Can you take you own passport picture at home?
Posted by Different-Jelly-5634@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 54 comments
Every time I’ve gone to have it done either in a booth or with a person taking it, it’s just a white background. So can I not do this at home infront of a white wall? I’m doing it for my application of a British passport. Do I just need special printing paper?
jimmykicking@reddit
I kid you not. I worked on that software. Yes totally. If you are black you might have some issues that we couldn't resolve. I worked at HMPO at the joke office.
Meemaw-11@reddit
What is meant by this please? I’m black and thinking of attempting to take my own passport photo at home. Is this not advisable?
SafeBarracuda5649@reddit
Yes. Or use the Photo Booth but your own phone camera. The background is correct then
Low-Block4751@reddit
I tried this and it was rejected. was yours accepted? because the phone booth is too close, you have to take a selfie and the angle isnt right or distance. so it's not as genius as you think,
unhallowed90@reddit
Genius
mynamecouldbesam@reddit
My new passport picture is literally a selfie in my living room.
You still have to make yourself look like a convict, but you can now just upload a digital image against a light, plain background, and it's all good.
Forward_Adeptness591@reddit
Was your selfie a mirror image? I’ve just realised mine is and now I’m worried it could be an issue.
mynamecouldbesam@reddit
Yes it was, i didn't flip it. It was fine
partaylikearussian@reddit
Yup, you can do it online yourself now. Be careful, though. I used the screenshot feature on my iPhone instead of the actual camera button - I don't know why. But it was accepted. A year later, at Moscow border control, I was being quizzed on why my picture was flipped around (mole etc. gave it away, I'd never even noticed). That was a wild 30 minutes.
Charming_Middle5865@reddit
Thanks! I'm in similar situation.. moles/scars displayed on the other side. Couple of q's pls: 1. Did the airport officials knew it's mirror image and what questions/challenges/ advise did they give? 2. I have to travel to Asian and European countries. Did you face any challenges while travelling to these places? 3. Do automatic gates fail the check? 4. Will they not allow to travel for any reason (as visas will have the normal photos).
Your response is much appreciated!
partaylikearussian@reddit
Russian border control is infamously hard work sometimes simply because anything official can be really tedious. They asked why it was flipped, then they asked why I was visiting during such a tumultuous time, then they demanded to see our marriage certificate (I’m English, she’s Russian).
Sorry haven’t been many places lately so can’t comment! NL had no problems. Mauritius had no problems. UK has no problems.
Gates in the UK often fail for me but i don’t think it’s the photo, often it goes through fine.
Haven’t been denied travel anywhere. Only needed a visa for Russia, though haven’t been since the situation started
Charming_Middle5865@reddit
Thanks a lot. Very helpful.
Charming_Middle5865@reddit
Thanks! I'm in similar situation.. moles/scars displayed on the other side. Couple of q's pls:
Did the airport officials knew it's mirror image and what questions/challenges/ advise did they give?
I have to travel to Asian and European countries. Did you face any challenges while travelling to these places?
Do automatic gates fail the check?
Will they not allow to travel for any reason (as visas will have the normal photos).
Your response is much appreciated!
Emitime@reddit
I'm amazed the photo was accepted in the first place. The pixel density would have been horrendous.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
Oh 😦 that’s horrendous. Im planning to do a fair bit of travelling so this is very helpful. How did you get through?
jimmykicking@reddit
I kid you not. I worked on that software. Yes totally. If you are black you might have some issues that we couldn't resolve. I worked at HMPO at the joke office.
jimmykicking@reddit
I kid you not. I worked on that software. Yes totally. If you are black you might have some issues that we couldn't resolve. I worked at HMPO at the joke office.
ktitten@reddit
Yes on the website it will tell you and give you guidance as well.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
The gov website is good but it doesn’t give you a lot of information on some topics. I end up going in circles sometimes, it usually advises me to call Citizen’s advice bureau - which also isn’t very helpful, they act like you are doing something wrong when you call 🤕
rootex@reddit
https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
If you type "can I take my own passport photo UK" into Google that is the top result?
from the link:
"How to get a digital photo You can get a digital photo either:
from a photo booth or shop before applying for your passport by taking one using your own device during your passport application"
Its pretty clear....
