Passport Photo Derry

UK Passport Photo Requirements

Before visiting any provider, it helps to understand exactly what HMPO requires. A non-compliant photo will delay your application, so all reputable services in Derry check against these rules before printing. The core requirements are:

Requirement	Detail
Print size	35 x 45 mm
Digital size (online applications)	600 x 750 px, between 50 KB and 10 MB
Background	Plain white or light grey, no patterns or shadows
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes fully open
Head position	Straight, facing the camera directly, not tilted
Head size in frame	Must fill 70 to 80 percent of the image height
Recency	Taken within the last month
Glasses	Not permitted under any circumstances since 2022
Headwear	Not permitted except for confirmed religious or medical reasons

If you are applying for an Irish passport as well as or instead of a British one, the photo requirements from the Irish Passport Service are very similar in size (35 x 45 mm) and expression rules, but your photo must be certified by a witness. A professional studio or pharmacy offering passport photos will be familiar with both sets of requirements.

Photochute – Dedicated Photo Shop on Strand Road

Photochute is Derry's go-to independent photo shop – highly rated locally, staffed by knowledgeable colleagues, and conveniently located on Strand Road between the two bridges, just across from the Quayside Cinema. It offers passport photos, photo printing, photo gifts, framing and more.

Address:: 45 Strand Road, Londonderry, BT48 7BL
Phone:: 028 7136 9276
Email:: photochutederry@gmail.com
Website:: photo-chute.co.uk
Hours:: Monday–Saturday 9am–5.30pm
Services:: Passport photos (printed and digital), photo printing, photo gifts, framing, Instax and film cameras
Walk-in:: Yes – no appointment needed

Photochute has built a strong reputation in Derry for quick turnaround and quality service. The shop is independently run and community-focused, making it a popular alternative to chain services for locals who want personal assistance. Customers regularly highlight the helpful, friendly staff and the ability to handle last-minute requests, which is useful if you have realised your passport is expiring close to a travel date.

The Strand Road location is very central and easily reached on foot from the city walls, Guildhall and the Peace Bridge. On-street parking is available on Strand Road, and the shop is well served by local bus routes. If you need passport photos for children or babies, the staff can assist in ways that a self-service booth simply cannot.

Gordons Chemists – Passport Photos at Waterloo Place

Gordons Chemists is a well-known Northern Ireland pharmacy chain that offers passport photo services across its network of stores, including the Derry branch at Waterloo Place on Strand Road. As a pharmacy, Gordons is open throughout the working day and familiar with the compliance requirements for official ID documents.

Address:: Waterloo Place, Strand Road, Londonderry, BT48 7BH
Phone:: 028 7126 4502
Services:: Passport photos, pharmacy, health and beauty
Walk-in:: Yes

Gordons Chemists offers both printed copies of your passport photo and, at many branches, the option to email you a digital copy for online applications. It is a reliable choice if you are already visiting the Strand Road area and want to combine a pharmacy errand with getting your photo taken. As a Northern Ireland pharmacy chain with extensive experience of customers holding both UK and Irish passports, staff will be aware of the requirements for both documents.

Timpson – Staffed Passport Photo Service at Foyleside

Timpson at Foyleside Shopping Centre offers a full staffed passport photo service. A trained colleague takes your photo, checks it meets HMPO requirements and provides you with printed copies plus a digital photo code for your online passport application. If the photo is rejected by HMPO, Timpson will retake it at no additional charge.

Address:: Unit 1A, Level 4, Foyleside Shopping Centre, 19 Orchard Street, Londonderry, BT48 6XY
Phone:: 028 7127 1430
Hours:: Monday–Saturday 9am–5.30pm | Sunday 1pm–5.30pm
Services:: Passport and ID photos, visa photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, phone repairs
Price:: From £12.99 (adults and children); visa photos £14.99
Walk-in:: Yes – no appointment needed

Timpson is strong on customer service – it will retake your photo as many times as needed until you are happy, and the guarantee of a free retake if HMPO rejects your photo provides a meaningful safety net. Sunday opening until 5.30pm is particularly useful if you have missed the window during the week.

Foyleside Shopping Centre is one of Derry's main retail hubs, home to over 50 stores, and is centrally located on Orchard Street close to the city's bus station. It is easily reached from all parts of the city by bus and has multi-storey car parking on site.

