Passport and visa photo questions

Why was my UK passport photo rejected?

Usually because the photo breaks one of gov.uk’s rules: shadows on your face or behind you, a background that is not plain and light, a cropped photo, glasses, hair over your eyes, an open mouth, or a photo that is blurred, edited or more than a month old. gov.uk says your application will be delayed if your photo does not meet the rules. A new photo that fixes the reason is the way forward.

What the official page says

  • Clear, in focus and in colour, and not altered by computer software.
  • A plain, light-coloured background in clear contrast to you, with no other objects or people.
  • No shadows on your face or behind you, and no red eye.
  • Your head, shoulders and upper body, not cropped.
  • Facing forwards and looking straight at the camera, with a plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and no hair in front of your eyes.
  • No glasses unless you have to, and never sunglasses or tinted glasses.
  • Taken in the last month.

Official pages read: October 2026 · Official source: gov.uk, gov.uk

How to do it with Complyshot

  1. Find the reason first: compare your photo with the list above, starting with shadows and the background.
  2. Open Complyshot and choose “UK passport photo (online)”, then retake the photo with someone holding the phone, facing soft, even light.
  3. Read the result. Each check that fails comes with what to change, so you can fix it before you upload again.
  4. Save the new photo whole, without cropping, and send it the way HM Passport Office asks.

Related questions

What happens after my photo is rejected?

gov.uk says the application is delayed until the photo meets the rules. If you applied online, you can track your application on gov.uk to see where it stands.

My photo passed Complyshot. Why was it still rejected?

Complyshot checks what a phone can measure and asks you to confirm the rest; HM Passport Office makes the final decision. If an official service rejects a photo Complyshot passed, retake it free, or ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com and tell us why.

Should I go to a photo booth instead?

If you have had several rejections, it can help: gov.uk says booth and shop photos are more likely to be approved than photos taken on your own device.

Check your photo in Complyshot

Complyshot checks your photo on your iPhone; the photo is not uploaded. Checking is free, and saving the finished photo is a one-time purchase, with no subscription.

Download on the App Store

Complyshot is made by YOTEZIC LTD and is not affiliated with any government. It checks what a phone can measure and cannot promise that your photo will be accepted; the issuing office decides.