Emergency Travel Document Photo
If you need to travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport, the online emergency travel document (ETD) application needs a valid digital passport photo that meets the passport photo guidelines and has not been used in a previous passport. This guide covers who can apply, the photo rules, the fee and the child requirements. Based on GOV.UK guidance retrieved 2026-09-28.
What an emergency travel document is
GOV.UK puts it plainly: an emergency travel document “lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport”. It is usually valid for one single or return journey, and you “can travel through a maximum of 5 countries”.
Who can apply
All of the following must apply: you are a British national; you are outside the UK; you need to travel within 6 weeks; your UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired, or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy; you cannot renew or replace your passport from abroad before you travel; and you have had a valid UK passport issued on or after 1 January 2006.
If you have not had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006, GOV.UK normally points you to the standard overseas passport instead. An ETD may still be possible where you have, or are eligible for, British nationality, are outside the UK, need to travel within 6 weeks, and have an urgent and unplanned reason owing to exceptional circumstances — for example a child born unexpectedly, urgent medical treatment you cannot access without travel to another country, or the funeral of a close relative. Holidays, weddings, family events and job interviews do not qualify on that route.
The photo requirement is the passport photo requirement
To apply online you need, among other things, a valid digital passport photo that meets the guidelines and has not been used in a previous passport. The guidelines GOV.UK links to are the ordinary passport photo rules, so there is no separate ETD photo specification. The digital photo must be clear and in focus, in colour, unaltered by computer software, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and at least 50KB and no more than 10MB, against a plain light-coloured background.
An ETD-specific pixel size or dimension is not published, so not asserted here. GOV.UK applies the passport photo guidelines directly.
Do not reuse an old photo
The rule that catches people out is the reuse ban: the photo must not have been used in a previous passport. The general passport rule is stricter still — you must get a new photo when you get a new passport even if your appearance has not changed, and the photo must have been taken in the last month. Our photo validity guide explains how those time limits work.
How to apply and what it costs
You can only apply online if you have had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006. The application costs £125 and you cannot get a refund. Before you apply, check whether an emergency travel document will be accepted in the countries you plan to leave, enter and travel through; that check also tells you whether you need a visa. A relative or friend can pay the fee if you cannot.
After you apply, your old passport will usually be automatically cancelled once you have paid, unless you are told otherwise — for example because it is with an embassy or you have already applied for a new passport. The document is usually ready to collect 2 working days after you apply; it can take several weeks if your original passport has expired, you are applying for a child under 16, the fee is unpaid, more documents are needed, or an appointment is required. Your travel plans may be printed on the document, and if they change you must reapply and pay £125 again.
Children under 16
If you apply for a child under 16, they need to attend an appointment with both parents or legal guardians. If a parent or legal guardian cannot attend, they must send a signed consent letter instead.
Related guides
Prepare the photo with passport photo at home, check the digital file requirements, and print correctly with the printing guide. Run the finished file through the passport photo checker, and read the UK passport photo rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reuse an old passport photo for an emergency travel document?
No — GOV.UK says the photo must meet the guidelines and has not been used in a previous passport.
What size must the emergency travel document photo be?
GOV.UK applies the standard passport digital photo rules: at least 600 x 750 pixels and 50KB to 10MB; an ETD-specific size is not published, so not asserted here.
How many countries can I travel through with an emergency travel document?
A maximum of 5 countries.
How much does an emergency travel document cost?
£125, and you cannot get a refund.
Does a child under 16 need both parents at the appointment?
They need to go to an appointment with both parents or legal guardians; if one cannot attend, send a signed consent letter instead.
How long does an emergency travel document take?
It is usually ready to collect 2 working days after you apply, though it may take several weeks in some cases.
Sources: GOV.UK, “Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport” (gov.uk/travel-urgently-from-abroad-without-uk-passport) and its “How to apply” page (gov.uk/travel-urgently-from-abroad-without-uk-passport/how-to-apply), retrieved 2026-09-28; GOV.UK, “Get a passport photo” (gov.uk/photos-for-passports), retrieved 2026-09-28. Rules change, so confirm the current guidance before you apply.