Tesco Quayside – Max Spielmann Self-Service Passport Photo Booth

The Tesco Superstore at Quayside Shopping Centre on Strand Road has a confirmed Max Spielmann self-service passport photo booth. This is the city's main self-service option – useful if you prefer to take the photo yourself, if you are visiting outside normal shop hours, or if you simply want speed and minimal fuss.

Address:: Unit 2, Quayside Shopping Centre, Strand Road, Londonderry, BT48 7PX
Phone:: 0345 677 9639
Booth:: Max Spielmann self-service passport photo booth confirmed
Output:: HMPO-compliant printed photos and digital photo code for online applications
Price:: Around £10
Store hours:: Check tesco.com/store-locator for current hours

The Max Spielmann booth guides you through the photo-taking process step by step. You can review and retake the image before it prints, and the booth produces both printed passport-size photos and a digital code you can enter directly into your HMPO online application. The Tesco location on Strand Road is within easy walking distance of Photochute and Gordons Chemists, so the whole stretch of Strand Road is a natural first stop for anyone needing a passport photo in Derry.

Tip: Self-service booths can be unforgiving if lighting or framing is slightly off. If you have concerns about your photo – for example if you need a baby or young toddler photo, or if a previous photo has been rejected – head to Photochute or Timpson for a staffed service where a colleague will ensure the photo meets all requirements.

Boots – Photo Printing Kiosks

Boots has two branches in Derry, the larger of which is at Foyleside Shopping Centre with a confirmed Instant Photo Kiosk. Boots kiosks do not take your photo for you, but if you have already prepared a compliant digital passport photo using an online tool, you can upload it and collect printed copies quickly and cheaply.

Address:: Foyleside Shopping Centre, Londonderry, BT48 6XY
Phone:: 028 7126 0432
Service:: Instant Photo Kiosk – print from digital file
Cost:: From around 55p per 6x4 print when printing a prepared template

Address:: 47 Great James Street, Londonderry, BT48 7DF
Phone:: 028 7126 7399
Note:: Smaller branch – confirm kiosk availability before visiting

Boots is best used in combination with an online passport photo tool. Prepare your photo at home, save the formatted 6x4 template, and bring it on a USB stick or access it via the Boots Photo App to print in-store. This is the most cost-effective way to get printed passport photos in Derry if you are comfortable preparing the image yourself.

A Note on Irish Passport Photos in Derry

Derry's position near the Irish border means many residents hold – or are applying for – Irish as well as British passports. Photochute and Gordons Chemists are both experienced with this. The Irish Passport Service (online applications through Passport Online) accepts digital photos that meet similar technical standards to HMPO, though Irish passport photos also require a witness to certify the printed copy for paper applications. If you need assistance with the witness certification process or are applying for a first-time Irish passport, it is worth calling ahead to your chosen provider.

Comparison: Passport Photo Options in Derry

Provider	Type	Location	Price	Best for
Photochute	Staffed photo shop	45 Strand Road, BT48 7BL	£8–£12	Best all-round – quality and convenience
Gordons Chemists	Pharmacy / staffed	Waterloo Place, Strand Road, BT48 7BH	£8–£12	Combining pharmacy visit with photo
Timpson	Staffed service	Foyleside Shopping Centre, BT48 6XY	£12.99	Guaranteed compliance, Sunday opening
Tesco Quayside (Max Spielmann booth)	Self-service booth	Strand Road, BT48 7PX	~£10	Quick self-service, digital code included
Boots Foyleside (kiosk)	Print kiosk only	Foyleside Shopping Centre, BT48 6XY	~55p	Cheapest prints from prepared digital file
Online tool + Boots/Tesco print	DIY	At home + in-store	55p–£1	Most affordable overall

Tips for Getting Your Passport Photo Right in Derry

Plan around Foyleside hours: Both Timpson and Boots at Foyleside close in the early evening. If you need a photo after 5.30pm on a weekday, Tesco Quayside's Max Spielmann booth is your best self-service option, as the superstore typically has later opening.

For babies and very young children: Self-service booths are not suitable for infants. Head to Photochute or Timpson, where staff can assist with positioning your baby safely and ensure the photo meets the specific requirements for children under one, which allow the baby to have their eyes partly closed.

Irish and UK passports: If you need photos for both a British and an Irish passport application, ask your chosen provider to take two separate shots optimised for each if there are any differences in how they wish to use the digital file. In practice the technical requirements are very similar, but it is worth mentioning upfront.

