Applying for a UK passport?
You’ll need a photograph that meets the Home Office standards. Instead of queueing at a photo booth, you can learn how to convert a photo to passport size online.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through free options and editing tools. If you’d rather get it done fast, PhotoAiD® can help.
Turn a simple selfie into an official passport photo with PhotoAiD – your trusted UK passport size photo maker.
- Take a selfie or upload a photo.
- Our AI tool will enhance it for you.
- Then, our experts double-check the result.
- Download a digital copy or order a print – it’s that easy!
Get a digital passport photo that meets UK government requirements. Order high-quality prints delivered straight to your door with just one click.
Expert verification, 100% compliance.
Application accepted – or double your money back.
Your perfect passport photo in just 3 clicks.
Over 10 million happy customers!
I used PhotoAiD and got a verified, official passport photo from a quick selfie. The whole process took about 5 minutes. The print arrived a few days later. I saved time and money – and my passport application was approved!
Related reading:
- How to take a passport photo with an iPhone
- How to take a passport photo with Android
- How to take a passport photo on your phone
- Best passport photo apps (Free & paid)
- How to fast-track a UK passport renewal
- First-time application and passport renewal at the post office
Passport photo requirements
Whether you apply online with a digital file or by post with printed photos, the overall rules are the same.
The key differences are in size, format, and head height.
Size and format
- Digital photos: At least 600 × 750 pixels, JPEG (recommended), file size between 50 KB and 10 MB. Must be in colour, with no filters or retouching. The full head and shoulders must be visible.
- Printed photos: Two identical prints, each 45 × 35 mm. The head must measure 29–34 mm from chin to crown. Photos must be printed on photo-quality paper (matte or glossy), with no borders, creases, marks, or digital editing.
Background
- Plain, light-coloured (white, cream or light grey).
- No patterns, textures, objects, or other people.
- Clear contrast between your face and the background.
Lighting
- Even and natural, without shadows or glare.
- No harsh flash or red-eye.
Pose and expression
- Face the camera directly with your head straight.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
- Full head and upper shoulders visible.
- No tilting or turning away.
Glasses and head coverings
- Avoid wearing glasses. If essential, lenses must be clear with no glare or frames covering the eyes.
- No sunglasses or tinted lenses.
- Head coverings only for religious or medical reasons, but your face must remain fully visible.
Clothing
- Plain, everyday clothes.
- Avoid uniforms, white tops against white backgrounds, or clothes that obscure your face.
- Choose colours that contrast with the background.
Children and babies
- The child must be alone in the picture, with no toys, bottles, or supporting hands visible.
- Children under six don’t need a perfect neutral expression.
- Babies under one don’t need to have their eyes open.
How to convert photo to passport size for free
You can try a few free methods to adjust your image to meet UK passport photo requirements. The main options are free editing software, online photo resizers, and free passport photo apps.
Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Free editing software
Well-known programmes such as GIMP or Canva can be used to crop and resize a picture to the correct passport dimensions.
Each works slightly differently, but the general process is:
- Upload a photo.
- Crop it to the required proportions.
- Save the file.
Pros
- Available on most devices, including Windows and Mac.
- Offer a range of editing features.
Cons
- Require at least basic editing skills.
- Some hide key features behind paid subscriptions or add watermarks to free exports.
- Can be time-consuming if you’re not familiar with the software.
- No guarantee your photo will comply with official UK passport standards.
Free editing tools
Another good solution is a basic crop-and-resize tool, such as PhotoAiD®’s photo cropper.
How it works
- Upload a photo.
- Use the crop box to centre your face.
- Download the resized image.
The main advantage of using a free online resizer is that it won’t cost you anything.
The drawback is that you’ll need to adjust the image yourself, and there’s no guarantee the finished photo will comply with UK passport requirements.
Free passport photo apps
You can also try a free app to create passport pictures. However, most of them only resize the image without checking whether it meets UK passport standards.
They can crop your photo to passport dimensions, but if the background, head size, or resolution is wrong, the Passport Office will reject it, and your application will be delayed.
In that case, you’ll have to start again with a new photo.
Convert a photo to passport size online with PhotoAiD®
The most reliable way to get a compliant result is with PhotoAiD®.
It’s an intelligent passport photo resizer designed to make the process quick and reliable. In a few steps, you can turn an ordinary picture into a compliant UK passport photo.
How it works
- Upload an existing photo or take a new one.
- Our AI automatically corrects the lighting, crops and resizes your photo to the required dimensions, and removes the background.
- One of our human experts will review the result to confirm it meets Home Office rules.
- Download a digital copy immediately or order printed photos delivered to your door.
The PhotoAiD® app is available for iOS (Passport photo app iOS) and Android (Passport photo app Android), and results are ready within minutes.
But don’t just take my word for it. Our Trustpilot page is full of feedback from customers who found the service quick and effective:
- ’Excellent – UK Passport approved. Easy to use, and I got the digital passport photo instantly. The app removed any background lines, etc..’ — Maria G (UK)
- ’Easy upload of photograph and on-screen scanning of image to reach conformity with passport requirements. Speedy checking process. Good service, good value and time-saving.’ — Paul (UK)
- ‘Used the company for first time in reference to a passport photo. The adjustments they make biometrically enables you to pass the requirements the passport office requires. Fantastic service all round.’— Jason (UK)
Why use PhotoAiD® to convert a photo to passport size?
- Available on mobile (iOS/Android) and desktop.
- Fully automated process, no manual editing needed.
- Expert verification to ensure your image complies with UK standards.
- Competitive pricing.
- Results within minutes, verified 24/7.
- Choice of digital download or printed copies (delivered in 2–3 working days).
- If the Passport Office rejects your photo, we’ll return 200% of what you paid us.
Getting a passport photo can be a hassle. Our tool makes the process fast, easy, and stress-free. Here’s how it works:
Upload an existing photo or take a new one.
Our AI handles sizing, lighting, and background removal. Then, one of our experts reviews every detail to ensure it meets official standards—24/7.
Download your perfected photo right away, print at home, or order prints with free shipping.
FAQ
How to convert photo to passport size?
As a Digital PR specialist and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), I have 5+ years of writing experience.
Over the course of my career, my work has garnered significant attention, with features in numerous prominent publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, TechRepublic, Glassdoor, and G2.