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
It doesn’t tell me the process of printing it myself, what paper is required, what settings you have to use for it to print passport sized. The real life process of executing it is not explained. I could do without the condescension in your comment.
rootex@reddit
Are you sure printing your own photos is the right choice for you?
"Printed photos:
They must:
measure 45 millimetres (mm) high by 35mm wide (the standard size used in photo booths in the UK) not be a cut down version of a larger picture If you use a photo booth outside the UK, check it can give you photos that measure 45mm high by 35mm wide.
The size of your image The image of you - from the crown of your head to your chin - must be between 29mm and 34mm high.
The quality of your printed photos
Your photos must be:
printed to a professional standard clear and in focus in colour on plain white photographic paper with no border without any creases or tears unmarked on both sides (unless a photo needs to be countersigned) unaltered by computer software"
literally everything you asked about is clearly stated in the link.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
It seems as though you don’t understand my reply.
rootex@reddit
It doesn’t tell me the process of printing it myself, what paper is required, what settings you have to use for it to print passport sized, it just says “printed to a professional standard” but doesn’t say what their definition of that is or how to achieve that. It states the size but doesn’t tell you how to do that. The real life process of executing it is not explained. As some people have stated, they have had photo booth photos rejected as well. I could do without the condescension in your comment.
It didn't just say "printed to a professional standard" as you claimed though did it? "Printed to a professional standard" is less than 1 line of text. I pasted about 40 which contain most of the information you asked about....
Again, if you need step by step instructions on how to print something, do you really think it's the right choice for you? Photo booths are available...
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
You seem to want an argument 🤔 The explanations given on the site doesn’t help me in the real life execution of what they want. Simply because you find it helpful doesn’t mean everyone else has to, you do realise that right? This will be my last reply to you.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the replies everyone, What about the printing aspect? My adviser said I need to have a printed photo, with my name and dob on the back, stick it to the paper form, get a signature from two referees and then scan it in to be digitally added to the form. I’m so confused.
LongjumpingMacaron11@reddit
If it's for a first passport, or where you look significantly different to your old photo then you need it printed and countersigned.
For a standard replacement, it can be all digital.
AncientFollowing3019@reddit
Im not sure if it’s different for kids but I’ve just had my 2 years olds first one and you put contact details of someone in a respected profession who get an email to get them to confirm the identity. All done online. I’ve also confirmed the identity of several friends’ kids too.
LongjumpingMacaron11@reddit
Ah, that's good then. We goty daughter's first passport done the old fashioned way about 12 years ago. Last one done all online, photo taken at home
Bit of a mare getting the right sort of light, and a flat white background though.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
Yes it’s my first one, so when printing do I need special paper to make it laminated etc? I have a good camera, freestanding ring light and friend to snap it for me but not sure about the printing part.
LongjumpingMacaron11@reddit
I'm not 100% on that but I'm afraid. The one issue would be that it must be the right size. All in all, it may be easier to get it from a photo booth or passport photo stall, unless you can guarantee to print it at the right sizing as let the instructions.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
That’s true.
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
Ah, I didn’t specify- it’s for my first passport.
bizarrecoincidences@reddit
So I don’t know about first uk passports but renewals you do it online and can upload a photo either taken by yourself on your phone as long as good enough quality or a code from a Photo Booth (most passport booths give out a code now so the passport office download the photo from the photo company server rather than giving you a printout) - very few bother doing paper applications and then put in the email of the one person (not two) who need to verify it’s a good pic of you.
They get an email with a link to validate the photo where they have to answer some questions about how they know you, their job (usually have to be a professional eg accountant, teacher, professor, police officer) and confirm it is a good likeness. They need to put in their uk passport info too.
Then you get an address to send off any supplementary docs (like old uk passport or birth certificate etc - use special delivery for tracking) and it’s all processed and done online.
poppytat@reddit
I took mine in a petrol station, only place i could find with a white wall
TheStatMan2@reddit
Recently had to try to do it for my son's first passport.
