United Kingdom · Visas
UK visa photo
UK visa photo: 1200 × 1500 px; 1200 × 1500 px JPEG, max 6 MB, min 50 KB; head 42–55% of the photo height; plain and light-coloured background; glasses best removed; recent.
UK visa photo requirements
From the official government page. Our tool measures your photo against each of these.
| Document | Digital photo for UK visa applications |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 1200 × 1500 px |
| Digital file | 1200 × 1500 px JPEG, max 6 MB, min 50 KB |
| Head size | 42–55% of the photo height |
| Background | Plain and light-coloured |
| Glasses | Best removed; must not hide your eyes or reflect light |
| Photo age | Recent |
| Eye line | 40–60% of the photo height, measured from the bottom |
Rules checked against the official page on 25 Oct 2026.
Tips for your UK visa photo
- JPG, at least 600 × 750 pixels, 50 KB to 6 MB.
- Show head, shoulders and upper body.
- Do not use your passport photo or a scan.
- Stand in front of a plain, light wall, a step away from it so no shadow falls behind you.
- Face a window so light falls evenly on both sides of your face.
- Ask someone to take the photo about 1.5 m away, at your eye level, with space above your head.
Questions
What size is the UK visa photo?
1200 × 1500 px. The digital file is 1200 × 1500 px JPEG, max 6 MB, min 50 KB.
What background do I need?
Plain and light-coloured, with no patterns, objects or shadows. Our tool checks the background and tells you if it needs a retake. We never replace backgrounds, because edited photos are rejected.
Can I wear glasses?
Best removed; must not hide your eyes or reflect light.
Can I take this photo at home?
Yes. Ask someone to take it with a good camera or the back camera of a phone, in daylight, in front of a plain light wall. The tool shows you every measurement before you download.
Is it free?
Yes. You only need a free account to download. No card and no subscription.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The checks run inside your browser, so your photo stays on your device.