UK passport photo guide

UK passport photo digital code: what it is, where it comes from, and when you need one

A 16-character reference provided by certified photo retailers like Timpson and Snappy Snaps is called a digital photo code or photo reference number. It's a UK-specific feature of the HMPO online passport application system that lets you use a passport photo taken at a participating retail location without printing or uploading the actual image file yourself — instead, the retailer's system securely transfers the photo to HMPO's systems and gives you a code that links to it. When you complete the GOV.UK online passport application, you enter this code where the photo upload step would otherwise appear. The alternative — uploading a digital photo file directly to the GOV.UK portal — is equally valid and is what most applicants who prepare their photos at home or with a phone app will use. This page explains both routes, when each is appropriate, and the full technical specifications for the direct upload option.

Download PassSnap See pricing

PassSnap guide

Capture · Verify · Download

KeywordUK passport photo digital code

UpdatedSep 7, 2026

ReviewCrop, background, and AI verify

What the digital photo code is

The digital photo code is a 16-character alphanumeric reference code issued by HMPO-certified photo services. When you have a passport photo taken at a participating retailer — Timpson, Snappy Snaps, Max Spielmann, and some Boots, Tesco, and Asda locations among others — the retailer's system submits the photo directly to HMPO through a secure channel and provides you with a printed card or receipt bearing the 16-character code. You don't receive a printed or digital copy of the photo itself (though some retailers also offer prints separately). The code is the product you receive, and it's all you need for the GOV.UK online application. The code has a validity period — typically it must be entered within a specific window after it's issued. Check the expiry on the receipt the retailer gives you, as the validity varies by retailer and service type. If you don't complete your passport application before the code expires, you need a new session.

Where to get a digital photo code

Any HMPO-certified photo retailer can issue a digital photo code. The most widely available options are Timpson and Snappy Snaps, which have specific in-store passport photo booths or staff-assisted photography services. Many locations also offer a quick print service where you can show up without an appointment. Boots photo services and some Asda and Tesco photo centres also participate in the digital photo code system. Not all locations of these chains offer the service, and hours for the photo service may differ from store hours — calling ahead to confirm availability before visiting saves a wasted trip. The cost of a digital photo code session is typically comparable to a standard two-print passport photo service at the same retailer — in the £10 to £15 range at most locations. Some retailers charge separately for prints if you want physical copies alongside the code.

The direct upload alternative

The direct upload route — uploading a digital photo file directly during the GOV.UK online passport application — is equally valid and is what most applicants who prepare photos at home, with a phone, or with a digital passport photo service will use. For online applications through GOV.UK, the photo must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, in colour, between 50KB and 10MB, and not altered by software. The GOV.UK application portal includes an integrated photo checker that evaluates the uploaded image at the point of upload, providing immediate feedback if the photo doesn't meet requirements before the application can proceed. For an online application, you need one digital photo. For a paper application, you need two identical printed photos. The direct upload for online applications replaces the two-print requirement entirely — one digital file is all that's needed. The direct upload route is more accessible for most home users because it doesn't require visiting a specific retail location. A compliant digital photo taken at home, prepared using a phone and a compliant passport photo tool, can be uploaded directly to the GOV.UK portal without any in-person steps.

Technical specifications for direct upload

The digital photo file for direct upload to GOV.UK must meet these specifications: Format: JPEG only. PNG, HEIC, and HEIF are not accepted for UK passport photo upload — this is different from the US online renewal portal, which now accepts HEIC and HEIF. If your photo is saved as HEIC on an iPhone, convert to JPEG before uploading. The conversion can be done via AirDrop to a non-Apple device, email attachment export from Photos, or changing the iPhone camera format to Most Compatible (JPEG) before the session. Size: minimum 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall. The aspect ratio is portrait (approximately 4:5), consistent with the 35×45mm print format. Maximum file size is 10MB. Files under 50KB have been over-compressed and are also rejected. Compositional requirements: the same as for printed UK passport photos. 35×45mm equivalent proportions, face from chin to crown measuring 29 to 34mm in the 45mm frame height, plain light-coloured background (cream, light grey, or white — with cream and light grey preferred by HMPO's checker), both eyes open, neutral expression with mouth closed, no glasses, taken within the last month. Colour: must be in colour. Black-and-white photos are not accepted.

