Get a UK residence card photo in the correct 35×45 mm size in seconds. Take a selfie at home, and our online photo maker crops it, sets a plain white background and checks the photo against the ID card rules.
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A UK residence card needs a colour photo in the standard British format. Our check validates your photo against each parameter below.
The UK residence card is an official document that proves a person's right to live in the United Kingdom. It is aimed at non-UK nationals who have the right to live and work in the UK, including EU citizens and their family members, and people with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The card helps to confirm your immigration status when you start a job, register with healthcare or enrol in education, so the photo on it has to be clear and correct.
The photo for a UK ID or residence card is a portrait rectangle of 35×45 mm. In our template the head takes about 34.5 mm from the chin to the crown, with about 3 mm of space between the top of the hair and the top edge of the photo. The card itself is the ID-1 credit card size (85.60×53.98 mm), so do not confuse it with the 35×45 mm size of the photo you supply. For a print, 600 DPI keeps every detail of the face sharp.
Use a plain white background with no shadows, patterns or objects behind you. The ID photo must be in colour, without filters, beauty effects or editing that changes how you look. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, look straight into the camera and keep your head straight. Hair should not cover your eyes, and the whole face, from chin to the top of the head, has to stay inside the frame. Our AI sets the white background and checks these points before you download the photo.
You can apply for a UK residence card on the government website. The form asks for your personal details, information about your family member and your immigration status. Supporting documents usually include a valid passport or national identity card, proof of your relationship to the EU citizen (such as a marriage or birth certificate) and evidence of your residence in the UK, such as utility bills, bank statements or a rental agreement. Some documents may need to be sent by post.
After you submit the application, you will be asked to attend a biometric appointment, where your fingerprints and a photograph are taken. You book the appointment through the government website and receive a confirmation. Even so, it helps to have a correct photo ready in case a form asks you to supply your own 35×45 mm colour photo, printed or as a digital file; the Validate UK photo FAQ gives general guidance on identity card photos.
The UK residence card is usually valid for five years. Apply for a renewal before the card expires; the process is similar to the first application, and a new card needs a recent photo that still looks like you. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the police and apply for a replacement through the government website. An old photo from a previous card is not a good choice for a new one.
This document format works for both a printed photo and a digital upload. For a print, order a 35×45 mm photo at 600 DPI on photo paper and cut it along the border. For an online upload, use the digital file as it is, without scanning a printed photo, because a scan loses sharpness and colour. If you also need photos for other British documents, the UK driving licence photo page and the UK visa photo page explain their own rules.
Hold the phone at arm's length, camera at eye level. Our tool crops the photo to 35×45 mm and straightens it.
Look into the lens with a neutral face and your mouth closed. Take off your glasses and keep your hair away from your eyes.
Face a window for even daylight and avoid direct sunlight, which leaves hard shadows in the photo. The AI replaces the background with plain white.
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A 35×45 mm ID photo with a white background, checked in seconds.
Our AI check catches these ID photo mistakes before you download the photo.
Approved
Don't smile
Mouth open
Approved
No fashion headwear
Head tilted
Shadow behind head
Large earrings
Approved
Use your phone camera or a photo you already have. Everything runs online in your browser.
The tool crops the photo to the 35×45 mm size, sets a white background and checks every requirement.
Download the digital ID photo, or print it at 600 DPI and cut it out for your application.
Get an ID photo that passes the check
Size, crop and white background in one step.
Free
$5.99
The photo is 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm) in portrait format, with the head about 34.5 mm tall from chin to crown.
A plain white background without shadows or patterns. Our photo maker sets a white background automatically.
Yes. Use a recent colour photo without filters or edits that change your appearance.
Yes, if the photo meets the requirements. Use daylight, keep a neutral face, and let our tool fix the size and crop.
After you apply for a UK residence card, you will be asked to attend a biometric appointment where your fingerprints and a photograph are taken.
The card is usually valid for five years. Apply for a renewal before it expires, with a recent photo.
It is better not to. A new card needs a recent photo that shows how you look now.
Yes. The digital photo and the AI check are free; only the optional retouch costs $5.99.
A 35×45 mm ID photo on a white background, checked in seconds.
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