United Kingdom UK Visa — 35×45 mm (413×531 px)

UK visa photo versus UK passport photo

UK visa photos use the same 35×45 mm portrait as a UK passport photo: plain light background, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. Glasses are generally not accepted. The difference is the application channel — UKVI portals and VAC appointments rather than HM Passport Office.

Digital uploads still fail automated checks when the head is too small, the background is busy, or the file is a cropped holiday snap. Stick to a front-facing, well-lit portrait.

Preparing a UKVI-ready file

PhotoGov’s UK Visa preset matches 35×45 mm (about 413×531 px at 300 DPI) and a light background so you are not mixing in a US 2×2 inch photo by mistake.

Take the photo against a plain wall, process it with UK Visa selected, then upload or print according to your visa category’s instructions.

Practical tips

• Do not smile; keep lips together.
• Remove glasses even if you wear them daily.
• Avoid busy wallpaper behind the shoulders.
• Use a photo that still looks like you on the appointment day.

Common rejection reasons

• Dark or textured background
• Head too far from the camera
• Smile or raised eyebrows
• Wrong square passport-style crop