UK ETA Photo Requirements

Applying for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)? You upload or take photos of the face of the person applying, and they must follow the official rules for digital photos of faces. This page sets out the published requirements — quality, format, content, and the rules for babies and children. Based on the official GOV.UK pages, retrieved 2026-10-12.

The quality of your digital photo

Your photo must be:

clear and in focus;
in colour;
taken in a well-lit room.

Your photo must not be altered by computer software or through other means (for example, by adding a filter).

The formatting of your digital photo

Your photo must be:

at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall;
at least 50KB and no more than 6MB;
a jpg or jpeg file;
vertically orientated.

Your photo must not be mirrored or flipped.

What your digital photo must show

The photo must:

contain no other objects or people;
be taken against a plain light-coloured background;
be in clear contrast to the background;
not have ‘red eye’;
show your head, shoulders and upper body.

Your photo must not be a scan or photo of another photo of you, contain other objects or people, be the same photo that is in your passport or identity card, or be a photo of your identity document. In your photo you must:

ensure your facial features are clearly visible;
be facing towards and looking straight at the camera;
have a plain expression and your mouth closed;
have your eyes open and visible;
not have hair in front of your eyes;
not have shadows on your face or behind you;
not have a head covering, unless it’s for religious or medical reasons;
be dressed appropriately with your shoulders and torso clothed.

You should try to arrange for another person to take your photo. Do not wear glasses unless you have to — if you do, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and your eyes cannot be covered by the frames or glare, reflection or shadow.

Photos of babies and children

Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.
Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.
Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.
Children under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet. Take the photo from above.

What is not published

Minimum size	600 × 750 px (at least 600 wide, 750 tall)
File size	50KB – 6MB
Format	jpg / jpeg, vertically orientated
Background	Plain light-coloured — an exact colour value is not published
Head-height ratio	Not published

The rules give a size, file range and format, but they do not publish an exact background colour value or a head-height ratio. This page does not invent either.

Using it in the ETA application

When you apply, you’ll need to upload or take photos of the face of the person applying. You must follow the rules for digital photos of faces. If you apply online you need a photo of the passport and a photo of the face; on the UK ETA app you use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face. If the photo of the face of the person applying does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected. An ETA costs £20. It costs £20 to apply online or through the UK ETA app, and you cannot get a refund after you apply. Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services.

For the app-versus-online photo flow, see the UK ETA face photo guide, and the wider route in the UK ETA application and requirements guide and the UK ETA checklist. Reduce the file to the 50KB–6MB range with the image compressor, check a finished shot with the passport photo checker, and compare formats on the photo size chart.

Frequently asked questions

What size does a UK ETA photo have to be?
It must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, vertically orientated, and not mirrored or flipped.

What file type and size can I upload?
It must be a jpg or jpeg file, at least 50KB and no more than 6MB.

What background does the photo need?
A plain light-coloured background, and the photo must be in clear contrast to the background.

Can I use a filter or edit the photo?
No. Your photo must not be altered by computer software or through other means (for example, by adding a filter).

What are the rules for babies and children?
Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression. Children under one do not have to have their eyes open and should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet, photographed from above.

How much does a UK ETA cost?
An ETA costs £20 to apply online or through the UK ETA app, and you cannot get a refund after you apply.

Source: GOV.UK — “Take a photo of your face for a visa application or permission” (guidance), “Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)” and its apply page, retrieved 2026-10-12. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements on GOV.UK before you apply.

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