Wondering how to take a passport photo on your phone?
With a camera of five megapixels or more, you can easily capture a suitable passport photo at home.
We’ll cover the full process shortly, but if speed is what you need, PhotoAiD® can sort it in minutes.
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 convert photo to passport size
- 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
Your photo must meet HM Passport Office rules. The standards are largely the same for digital and printed submissions, with a few differences noted.
| Requirement | Digital photo (online) | Printed photo (paper) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions and file | At least 600 × 750 pixels. File size 50 KB–10 MB. JPEG or PNG, in colour, no filters. | 45 mm × 35 mm. Head size 29–34 mm. Two identical copies required. Must be produced at correct size, not trimmed from larger prints. |
| Print quality and paper | – | High resolution, in focus, no pixelation or fading. Printed on plain white photo paper (matte or glossy). No borders, marks, creases, or edits. Recommended ~600 dpi. |
| Background | Plain, light-coloured (white, cream, light grey). No patterns, textures, objects, or clutter. Clear contrast with face. | ″ |
| Lighting | Even and balanced. No shadows, harsh light, glare, or red-eye. Natural or diffuse artificial light preferred. | ″ |
| Pose and expression | Face camera straight on, head level. Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible. Full head and shoulders in frame. | ″ (must include top of shoulders in shot) |
| Glasses and coverings | Glasses discouraged. If worn, no tint, glare, or frames obscuring eyes. No sunglasses. Head coverings only for religious/medical reasons and mustn’t obscure face. No large accessories, masks, or headphones. | ″ |
| Clothing | Everyday clothing. Avoid uniforms, bold logos, or tops blending with light background. Face and neck must be clear. | ″ |
| Children and babies | Must be photographed alone, with no toys, dummies, bottles, or supporting hands visible. Under 6s: don’t need neutral expression or direct gaze. Under 1s: eyes can be closed; slight smile or open mouth acceptable. | ″ |
Note: ″ indicates the same requirement applies to digital and printed formats.
How to take a passport photo on your phone
Many apps claim to help with passport photos, but PhotoAiD® stands out as one of the most trusted options. It’s available on iOS (Passport photo app iOS), Android (Passport photo app Android) or via a web browser, and makes the process quick and simple.
Here’s how it works:
- Take a photo
Use your phone to snap a self-portrait and upload it. - Let the AI do the work
The app automatically crops the image, adjusts the lighting, sets the correct size, and removes the background. Everything’s handled for you—no manual editing needed. - Check the result
Review the preview image. If you’re happy with it, accept it and proceed to the next step. If not, you can retake and re-upload as many times as you like without paying extra. - Choose your option*
- Instant digital photo for £9.95
- Printed photos plus a digital copy for £12.95
*Both options come with a ready-to-print template, which you can print at home or in-store.
- Expert verification
After checkout, one of our photography experts (available 24/7) checks your photo against HM Passport Office rules. If it doesn’t pass, you’ll get an email shortly explaining what went wrong and how to fix it. You can upload a new photo through the link provided, free of charge. - Get your photos
Once approved, you can download the digital copy. If you ordered prints, they’ll be delivered in ~2–3 working days. - Compliance guarantee
Should HM Passport Office reject your photo, we’ll refund you in full and return an extra 100% of what you paid us.
If it sounds too good to be true, our company’s 4.8/5 average Trustpilot rating from over 9,700 reviews says otherwise.
Here’s what some of our UK customers have said about our tool:
- ‘Easy to use and clear instructions on how to take pictures. Got my pics quickly via email and in the post. They were accepted by the passport office so I’m very happy I didn’t have to suffer going to the photo booth! Would use again.’
Valerie (GB) – View full review on Trustpilot
- ‘Quick, easy to use. Passed passport requirements with no problems.’
Edith Whitehead (GB) – View full review on Trustpilot
- ‘Fantastic service 😁 new online passport application past first time really easy we’ll definitely use again.’
Timothy (GB) – View full review on Trustpilot
4 common mistakes to avoid when taking a passport photo on your phone
Our experts review thousands of ID photos, but not all pass on the first attempt.
To save you the hassle of a rejection, here are some of the most frequent mistakes people make when taking passport photos and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Wrong position
This happens when the head or body isn’t properly aligned.
How to fix it: make sure your photo shows your head and upper torso, face the camera directly, keep your head level without tilting or raising your chin, and position the camera at eye level so your head and shoulders fill the frame.
Mistake 2: Poor lighting
Many photos fail because of uneven or insufficient light.
How to fix it: ensure your face is evenly lit from the front, avoid shadows or glare, use natural or soft lighting, and don’t stand with a strong light source behind you. Both sides of your face should be equally clear.
Mistake 3: Wrong facial expression
Rejections often happen when the subject smiles, looks away, or doesn’t keep their eyes open.
How to fix it: maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed, gaze directly at the camera, keep your eyes fully open, and ensure your eyebrows are visible without hair covering them.
Mistake 4: Glasses
Glasses often cause glare or obscure the eyes.
How to fix it: remove them if possible. If you must keep them on, ensure the lenses are clear, with no glare or reflections, and the frames don’t block your eyes. Tinted lenses and sunglasses aren’t accepted, and your face should be free of obstructions.
Stacking it all up
Taking a compliant passport photo on your phone is possible if you follow the lighting, background, and positioning rules.
But—
If you’d rather skip the trial and error, PhotoAiD® makes it quick and stress-free.
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
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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.
