UK visa photos have a unique cream background requirement and a strict 1-month freshness rule. This guide covers UK visa photo requirements for Indian applicants in 2026 — 35×45 mm (413×531 px), 20–200 KB, cream or light grey background. Resize and compress your photo free with no upload.
| Dimensions | 35×45 mm (width × height) |
| Digital size (upload) | 413×531 px at 300 DPI |
| File size | 20–200 KB for portal upload |
| Format | JPEG / JPG |
| Background | Cream or light grey — must be plain |
| Face coverage | Face 70–80% of frame height |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open, looking directly at camera |
| Glasses | Not permitted (UK Home Office rule) |
| Photo age | Taken within 1 month of application |
| Printed photos | 2 identical printed photos if applying in person |
UK visa photos must be 35×45 mm (width × height). When uploading digitally via the UK Visas and Immigration portal, the image should be approximately 413×531 pixels at 300 DPI, JPEG format. The file size should be between 20–200 KB. The background must be cream or light grey — not white as the UK specification is distinct from most other countries.
The UK Home Office specification uses "cream or light grey" to ensure the photo is clearly distinguishable as a photo (white on white can cause scanning issues at some border control points). In practice, a plain white background is also generally accepted at UK Visas and Immigration processing, but to be strictly compliant, cream or very light grey is technically correct.
The dimensions are the same (35×45 mm), but the background specification differs — Indian passport requires white, UK technically requires cream or light grey. A white-background photo is likely to be accepted for UK visas in practice. However, if you want to be strictly compliant, use a slightly off-white background for your UK visa photos.
The UK Home Office requires the photo to be taken within 1 month of your visa application date. This is stricter than India (6 months), Schengen (6 months), and the US (6 months). If your photo is more than a month old, take a new one before applying.
For online applications, you upload a digital photo. If applying at a VFS centre in India, you will typically need 2 identical printed photos as well as the digital upload. Check VFS Global India or the specific UK embassy instructions as requirements can vary. Always bring printed photos as a backup even for online applications.