UK visa photo rules from UK Visas and Immigration
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office, sets the photo standard for every UK visa route, and HM Passport Office publishes the canonical specification that visa guidance cross-references. The same rules cover the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), the UK Immigration: ID Check app used for eVisa workflows, and biometric-reuse digital submissions.
Most standard visa applicants have their biometric photo captured on the day at a VFS Global or TLScontact Visa Application Centre overseas, or at a UKVCAS service point inside the UK. The do-it-yourself rules on this page apply when you upload a photo through the ETA app, the ID Check app, or a digital biometric-reuse channel, and when a rare paper route asks for a printed 35×45 mm photo.
UKVI enforces its standards strictly. A photo that does not match the published rules, that has been taken more than a month ago, or that shows any digital alteration will be refused, and a refusal can delay the application or force a fresh submission. Following the UKVI specification first time keeps the application moving.
What UKVI requires in a United Kingdom visa photo
UK Visas and Immigration applies a single photo standard across every visa route, cross-referenced from HM Passport Office guidance. The subject-side rules below are what your photo must satisfy.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a plain, neutral expression with the mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows or pouting.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking straight at the camera. Hair must not fall across the eyes and red-eye is not accepted.
- Head straight to cameraFace the camera full-frontal with the head upright. Do not tilt the head forward, backward or to the side, and do not turn it toward either shoulder.
- Shoulders squareBoth shoulders must be square to the camera so the head, shoulders and upper body are all visible.
Eyewear & lenses
- GlassesGlasses are not permitted. UKVI guidance instructs applicants to remove eyewear before the photo is taken. A narrow medical exception exists, in which case the frames must not cover any part of the eyes and there must be no tint or glare on the lenses.
- Tinted or coloured lensesTinted lenses, sunglasses and coloured contact lenses that obscure the natural eye colour are not accepted.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair across the faceHair must not cover the eyes or fall across the face. It may cover the ears.
- Fringe and stylingStyle fringes and loose strands away from the eyes and eyebrows so that the full face from chin to forehead is visible.
Headwear
- Religious or medical head coveringsHats and head coverings are only permitted when worn for religious or medical reasons. The covering must not cast shadows on the face and the entire face from chin to forehead and from cheek to cheek must remain visible.
- Hats and capsNon-religious, non-medical hats, caps and hoods are not accepted.
Jewellery & accessories
- Face jewelleryJewellery and piercings are allowed provided nothing obscures any part of the face. Items that catch the light or sit across the face line should be removed.
- Headphones and ear coveringsHeadphones, earbuds and other accessories worn on the head are not accepted.
Cosmetics
- Natural skin toneMake-up may be worn but must not alter facial features or distort natural skin tone. Heavy contouring that changes the apparent shape of the face is not accepted.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingShoulders and torso must be clothed in everyday attire. Uniforms and clothing carrying offensive imagery are not accepted.
- Contrast with backgroundChoose clothing that contrasts with a light grey or cream background so the outline of the head and shoulders is clearly defined.
Photo quality
- RecencyThe photo must have been taken within the last month. A new photo is required if your appearance has changed significantly since the last image was taken, even within that window.
- Unaltered imageThe image must be unaltered by computer software or any other means. Filters, skin smoothing and facial retouching of any kind are grounds for rejection.
- Single subject in frameOnly the applicant may appear in the photo. No other people, hands or objects may be visible behind or beside the subject.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 31 mm and 34 mm (roughly 69–77% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 20 mm and 24 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
UKVI relaxes several rules for the youngest applicants. The following tier applies in addition to the general requirements above.
Infants (under 1 year)
Babies under one year are not held to the adult pose, expression or eye-contact rules, but the photo must still show the child alone against a plain light background.
- ExpressionAny expression is acceptable. A neutral face is not required.
- EyesEyes do not need to be open.
- PoseMinor head tilt and rotation are tolerated. The face should still be roughly oriented toward the camera.
- Photographed lying downInfants may be photographed lying on a plain light grey or cream sheet when they cannot sit up unsupported.
- No supporting hands or peopleNo hands, arms or other people may appear anywhere in the frame. Supports such as car seats and prams must also be out of shot.
Other things to know.
A few features of the UK visa-photo process catch applicants out and deserve a separate mention.
On-site capture at VAC and UKVCAS
Most standard visa applicants do not submit their own photo. The image is captured during the biometric appointment at a VFS Global or TLScontact Visa Application Centre overseas, or at a UKVCAS service point inside the UK. The self-supplied photo rules apply to the eVisa UK Immigration: ID Check app, the ETA app, and certain biometric-reuse digital submissions.
One-month recency window
The photo must have been taken within the last month. This is stricter than the six-month window common to other countries and is enforced by UKVI.
Light grey or cream, not white
HM Passport Office specifies a plain cream or light grey background. Pure white is officially disfavoured and risks rejection even though some visa guidance only says "light-coloured".
ETA uses the same rules
Electronic Travel Authorisation applicants submitting through the UK ETA app or web portal must meet the same digital photo rules as visa applicants, per the April 2026 ETA factsheet.
Take your United Kingdom visa photo at home in three steps.
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Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 600 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.