UK visa photo size

The visa guidance asks for the photo to show your head, shoulders and upper body, which is a looser frame than a passport photo. Do not crop to the face alone. Place the frame so the top of the head has some room above it and the upper chest is in the picture, with the face centred.

One rule catches people out: the photo must not be the same photo of you that is in your passport or identity card, and it must not be a picture of the document itself. A scan or a photo of another photo is refused too. Take a new picture; a phone or tablet is acceptable.

The guidance suggests asking another person to take it, to reduce the chance of rejection.

Stand against a plain light-coloured background, in clear contrast to it, with no other objects or people and no shadows on your face or behind you. The photo must not be altered by software or a filter, which is why we suggest a real plain wall rather than "Replace the background". Choosing the frame and saving at a set size add no filter and do not change how you look.

Face the camera and look straight at it, with a plain expression, mouth closed and eyes open, and no hair in front of the eyes. Do not wear glasses unless you have to; if you do, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and the frames, glare, reflection or shadow must not cover the eyes. Head coverings are allowed only for religious or medical reasons, and shoulders and torso must be clothed.

Children must be alone in the picture, and babies must not hold toys or use dummies. Under 6, a child does not have to look directly at the camera or keep a plain expression; under one, the eyes may be closed. You can support a baby's head with your hand as long as the hand does not show, and a child under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet, photographed from above.