The one-month recency rule and photo codes

Your photo must be taken within the last month. The one-month recency rule applies regardless of whether you're using a photo code or uploading directly. For photo codes: the date of the photography session is when the recency clock starts. If you receive a photo code but don't submit the application until five weeks later, the photo will be outside the one-month window. Check the expiry date on the code receipt and plan to complete the application before it expires. For direct upload: the date the photo was taken (verifiable from the file's EXIF metadata or from visual comparison during HMPO's review) is what counts. A photo taken more than one month before the application submission date will be rejected even if it meets all other requirements. This one-month window is one of the strictest recency requirements among major passport-issuing countries — the US allows six months, Canada allows six months, and Australia allows six months. UK applicants should take the photo in the final days before submitting the application rather than in advance.

The GOV.UK photo checker

When uploading directly to the GOV.UK portal, the integrated photo checker evaluates the image at the point of upload before the application can proceed. The checker specifically evaluates: face detection (can the system identify a face in the image), face size and position (is the face the correct proportion of the frame), background colour and uniformity (is it a plain light colour with adequate contrast), and whether the expression appears neutral with eyes open. If the checker flags an issue, it identifies the specific problem and allows you to upload a different photo before continuing the application. The checker does not verify the one-month recency claim — that's asserted at the point of submission and reviewed by HMPO during processing. For photo codes, the image quality check happens at the retail location when the code is issued. The retailer's system submits only photos that pass the check, so an issued code represents a pre-validated photo.

Digital photo code for children and babies

Photo codes are available for children's and baby's passport photos at the same retail locations that offer the service for adults. HMPO-certified photo services know the age-specific rules — that babies under one year don't need their eyes open, that children under six don't need a strict neutral expression — and can apply these accommodations when taking the photo. For baby photos specifically, some parents find the retail service more convenient than the home setup because the photographer can manage the positioning while keeping their own hands and presence out of the frame. The no-visible-hands requirement — the most common baby photo rejection cause — is easier to achieve with a professional who has the right equipment for baby photography. For children old enough to sit independently, both retail and home photo routes are practical. The six-and-older age group, who face the full adult standard, can typically hold the required expression for the few seconds needed at a retail service or home setup.

How PassSnap fits

PassSnap's guided capture produces a JPEG export that meets the direct upload specifications for GOV.UK online passport applications: minimum 600×750 pixel proportions, light-coloured background guidance calibrated to HMPO's preference for cream or light grey, and compositional checks for face size, expression, and glasses compliance. No AI alteration is applied to the exported file, consistent with GOV.UK's requirement that the photo not be altered by software. For applicants who prefer the direct upload route over the retail photo code system, PassSnap provides the digital file that the GOV.UK portal accepts.

When to use a photo code vs direct upload

Use a digital photo code from a retail service when: you prefer to have the photo taken by a professional who will handle the compositional requirements; you don't have access to a suitable background or lighting at home; or you want the assurance of a pre-validated submission through the code system.

Use direct upload when: you're preparing the photo at home with a phone or digital tool; you've already taken a compliant photo and have the digital file; or you want the convenience of completing the entire application from home without visiting a retail location.

Both routes are equally valid for GOV.UK online passport applications. The photo requirements are the same regardless of which route you use — the only difference is how the photo reaches HMPO's system.

FAQ

What is a UK passport photo digital code?

A digital photo code is a 16-character alphanumeric reference number issued by HMPO-certified photo retailers such as Timpson and Snappy Snaps. When you have your passport photo taken at a participating retailer, the retailer securely submits the photo to HMPO and gives you the code. You enter this code during the GOV.UK online passport application instead of uploading a photo file yourself. It's a UK-specific system that lets you use a retail-taken photo for an online application without handling a digital file.

Do I need a digital photo code for my UK passport, or can I upload my own photo?

Either route is valid. For online applications through GOV.UK, you can either enter a digital photo code from a participating retailer or upload a digital photo file directly. The photo file must be at least 600×750 pixels, JPEG format, between 50KB and 10MB. The direct upload route is appropriate for applicants who have taken a compliant photo at home or with a digital passport photo service and have the JPEG file available.

What format does the GOV.UK passport portal accept for photo uploads?

JPEG only. The file must be at least 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall, in colour, and between 50KB and 10MB. PNG and HEIC are not accepted — if your photo is in HEIC format from an iPhone, convert to JPEG before uploading. The compositional requirements are the same as for printed UK passport photos: plain light-coloured background (cream or light grey preferred), face correctly sized within the 35×45mm proportional frame, neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses, taken within the last month.