United Kingdom · Visa, ETA and immigration (digital)
UK Visa & ETA Photo maker
Take or choose a photo and get a UK Visa & ETA photo at the exact official size, checked against the rules.
1Choose your document
2Take or choose a photo
Your photo stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
- Stand in front of a plain, light wall, about half a metre away from it
- Face a window or soft light: no shadows on your face or the wall
- Ask someone to take it at eye level, about 1–1.5 m away, or use the 3-second timer
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no glasses or hat
Fit your face in the oval
3Check and adjust
Drag the photo to move it.
4Download
The official rules
| Photo size | Digital photo only |
|---|---|
| Digital file | at least 600 × 750 px, 50–6 MB, JPEG |
| Head size | 45–65% of the photo height, chin to top of head (recommended; no official figure) |
| Background | Plain, light-coloured, in clear contrast with you |
| Glasses | Avoid unless needed; no tinted lenses, glare or frames over the eyes |
| Editing | Not allowed: no filters, retouching or background changes |
The official rules don't allow digital changes such as replacing the background, so the app checks your background instead of changing it. If it fails, retake the photo in front of a plain light wall.
Which UK applications use this photo?
When you apply for a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online, you upload or take a digital photo of your face. Visa applicants outside the UK often have their photo taken at the visa application centre instead; if your application asks you to upload one, use this tool. The ETA app can take the photo for you, but the online form needs a file.
Common reasons UK visa photos are rejected
- Shadows on the face or behind the head
- A busy or dark background
- The photo is cropped too tightly: the rules ask for your head, shoulders and upper body
- Filters, beauty mode or other editing
- Glare on glasses or hair covering the eyes
For a UK passport, the rules are different. Use the UK passport photo maker.
- Show your head, shoulders and upper body
- Must not be altered by software or filters
- JPEG, at least 600 × 750 px, between 50 KB and 6 MB
Checked on 4 October 2026 against the official source 1, the official source 2. Rules can change, so confirm before you apply.
How it works
- Choose your country and document. The app loads the official size and rules.
- Take a photo with the on-screen guide, or choose one you already have.
- The app finds your face, crops the photo to the exact size and checks it against the rules: head size, centring, tilt, background and more.
- Download the digital photo for online forms, or a 4×6 in print sheet to print at any photo lab.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The face check runs inside your browser. The first time you use it, your browser downloads the face-detection software from Google's MediaPipe service; your photo itself never leaves your device.