A visa application form for the UK requires you to provide several supporting documents where different identification documents, i.e., passport-size photographs, are included. However, you must know that identification photos for visa applications follow the guidelines of the country where you apply for a visa. As a result, these guidelines change from country to country, so you need to understand UK’s visa photo requirements before submitting your application for a UK visa— lowering your chances of having your visa application rejected.
UK Visa Photo Requirements
You must submit two identical passport-size photographs taken sometime during the last month before applying for your UK visa. Additionally, your UK visa photos must meet other requirements regarding size, quality, formatting, appearance, etc.
Photo Size and Formatting
The size of your UK visa photos should be 45mm x 35mm in their original form and not a cut version of a larger size picture. The size of your head in the photo, from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin, should be no more than 34 mm. Also, your head and shoulders should take about 70% or 80% of the photo. Your photos must also be printed in color on plain white photographic paper with no borders.
Lighting and Background
The lighting for your UK visa should be appropriate without causing a contrast or being too dark, so your features are not visible. You should take the picture with plain cream or gray background and be in clear contrast with the background. There mustn’t be any objects, patterns, designs, or bright colors in the background.
Photo Quality
The quality of your photographs must be excellent, with no blurriness, no contrast, no red eyes, creases, or scratches. Your photographs must also be clear and focused, clearly showing your facial expressions and features.
Head Position
You must keep your head straight and look towards the camera with a neutral expression, with your mouth closed and eyes open. You cannot look sideways or sit on the side of the picture; you must be positioned at the center of the photo.
Accessories
You cannot wear sunglasses, head-covering, or anything similar that obscures your facial features. If you must wear prescription glasses, you need to make sure that the lenses do not reflect in the photo, nor do the frames cover your eyes. Additionally, headwear may be permissible only for religious reasons. You must also make sure that you have no hair covering your face, particularly your eyes.
UK Visa Photo for Children
The general photo requirements for children who want a UK visa are the same as for adults, but there are some specifications depending on the age of the child:
- Children under six years old are not required to look into the camera or have neutral expressions on their faces.
- Children under one are not required to keep their eyes open, and parents can use their hands to support their heads, provided they are not visible in the photo.
You can use toys or similar objects to distract them so they can sit for the photo, but those are not allowed to appear in the photo, nor are children allowed to keep their pacifiers (dummies).
Digital Photo for a UK Visa
If you’re required to submit a digital visa photo for the UK, you have to keep in mind the additional requirements:
- The minimum dimensions of your UK digital photo must be 600 x 700 pixels.
- The file size must be 50KB-10MB.
- The image format must be either JPG or JPEG.
Where Can I Take My UK Visa Photos?
You can get your UK visa photo at one of the following places:
- At home. You can take your UK visa photos at home with a good camera, as long as you have space to adjust the background as required. If you take the photos at home, follow the instructions carefully to accept your visa photo. Some online websites have made it easier for you to submit an adequate photo by allowing you to adjust the photo size per the instructions.
- At a photo booth. You can find photo booths in the UK and take your visa photos, but you must make sure that the photo booth takes the photo according to the size of the visa photo requirements.
- At a photo center. You may also visit a professional photographer and have your picture taken at a photography studio. If your photographer is unfamiliar with visa photo requirements, you can show them the listed requirements before taking the photo.
How to Submit the UK Visa Photo?
To submit your UK visa photos, you must add them to the application form, loose and separated from each other. Do not glue, staple, or clip them together to the application form. If other instructions apply in your home country, the UK embassy or foreign representative office of the UK will let you know of their requirements; make sure to contact them beforehand.
