AI Photo Editor for UK Passport Photos
Fix rejected passport photos instantly. No expensive retake at Snappy Snaps.
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"HMPO rejected my Boots photo twice - wrong background colour and I forgot to remove my glasses. Fixed both in EditThisPic in 30 seconds. Saved me another trip and tenner." @NeverBootsAgain
Built for UK Passport Applicants
UK passport photos have strict requirements: exactly 35mm x 45mm, plain cream or light grey background (NOT white), head height 29-34mm, neutral expression with mouth closed, no glasses since 2016. One tiny mistake means rejection and starting over. EditThisPic fixes the most common rejection reasons - wrong background colour, glasses, shadows - in seconds. Get it right the first time.
Tools for UK Passport Photos
Change Background to Grey
Most common fix - HMPO requires plain cream or light grey, not white
Remove Glasses
Glasses not allowed on UK passports since November 2016
Remove Shadow
Face shadows cause rejections - even lighting required
Fix Colour
Correct yellow indoor lighting that affects background colour
How to AI Photo Editor for UK Passport Photos
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Take or upload your photo
Take a photo against any plain wall, or upload an existing photo. Face the camera directly, neutral expression with mouth closed, shoulders visible. Remove glasses before taking the photo - they haven't been allowed on UK passports since 2016. Don't worry about the exact background colour yet - we'll fix it.
Background colour change: 20-25 seconds. Glasses removal: 30 seconds. Multiple fixes: may need 2 attempts.Natural daylight from a window gives the best even lighting - no harsh shadows to remove later. -
Describe what needs fixing
Type your fix: 'change background to plain light grey for UK passport requirements' or 'remove glasses for UK passport photo.' Be specific about what's wrong. Combine fixes: 'change background to plain grey and remove shadows from face for UK passport photo.'
Include 'for UK passport' in your prompt - it helps the AI understand the specific standards needed (grey/cream background, not white like US passports). -
Verify HMPO requirements
Check: background is plain cream or light grey (NOT white), no shadows on face or background, head height is 29-34mm (70-80% of frame height), head centred and level, neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open and visible, no glasses, recent photo (taken within last month).
Zoom in to check edges - HMPO's automated system is very strict about background uniformity. -
Print at correct size and submit
Download your fixed photo. Print at exactly 35mm x 45mm on photo paper. Most high street shops (Boots, Tesco, Max Spielmann) can print passport photos. For online applications, upload the digital file directly - HMPO prefers digital submissions. For paper applications, include 2 identical photos.
For online applications, your digital photo is validated automatically before submission - you'll know immediately if there's an issue.
Copy-Paste Prompts for UK Passport Photos
change background to plain light grey for UK passport photo requirements, remove any shadows on background
HMPO requires plain cream or light grey - NOT white like US passports. This is the #1 rejection reason.
remove glasses for UK passport photo, keep eyes natural and open, maintain natural eye colour
Glasses haven't been allowed on UK passports since November 2016 - no exceptions, even for medical reasons.
change the white background to plain light grey for UK passport requirements, ensure uniform colour with no gradients
Photo booths often have white backgrounds. UK requires cream or grey, not white.
remove all shadows from face and neck for UK passport photo, keep natural skin tones and features
Uneven lighting creates shadows that cause rejections. This removes them while keeping natural appearance.
Show 4 more prompts
change background to plain grey, remove glasses, and remove all face shadows for UK passport requirements
Combine multiple fixes in one prompt to save time when you have several issues.
keep the cream background but ensure it's completely plain and uniform for UK passport, remove any variations or shadows
HMPO accepts cream OR light grey - if your background is already cream, just ensure it's uniform.
straighten and centre my head in the frame, ensure background is plain grey for UK passport
Head must be centred and level looking straight at the camera. This fixes crooked DIY photos.
correct the yellow indoor lighting to neutral, change background to plain light grey for UK passport requirements
Indoor lighting often creates colour casts that make grey backgrounds look wrong. This fixes both.
| Edit Type | Prompt | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong background (white) | change background to plain light grey for UK passport |
20s | Try This → |
| Wearing glasses | remove glasses, keep eyes natural |
30s | Try This → |
| Face shadow | remove all shadows from face for passport photo |
25s | Try This → |
| Background not uniform | make background completely uniform plain grey |
20s | Try This → |
Real Examples
White background to UK passport grey
Photo booth gave white background but UK requires grey or cream. HMPO rejected it immediately. One prompt fixed it.
