UK travellers are being warned that a seemingly simple rule about the colour red could delay their passport application. Government officials stress that failing to follow all passport photo requirements may jeopardise your application and, consequently, your holiday plans if the travel document is not issued in time.
Why Red-Eye Matters
According to the GOV.UK website, you need a digital photo to apply for a passport online. You must obtain a new photo when applying for a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed. The quality of your digital photo is crucial, and issues such as red-eye can cause complications. The guidance also states that photos must have been taken within the last month, and warns that applications could be delayed if the images fail to meet the required criteria.
How to Take a Digital Passport Photo
Your photo must be clear, in focus, and in colour. It must not be altered by computer software. The image should be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and the file size must be at least 50KB but no more than 10MB.
Essential Requirements
- No other objects or people in the photo
- Plain light-coloured background
- Clear contrast between you and the background
- No red-eye
If you take the photo yourself, ensure it clearly shows your head, shoulders, and upper body. Avoid cropping the image yourself, as it will be cropped automatically during the application process.
Your Pose and Appearance
In your photo, you must face forwards and look straight at the camera, with a plain expression and your mouth closed. Your eyes must be open and visible, with no hair in front of them. Head coverings are only allowed for religious or medical reasons. Nothing should cover your face, and no shadows should appear on your face or behind you.
Glasses should only be worn if essential for medical reasons. If worn, they must not be sunglasses or have tinted lenses. Your eyes must be clearly visible, with no obstruction from frames, glare, reflections, or shadows.
Passport Photos for Babies and Children
Children must be alone in the picture. Babies cannot hold toys or use dummies. Children under 6 do not need to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression. Infants under one do not need to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible. Babies under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet, with the photo taken from above.
How to Get a Digital Photo
You can obtain a digital passport photo from a photo booth or a participating shop before you apply. Alternatively, you can take and upload a photo using your own device during the application process. GOV.UK cautions that photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than those taken on your own device.
If you use a shop or photo booth, select the option that provides a photo code. During your application, you will enter this code to automatically link the digital photo to your application. Printed photos have additional requirements, including specific size standards and submission instructions, but rules such as avoiding red-eye still apply.
