Quick answer
What are the UK ETA photo requirements?
The UK ETA photo is taken live in the UK ETA app or uploaded on GOV.UK: at least 600 × 750 pixels, JPEG, 50 KB to 6 MB, on a plain light background. It must be a new, unedited photo, not the one in your passport. Australians need the £20 ETA, valid for 2 years.
Australian passport holders can visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, but since 8 January 2025 they need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and since 25 February 2026 airlines refuse boarding without one. The ETA costs £20 and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires. Its photo is taken live in the UK ETA app, or uploaded on GOV.UK: at least 600 × 750 pixels, JPEG, 50 KB to 6 MB, on a plain light background.
UK ETA photo requirements
| Size | At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, portrait |
|---|---|
| File | JPG or JPEG, 50 KB to 6 MB |
| Background | Plain and light-coloured, no other people or objects |
| Framing | Head, shoulders and upper body, facing the camera |
| Expression | Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, no hair over the eyes |
| Glasses | Only if you need them; no tinted lenses and no glare |
| Head covering | Only for religious or medical reasons |
| Editing | A new photo: not edited, not a photo of a photo, and not the photo in your passport |
| Printed photo | Not needed |
Children under 6 do not need a plain expression, and babies under 1 do not need their eyes open. Children under 10 skip the face scan in the app but still need a photo.
UK ETA photo: app or website
Apply in the official UK ETA app or on GOV.UK. In the app you photograph your passport, the app scans your face to check you are a real person, and you take a photo of your face; the app checks it and lets you retake it. On the website, or when applying for someone who is not with you, you upload a photo instead, and it must follow the rules above. Most decisions arrive within a day, but allow up to 3 working days.
UK visas from Australia
If you need a UK visa, for example as an Australian resident whose nationality requires one, you apply online and then attend a visa application centre, where your fingerprints and photo are taken. You do not bring printed photos.
How to get your United Kingdom visa photo right
- Check what your trip needs. Read the guide above to see whether your United Kingdom trip needs a visa or travel authorisation, and whether that application asks for a photo.
- Take a new photo. Take a recent photo facing the camera in even light, on a plain, light-coloured background, ideally with someone else holding the camera. Compare it with the sample photos on this page.
- Crop it to the United Kingdom size. Crop without stretching or editing, to match the requirements table. Photo size: Not needed; Digital / submission: At least 600 × 750 px; File: JPEG, 50 KB–6 MB.
- Apply through the official channel. Upload or attach the photo as the official website, app, embassy or visa centre asks. Its current checklist takes priority over this guide.
Sample photos
Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the United Kingdom visa size.
United Kingdom visa photo FAQ
Yes, for visits of up to 6 months made on or after 8 January 2025. Airlines check for an ETA before you board.
No. The photo must be new: not the photo in your passport and not a photo of a printed photo.
At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, in JPG or JPEG format, between 50 KB and 6 MB. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
- GOV.UK: Using the UK ETA app
- GOV.UK: How to take a photo for a visa application or permission
- GOV.UK: No permission, no travel: UK set to enforce ETA scheme
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.