Digital passport photos

UK online passport application

According to GOV.UK, your digital photo must:

• be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50 KB and 10 MB
• have been taken in the last month, in colour, unaltered by computer software
• use a plain light-coloured background in clear contrast to you, with no shadows on your face or behind you
• show a plain expression with your mouth closed, eyes open and visible, and no hair in front of your eyes
• contain no other objects or people; no head covering unless for religious or medical reasons
• not include glasses unless you have to wear them, and never sunglasses or tinted lenses

Children must be on their own in the photo. Children under 6 don't need a plain expression, and babies under 1 don't need their eyes open.

Make it with the UK passport photo tool; the download is sized and compressed to fit these limits.

US online passport renewal

The US online renewal accepts a JPEG or PNG between 54 KB and 10 MB. The photo follows the same rules as a printed one: plain white or off-white background, head 1 to 1⅜ inches in a 2 × 2 frame, taken in the last six months, no glasses and no filters. See the full US checklist and make the file with the US passport photo tool.

Phone photo to digital file in three steps

1. Have a friend take your photo at eye level from about 1.2 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft) against a plain light wall, facing a window.
2. Upload it to the tool for your document. It sizes your head, replaces the background and checks framing and lighting.
3. Download the digital file (the preview is free) and upload it in your application.

Sources: GOV.UK: get a passport photo; travel.state.gov. Rules can change; check before you apply.