UK Overseas Domestic Worker Visa Photo — 600 × 750 px and 6MB
An Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a UK visa application, so its face photo follows the UK visa rules — not the passport ones. The photo is a digital file: at least 600 × 750 pixels and between 50KB and 6MB, not mirrored, and never the same picture already in your passport. Verified against GOV.UK guidance (published 12 February 2026), retrieved 2026-10-11.
| Dimensions | At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall |
| File size | At least 50KB and no more than 6MB |
| File type | jpg or jpeg |
| Orientation | Vertically orientated; must not be mirrored or flipped |
| Background | A plain light-coloured background, with clear contrast to the face |
| Reusing your passport photo | Not allowed — it must not be the same photo as in your passport or identity card |
| Digital or print | Digital file uploaded with the online application |
| Visa fee | £726 for the Overseas Domestic Worker visa itself |
These are the figures published on GOV.UK's “Take a photo of your face for a visa application or permission” page and the “Overseas Domestic Worker visa” page; they are cited here rather than invented.
Why this is the visa photo, not the passport photo
The UK runs two separate photo tracks. A passport application asks for a printed photo at a fixed size (35 × 45 mm), which you can have taken at a booth or shop. A visa or permission application instead asks for a digital photo with pixel and file-size limits — and a few rules that have no passport equivalent, such as a 6MB cap, a ban on mirroring, and a ban on reusing the passport photo. An Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a visa, so the visa track applies to it.
What the photo must show
- your head, shoulders and upper body;
- no other people or objects in the frame;
- a plain light-coloured background, with clear contrast to your face;
- no ‘red eye’, and no shadows on your face or behind you;
- a clear, in-focus, colour image taken in a well-lit room.
In the photo you must face and look straight at the camera, with a plain expression and your mouth closed, eyes open and visible, no hair in front of your eyes, no head covering unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons, and your shoulders and torso clothed. The photo must not be altered by computer software or by any other means.
Glasses should not be worn unless you have to; if you must wear them they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames, glare, reflection or shadow. The single most useful tip on the official page is to ask another person to take the photo — a hand-held selfie often saves a mirrored image and is a common reason for rejection.
What the photo must not be
- a scan, or a photo of another photo of you;
- containing other objects or people;
- the same photo of you that is in your passport or identity card;
- of your identity document — it must be of you.
Babies and children
Each applicant needs a compliant photo of their own — a child cannot simply be included in an adult's photograph. A child must be on their own in the picture, and babies must not be holding toys or using dummies. Children under 6 do not have to look directly at the camera or hold a plain expression. Children under one do not have to have their eyes open, may have their head supported by a hand that is kept out of frame, and should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet photographed from above.
Related
For the wider application, see the UK Overseas Domestic Worker visa checklist (the £726 fee, the 6-month stay and the eligibility rules). The two UK photo tracks are compared in UK passport vs visa photo, and the visa rules in full are in UK visa face photo rules. For the passport-format photo see the UK passport photo page; check a finished file with the passport photo checker; and see the full size chart for other formats. To crop and resize to the pixel minimum, use the image cropper.
Frequently asked questions
What photo size does an Overseas Domestic Worker visa need?
A digital file at least 600 x 750 pixels and between 50KB and 6MB, as a jpg or jpeg, vertically orientated and not mirrored.
Can I use my passport photo for the visa?
No. The UK visa rules state the photo must not be the same photo of you that is in your passport or identity card.
Is this the same as the UK passport photo size?
No. The passport asks for a printed 35 x 45 mm photo; a visa application asks for a digital photo with pixel and file-size limits. This page follows the visa rules because an Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a visa application.
Can I take the photo on my phone?
Yes — a phone or tablet photo is acceptable, but arrange for another person to take it. A hand-held selfie risks a mirrored image, which is not accepted.
Can I wear glasses or a head covering?
Do not wear glasses unless you have to, and then only untinted with no glare or shadow over the eyes. A head covering is allowed only for religious or medical reasons, with your full face visible.
How much is the visa itself?
An Overseas Domestic Worker visa costs £726, is for up to 6 months, and cannot be extended.
Source: GOV.UK, “Take a photo of your face for a visa application or permission” (gov.uk/guidance/how-to-take-a-photo-for-a-visa-application-or-permission, published 12 February 2026) and “Overseas Domestic Worker visa” (gov.uk/overseas-domestic-worker-visa), both retrieved 2026-10-11. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current position before you apply.