If you are applying for or renewing an expired Irish and UK passport at the same time, you must prepare passport photos that meet the requirements. However, there are some differences between the size and requirements of UK and Ireland passport photos. In this article, we will show you their requirements, differences and how to get qualified UK and Irish passport photos in the US.
What Is a Passport Photo?
A passport photo is a biometric photo that must be in your passport to prove your identity when you travel internationally. The photo must show all your facial features and meet strict requirements, such as head distance, size, clothing, background, and more. The photo can not be edited or changed. You must submit a photo that meets the strict requirements; otherwise, your passport application will be rejected because of unqualified photos.
Ireland vs UK Passport Photos Requirements Comparison
There are some differences between Ireland’s and the UK’s passport photo requirements. You can check this form below for a comparison of Irish and UK passport photo standards.
| Photos Requirements | Ireland passport photo | UK passport photo |
| Size | Minimum: 35mm x 45mm Maximum: 38mm x 50mm Minimum: 3.5cm x 4.5cm Maximum: 3.8cm x 5.0cm Minimum: 1.38 x 1.77 inch Maximum: 1.5 x 2.0 inch Minimum: (At 600 dpi) 827×1063 pixels | 35mm x 45mm 3.5cm x 4.5cm 1.38 x 1.77 inch 827×1063 pixels (at 600 dpi) |
| Head position | The head should occupy 70% to 80% of the whole photo. | The head from the crown of your head down to your chin, should measure between 29mm and 34mm in height |
| Background | The background should be completely plain, light grey, white or cream color to create a clear contrast. There are no objects, people, or flection in the photo. | |
| Format | Either digital or physical, paper photos | |
| File size | No larger than 9 megabytes (9MB). | The digital photo size should be a minimum of 50KB and no larger than 10MB. |
| Color | Black and white photos or color photos | Only color photos are acceptable |
| Dress code | You should wear daily and usual clothes that do not blend with the background. You should avoid professional clothes, dinner clothes or uniforms. | |
| Hair | Your hair can’t cover your eyes or face. If it is too long or fluzzy, you should tie them up or put them back. | |
| Glasses | It is allowed to wear glasses, but the frames should not obscure any part of your face. There is no glare on the lense. No tinted glasses or sunglasses. | |
| Used for | Ireland passport、Ireland passport card、Ireland visa | UK passport, UK visa, UK driver’s permit |
Where to Get UK & Ireland Passport Photos in the US?
If you want to get UK and Ireland passport photos, you can take a photo from a professional photoshop or photo booth. If you want to save money and avoid long queues, it is recommended that you take a photo at home and use an online passport photo converter such as AiPassportPhotos to obtain a passport photo that complies. Below, we will explain the complete process to get a UK or Irish passport photo without leaving your house.
Learn UK & Ireland Passport Photo Requirements
Before you take a photo yourself, you should know the basic photo requirements mentioned above. There are some similarities and differences between Irish and UK passport photos. Make sure you don’t mess with them.
Set up Equipment
When you take a photo at home, you can set up the tripod at the right distance, about 1.2 meters from you. The background should be grey or cream without any patterns, objects or shadows. Light must be bright and even and natural sunlight is preferred.
Dress appropriately
You should wear everyday clothes, such as t-shirts, shirts, dresses, and jackets. Avoid uniforms or costumes in passport photos.
Pose correctly & take pictures
When you take your passport photo, you must sit up straight and face directly into the camera. You should avoid smiling and showing your teeth. It is recommended that you keep neutral expressions with a closed mouth and open eyes.
Resize UK & Ireland Passport Photos Online
Once you have taken the most satisfying photo, you need to upload it to our professional passport photo editor AiPassportPhotos to make your photo meet the requirements. Here you can follow these simple steps to get your UK or Ireland passport photo.
- Visit AiPassportPhotos on your browser.
- Upload the photo to our platform by clicking the “Upload the photo” button.
- Wait for AI technology to process your photo. It might take a few seconds.
- Once done, you can preview the photo and download the printable photo.
With a single click, it will automatically detect your face, resize the photo, change the unwanted background, and complete the compliance check. Finally, you will receive a passport photo that will not be refused by the government.
Common Mistakes When Taking UK & Irish Passport Photos
There are some mistakes when you take photos of UK and Irish passports. You should avoid making mistakes to make your passport photo acceptable.
- Wrong size: The size is not 35 x 45 mm. You should use the professional passport photo editor.
- Clothes: You wear the uniforms or camouflage in the photo. You should wear a shirt or a simple crew neck shirt.
- Lighting: There is shadow or uneven lighting on the face. You can take a photo in natural light, in the early morning or late afternoon.
- Background: There are some objects in the background. The background should be grey or cream without any items.
- Headwear: You wear headphones in the photo. You should take off all your headwear.
- Color: It needs a colored photo, but you upload a black and white photo. You should read the requirements and prepare a color photo or black and white photo.
- Expression: You laugh, open your mouth or close your eyes in the photo. You should maintain a neutral facial expression with your mouth shut and eyes open.
- File size: The size of the photo is over 10 MB. You should know the file size limit.
FAQ
Are Irish passport photos the same size as the UK?
No, they are not the same one. Irish passport photo dimension is between 35mm x 45mm and 38mm x 50mm, whereas UK passport photo size is at 45mm x 35m.
Why are Irish passport photos black and white?
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the passport itself is digitally printed in black and white. So the passport photo can be black and white.
How do I resize a photo to UK passport size?
If you want to resize a photo to the UK, you can use AiPassportPhotos passport photo editor to obtain a photo that meets passport photo rules UK.
Can I take UK or Irish passport photos at home?
Yes, you can take a UK or Irish passport photo at home and upload it to AiPassportphotos to get a complaint. Make sure you learn the official requirements before taking a passport photo at home.
Can I use US passport photos for UK or Irish passport application?
No. There are no the same requirements for a US passport and UK or Irish passport. The US passport photo size is 2 x 2 inches.
Where to print UK and Irish passport photos?
If you don’t know where to get passport photos, you can visit these places to print UK passport photos near me in the US.
Conclusion
If you want to save money and time, it is better for you to take a photo at home and upload it to our photo editor AiPassportPhotos to make it meet the UK or Republic of Ireland passport photo requirements. Remember that the Irish and UK passport photos are not the same, so you can not make a photo for both passports.
Dolores Xiao