No glasses: HMPO banned glasses in passport photos in 2022 with no exceptions. Remove glasses before you enter the booth or sit for your photo. Even anti-reflective lenses are not permitted.

Wear plain, contrasting clothing: A white or cream top will blend into the background and reduce contrast around your head. Choose a darker or brighter colour to ensure your head and shoulders stand out clearly.

Getting to the Main Passport Photo Locations in Derry

Derry's compact city centre means most of the passport photo options are within easy reach of one another. Strand Road runs from the Queen's Quay Bridge northwards along the river's east bank and is the city's main commercial thoroughfare. Photochute at number 45 and Gordons Chemists at Waterloo Place are both on this road, and Tesco Quayside (with the Max Spielmann booth) is also here at the Quayside Shopping Centre. This means you can cover your most important options in a single visit to Strand Road.

Foyleside Shopping Centre – where Timpson and the main Boots branch are located – is a short walk from the city walls and the bus station at Foyle Street. It has multi-storey parking for those arriving by car. Ulsterbus and Translink services connect all parts of the city and surrounding towns to the city centre, including services from Limavady, Coleraine, Strabane and Letterkenny across the border.

Derry is also well connected by road: the A2 and A5 provide links north and south, and the city is around 75 miles from Belfast via the A6. For those travelling from Donegal, the border is crossed within minutes of leaving the city centre.

More Passport Photo Guides

Sources

Photochute website: photo-chute.co.uk – address, phone, hours confirmed
Photochute on Fujifilm Photo Retail Network: photobyfujifilm.co.uk – services confirmed
Gordons Chemists Thomson Local listing – address and phone confirmed
Timpson store data via theukhighstreet.com – Unit 1A Level 4 Foyleside BT48 6XY, tel 028 7127 1430, hours confirmed
Boots Foyleside store locator (boots.com) – Instant Photo Kiosk confirmed, BT48 6XY, tel 028 7126 0432
Boots Great James Street (healthukdirectory.com / NPN) – 47 Great James Street BT48 7DF, tel 028 7126 7399
Tesco Londonderry Strand Rd Superstore (ratednearme.com) – passport photo booth confirmed, BT48 7PX, tel 0345 677 9639
Smartphone-id.com – Gordons Chemists Waterloo Place listed as passport photo provider, BT48 7BH
Smartphone-id.com – additional Derry passport photo providers listed including Photochute and Gordons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your best options are Photochute at 45 Strand Road, BT48 7BL (028 7136 9276), Gordons Chemists at Waterloo Place on Strand Road (028 7126 4502), and Timpson at Foyleside Shopping Centre (Unit 1A Level 4, BT48 6XY, tel: 028 7127 1430). For a self-service booth, Tesco Quayside on Strand Road has a Max Spielmann booth. Boots at Foyleside has a photo printing kiosk for prepared digital files.

Photochute and Gordons Chemists typically charge £8–£12 for a set of printed passport photos. Timpson charges from £12.99. The Max Spielmann self-service booth in Tesco costs around £10. Boots kiosks can print a prepared template for around 55p. The cheapest method is using a free or low-cost online tool at home and then printing at a kiosk.

Yes. A Max Spielmann self-service passport photo booth is confirmed at Tesco Superstore, Unit 2 Quayside Shopping Centre, Strand Road, Londonderry, BT48 7PX. It produces HMPO-compliant printed photos and provides a digital photo code for online passport applications.

The Boots at Foyleside Shopping Centre (BT48 6XY, 028 7126 0432) has an Instant Photo Kiosk where you can print a prepared digital passport photo. It does not take the photo for you, so you need to bring a compliant digital image on a USB drive or via the Boots Photo App. A second Boots at 47 Great James Street is also in the city.

Yes – Strand Road is the best single destination for passport photos in the city. Photochute at number 45 is a well-regarded independent photo shop offering a staffed service. Gordons Chemists at Waterloo Place is also nearby. Tesco at the Quayside Shopping Centre on Strand Road has a Max Spielmann self-service booth.

Yes. Timpson at Unit 1A, Level 4, Foyleside Shopping Centre, BT48 6XY (028 7127 1430) offers a staffed passport photo service. A colleague takes the photo, checks it meets HMPO requirements, and provides prints plus a digital code. Cost is from £12.99. Open Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm, Sun 1pm–5.30pm.