 10 rejection reasons shows what examiners most often send back.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit a passport photo that the online check has flagged?
Yes, but you have to explain why in a mandatory box, and an examiner must still reject it if it doesn't meet the standards. Retake it unless a medical or religious reason, or a young child's age, explains the problem.
Does the online check mean my photo is approved?
No. An examiner at HM Passport Office still reviews the photo and can ask for a new one.
Why does the check say my face isn't clear when it looks fine?
Usually because of uneven light, a slight tilt, or distance: your face is too small in the frame. Retake facing a window, with the camera at eye height, 1.5 metres away.
Should I crop the photo before uploading?
No. GOV.UK's instructions say not to crop it: "it will be done for you." Include your head, shoulders and upper body.
Sources
- HM Passport Office, Photo rules
- HM Passport Office, Photo standards (examiner guidance)
- HM Passport Office, How to take a digital photo
- GOV.UK, Get a passport photo