There's an online tool on the gov site that checks how likely the photo you've taken is to pass scrutiny (which I assume is done by humans) when you send it in.
I wasn't able to get one that was likely to pass.
You need:
A plain (preferably white background) Natural (or pro-photography type) light Lack of shadows.
Combine this with trying to keep a toddler still and pull an acceptable face and it just wasn't happening.
You may have better luck with an adult but it was the complete lack of shadows aspect that I couldn't get right.
Went to Max Spielmann in the end and to be fair their in house person was really good at knowing what to do with a toddler and which the most appropriate shot was. Plus we got some nice photos at the end.
dbltax@reddit
Yep, I've done it before. Just make sure you follow all the guidelines to avoid it being rejected.
redrighthand_@reddit
I’ve always done it at home with no issue
Icy_Session3326@reddit
Yeah you can . I just did two for my children and used a site that changes the background to white and guarantees that it will be acceptable .. they check the photo then gives you pointers as you go along if things need to be different and then once it’s acceptable they give you the code to use on the passport application. I paid about £7 for each one and it was absolutely worth it lol
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
What’s the website?
Icy_Session3326@reddit
It seems I used a diff one for the last one I did .. but the sites look very similar lol . This one was £9.99 I think . Sorry I slept very little last night and I’m easily confused when sleep deprived 😅 it’s called photoAid.com . This is the one that gave me the code to use .. the other one I downloaded the photo now I think about it
Different-Jelly-5634@reddit (OP)
😅 Thank you!
Icy_Session3326@reddit
Give me two secs I’ll check my email lovely
Tatopolois@reddit
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303780/Photoguidance_v7.pdf
Second link on Google.
Yes, technically you can take your own photos at home, there are no requirements to go and buy one. That said - unless you're a photographer and have access to a camera/studio/lighting, why bother taking an unnecessary risk and chance of delaying your application.
Plus, passport photo booths can even give you digital photos now, which means you can apply online and save faff of mailing applications and such.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
I think the main advantage for me is that I can take a 100 pictures at home and pick one where I look less menacing. Photo booth gives you only a couple of tries, the quality in my local Timpsons was awful. I didn't find the requirements to be too stringent – just took a pic against a white wall
ktitten@reddit
Cheaper? I paid £8 for my passport photos at a booth. Also had photos from a booth rejected, so I had to pay twice for photos.
My partner took a quick snap of himself hungover for no money and it got accepted. If you're not short on time it's worth a shot.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
For a first passport? I would get it done through a service with some assurance. I was once forced to go to the passport office for my son's first passport because the computer didn't like some shadows on his photo.
I have done it at home - but it's not that easy to get it right! No shadow on the background, avoiding shadows on your face, well illuminated - I ended up using a bunch of lighting to do it correct.
moondust1959@reddit
Yes. I did my partner’s.
dbxp@reddit
Yes, that's how I did mine
mellonians@reddit
Yes. I took my daughter's picture against a magnolia wall and it's just been accepted. I've done my own and families and friends passport pictures for years now.
I paid for an app that did all the editing but I tried a picture without any pre editing this time and it's all gone through.
Read the guidelines the other commenters have posted. Get plenty of natural light. Take loads of pictures and start with the one you'll be happiest with. You can upload on the passport application site before going too far through the application to get a gauge of acceptability so it's worth doing it to just play around with. Also, what surprised me is that the passport website just automatically cropped the latest picture so feel free to play around.
destria@reddit
Yes you can, I've done it recently online and uploaded photos I took myself on a phone. It can take a few tries though to meet the guidelines. And I would advise either having someone take it or having it taken on a timer, the selfie photos didn't meet the guidelines because of distortion.
AgentOfASignal@reddit
Yes. When you fill in the form online you can upload a photo. We spent a long time doing my mum's at home, trying to find a wall to use, and take a photo the system would accept.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
You can but be sure to follow the guidance https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
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