UK passport photo checker (digital)
The UK’s digital rules are about the file as much as the face: at least 600×750 pixels, at least 50 KB, at most 10 MB, plain light-coloured background — and, in GOV.UK’s words, “unaltered by computer software”.
We measure, we don’t certify. IDPhotoCheck checks your photo against the published measurements — the issuing authority makes the final decision, and no tool can promise approval.
What this tool will not do to a US photo
The official US rule requires your original, unedited photo: no filters, no retouching, and no software-changed backgrounds. So this checker measures and crops — and refuses to replace the background or “beautify” a face — for US documents. If your background is not white, the honest fix is a retake against a plain white wall or sheet. Why we refuse to edit your photo →
Tap to choose a photo, or drop it here
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC — processed on your device, never uploaded
We measure, we don’t certify. IDPhotoCheck checks your photo against the published measurements — the issuing authority makes the final decision, and no tool can promise approval.
The official rules this page checks
| Pixel dimensions | At least 600 px wide and 750 px tall |
|---|---|
| File | At least 50 KB and at most 10 MB |
| Background | Plain light-coloured background |
GOV.UK states pixel and file-size rules for digital photos rather than a head-height percentage, so this checker measures pixels, file size, background and sharpness for the UK — and does not grade head size against a rule GOV.UK does not publish.
Source: GOV.UK (HM Passport Office) — Photos for passports (gov.uk) (official page). Values checked 2026-11-08. If the official page and this table ever disagree, the official page wins — please tell us.
GOV.UK also asks for: a clear, in-focus photo in colour; no red-eye; nothing covering the face; no shadows on the face or behind the head; and for printed photos, 45 mm × 35 mm. The full rule list lives on GOV.UK — Photos for passports. We also keep the full UK requirements list on one page, with the source of every rule.
The 50 KB floor catches people out
Most photo rules only set a maximum size. The UK sets a minimum too: a file under 50 KB is refused. Phone exports and chat-app copies often land under it. The export step here can grow a JPEG into the 50 KB–10 MB window without altering the picture content — the same padding principle as enlarging a file honestly rather than re-photographing it. If your file is under the pixel minimum instead, no tool can fix that: pixels cannot be invented, and you need a higher-resolution original.
“Unaltered by computer software”
That GOV.UK phrase is why this tool refuses background replacement on every document, not just the UK’s: why we refuse to edit your photo. Cropping and resizing into the published dimensions are the accepted operations; repainting the scene is not.
Questions
What are the UK digital passport photo rules?
GOV.UK: the photo must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, at least 50 KB and at most 10 MB, in colour, unaltered by computer software, against a plain light-coloured background.
Why is there a minimum file size?
The 50 KB floor is a quality guard — very small files are usually over-compressed or too low-resolution. This tool can grow a JPEG into the allowed range without changing the picture.
Does GOV.UK publish a head-size percentage?
Not for digital photos. This checker therefore measures pixels, file size, background and sharpness for the UK — it does not grade your head against a percentage GOV.UK does not publish.
Applying elsewhere too? The main checker covers the US, Schengen, India, China and DV Lottery rules, and the file-size page focuses on KB windows like this one.