Glasses removed for UK passport compliance
Forgot that UK doesn't allow glasses since 2016. Only good photo I had was wearing specs. Removed them digitally in 30 seconds.
remove glasses for UK passport photo, keep eyes natural and open with natural eye colour
Removed face shadow from DIY photo
Took photo at home but window light created shadow on left side of face. HMPO requires even lighting. Fixed in 25 seconds.
remove all shadows from face and neck for UK passport photo, keep natural skin tones
Multiple fixes in one go
Boots photo had cream background (fine), but I was wearing glasses and there was a shadow. Fixed everything in one prompt.
remove glasses, remove all face shadows, keep the plain cream background uniform for UK passport
When Things Go Wrong
Background is grey but not uniform
Why: The AI corrected the background colour but there's still variation - lighter in some areas, darker in others. HMPO's automated system will reject this.
make background completely uniform plain light grey, no gradients or variations, same colour everywhere
Use 'uniform' and 'plain' in your prompt to emphasise you need no variation in the background.
Eyes look unnatural after glasses removal
Why: The AI had to reconstruct the eye area that was behind the lenses and frames.
remove glasses and ensure eyes look natural, open, with correct eye colour and natural highlights
Specify 'natural eye colour' and 'keep eyes looking realistic' to guide the reconstruction.
Face looks washed out after shadow removal
Why: Aggressive shadow removal can flatten natural face contours and make skin look unnatural.
remove shadows from face but maintain natural skin tones and subtle facial contours, don't over-brighten
Add 'keep natural skin tones' to preserve realistic appearance while removing obvious shadows.
AI changed the wrong area or something I didn't want changed
Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone. This happens with ambiguous requests.
Tap a marker on the specific area you want to change, then regenerate with the same prompt
Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS one specifically.' Use them when description alone is ambiguous.
Background has visible seams or edges around hair
Why: The AI didn't perfectly blend the new grey background with your hair edges.
Tap markers on the seam areas, then: blend edges seamlessly with plain grey background, smooth transition at hair
Hair edges are tricky. If you see halos or hard edges, use markers to show exactly where edges need refinement.
HMPO still rejecting the photo
Why: There are requirements beyond background and glasses: head height (29-34mm), neutral expression, mouth closed, photo taken within last month, no head coverings except religious/medical.
EditThisPic fixes technical issues (background, glasses, shadows) but can't fix head size, expression, or age of photo. Those require retaking.
Check all requirements at gov.uk/photos-for-passports before submitting. AI can't fix everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to mark the background before describing what I want changed?
No! Just describe what you need: 'change background to plain grey for UK passport requirements' or 'remove glasses.' The AI understands what 'background' and 'glasses' mean without marking. Only use markers if you need to refine edges after the first attempt.
What are the official UK passport photo requirements?
Size: 35mm x 45mm. Background: Plain cream or light grey (NOT white). Head height: 29-34mm (70-80% of photo height) from bottom of chin to top of head. Expression: Neutral with mouth closed, both eyes open. Not allowed: Glasses (since November 2016, no exceptions), head coverings (except religious/medical with face fully visible), anything covering face. Photo must be taken within last month and show current appearance.
Why does the UK require grey or cream backgrounds instead of white?
HMPO's biometric scanning systems work better with plain cream or light grey backgrounds. White creates too much contrast and can cause issues with facial feature detection. This has been the requirement since digital passport photos were introduced. Many photo booths still use white backgrounds, which is why so many photos get rejected.
Will HMPO accept a photo edited with AI?
Yes, as long as the final photo meets all official requirements. HMPO cares about technical compliance (correct background colour, no glasses, right size, recent, shows your current appearance), not how you achieved it. EditThisPic fixes technical rejections like wrong background colour or removing glasses - these are allowed corrections. Don't alter your actual appearance (face shape, features, etc.).
Why aren't glasses allowed on UK passports?
Since November 2016, glasses have not been allowed in UK passport photos - no exceptions, even for medical reasons. This is because glasses can cause glare, obscure eyes, and interfere with facial recognition systems at border control. The rule applies to all types of glasses including clear lenses and sunglasses.
Can I use this for online passport applications?
Yes! HMPO actually prefers digital submissions. After fixing your photo with EditThisPic, download it and upload directly to the gov.uk passport application. The online system validates photos automatically before submission, so you'll know immediately if there are any issues. Digital applications are also processed faster than paper applications.
How recent does my UK passport photo need to be?
UK passport photos must be taken within the last month and show your current appearance. This is stricter than many other countries. EditThisPic can fix technical issues in recent photos but can't make old photos appear new. If your appearance has significantly changed since the photo was taken, you need to retake it.
Is EditThisPic's AI photo editor for uk passport photos really free?
Yes — you get 1 free edit per week, no account needed. For unlimited edits, plans start at $3.99/month.
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