Don't worry about the size requirements. Our tool will automatically create correct United Kingdom Passport photo for bus pass photos for you.
Be a recent colour image
Clearly show your head and shoulders
Show you facing directly towards the camera
Clearly show your eyes and facial features
Have a plain, pale and uncluttered background
Contain no other people
Be sharp, clear and properly exposed
Accurately represent your current appearance
Contain no beauty filters or facial alterations
Avoid hats, sunglasses and accessories that obscure your face unless they are required for religious or medical reasons.
Many councils now accept online applications and ask applicants to upload a digital photograph.
A suitable source image should:
Clearly show your full face
Include your head and shoulders
Be upright and correctly orientated
Have enough space around your head for cropping
Use a plain, light-coloured background
Be clear and in focus
Contain no other people or objects
Be saved in a file type accepted by the council’s application portal
When applying by post, your council may request a printed passport-style photograph.
A 35 × 45 mm print is commonly suitable where a standard passport photograph is requested. The image should be:
In colour
Recent
Printed clearly on photo-quality paper
Undamaged and unmarked
Taken against a plain, pale background
A clear head-and-shoulders view
Do not assume that matte paper, a specific DPI or an exact head-height measurement is required unless these appear in your local application instructions.
Photo-age rules differ between councils.
Some councils require a photograph taken within the previous six months, while others accept an image taken within the previous 12 months.
For the safest result, use a newly taken photo that clearly reflects your current appearance.
Stand or sit in front of a plain, pale wall. Position the phone or camera at eye level and look directly into the lens.
Use soft, even lighting so that:
Your full face is visible
Your natural skin tone is reproduced accurately
There are no strong shadows across your face
There are no shadows behind your head
The image is not too dark or overexposed
Ask another person to take the photograph where possible. Leave enough room around your head and shoulders so your council or the photo tool can complete the required crop.
A council may request another photograph when:
The face is blurry or poorly lit
The applicant is looking away from the camera
The photograph is too old
Another person is visible
The background is patterned or cluttered
Hair, sunglasses or accessories hide the face
The image has been cropped too tightly
The digital file is in an unsupported format
The file exceeds the council’s upload limit
Filters or editing have changed the applicant’s appearance
The photograph follows another council’s requirements instead of the issuing authority’s rules
There is no single nationwide size. Some councils accept a 35 × 45 mm passport-style photograph, while others request a digital head-and-shoulders image that they crop themselves.
Usually, yes, when the council asks for a recent passport-style photograph. Check whether it requires a specific physical size or digital format.
Yes. Many councils accept a clear digital photo taken with a phone, tablet or webcam.
Check your local authority’s instructions. Some councils tell applicants not to crop digital photos because the final crop is completed during processing.
Not necessarily. A plain, pale background is commonly accepted. Follow any specific background instructions issued by your council.
This varies. Some councils require a photo taken within six months, while others allow photographs taken within the previous 12 months. A new photograph is the safest option.
It depends on how you apply. Online applications normally require a digital upload, while postal applications may request a printed passport-style photograph.
A natural expression is generally acceptable as long as your face and eyes are clearly visible. A neutral expression is the safest choice when the council refers to passport-style requirements.