Privacy note：Advanced smart enhancements show clear guidance before use. Please make sure you have permission to edit the photo.
Make Your ID Photo
40+ countries · 400+ China formats · Exact pixel output · crop-only mode for strict documents · background tools for eligible formats
First: Most Applicants Don't Submit a Photo
Per gov.uk/apply-uk-visa, most UK visa applicants do NOT submit a photo at all — biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) are captured at the visa application centre, or via the UK Immigration: ID Check app for digital routes. Where a photo is required, HM Passport Office (HMPO) passport-photo rules apply, as listed below.
HMPO Photo Rules
- Printed: 45×35mm, 2 identical photos
- Head height: 29–34mm from chin to crown
- Background: plain cream or light grey (printed); plain light-coloured (digital)
- Digital: at least 600×750px, 50KB–10MB, JPEG
- Recency: taken in the last month
- Glasses: discouraged — if worn, no tints, and eyes unobscured by frames or glare
- Editing: must be unaltered by computer software
Where Our Tool Fits In
HMPO requires photos unaltered by computer software — and for most visa routes the photo is captured at the application centre anyway. Use Retouch.im for framing and cropping guidance and submit an unedited original where one is requested. For uses that accept edited photos: preview free, HD download $1, 300-DPI print sheet $2.
Common Rejection Reasons
- Preparing an upload when your route captures biometrics at the centre (check your application route first)
- Photo older than 1 month
- Background is not plain and light, or the face lacks clear contrast
- Head height outside 29–34mm
- Tinted glasses, frames over the eyes, or glare
- Any software alteration of the photo
Source
Source: GOV.UK / HM Passport Office (HMPO) (https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports), verified 2026-07-18.
Related keywords