UK Passport Photo Requirements
Before visiting any provider, it is worth reviewing exactly what HM Passport Office (HMPO) requires. The rules are strict and a non-compliant image will delay your application. The key requirements are set out below.
| 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 very 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 2018 |
| Headwear | Not permitted except for confirmed religious reasons |
| Print quality | Sharp, colour, unaltered, no red-eye, shadows or reflections |
Online passport applications cost £9.50 less than paper applications and require either a digital photo code (issued automatically by staffed services and modern booths) or a digital image uploaded directly. All staffed providers in Hemel Hempstead – Boots, Timpson, and the Post Office – supply a digital code alongside printed photos.
Boots – 149 Marlowes
Boots on Marlowes is Hemel Hempstead's main pharmacy and one of the most comprehensively equipped photo service locations in any town of its size. The branch has a Passport Instant Photo Booth service where staff take your photo to HMPO standards, an Instant Photo Kiosk for printing digital templates prepared elsewhere or at home, a Kodak Instant Photo Kiosk, and a full photo mini-lab offering same-day processing for prints, digital files and photo gifts. The location on Marlowes puts it at the very heart of the town centre, close to the Marlowes Shopping Centre where Timpson and the Post Office are also based.
The staffed Passport Instant Photo Booth is suitable for adults, children and older teenagers. Staff check the image against HMPO requirements before printing and can advise on positioning and expression. A digital code for online passport applications is included with all staffed booth services.
- 149 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1BB
- Tel: 01442 256288
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 8:30am–6:00pm; Sun 10:30am–4:30pm
- Services: Passport Instant Photo Booth (staffed), Instant Photo Kiosk, Kodak kiosk, photo mini-lab (same-day prints, gifts, digital), pharmacy, Boots Opticians, Boots Hearingcare
- Price: Staffed booth service approx. £10–£12; kiosk printing approximately 27–55p per 6x4 sheet
- Location: Marlowes, the main pedestrianised shopping street; a short walk from the Marlowes Shopping Centre and Post Office at 160 Marlowes
Post Office – Marlowes and Adeyfield
Hemel Hempstead has two Post Office branches relevant for passport photos. The main Marlowes branch is the larger and more central of the two and offers the full Passport Check and Send service, where staff verify your application form and photographs before posting directly to HMPO. A second branch at Adeyfield Square serves the residential Adeyfield neighbourhood and also offers Passport Check and Send. Both branches can also take passport photos at the counter and issue a digital code. The Marlowes branch has generous opening hours including until 6:30pm on weekdays and 5:30pm on Saturdays.
- Unit 1, 160 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1BA
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9:00am–6:30pm; Sat 10:00am–5:30pm; closed Sunday
- Services: Passport photos, Passport Check and Send, DVLA services, travel insurance, foreign currency, banking
- Price: Passport photos approximately £10–£12; Passport Check and Send from £16.00
- Location: Marlowes, immediately adjacent to Boots (149 Marlowes); in the main pedestrianised shopping area
- 44 The Queens Square, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4EP
- Tel: 01442 254090
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9:00am–5:30pm; Sat 9:00am–1:00pm; closed Sunday
- Services: Passport photos, Passport Check and Send, DVLA services, vehicle tax, foreign currency
- Price: Passport photos approximately £10–£12; Passport Check and Send from £16.00
- Location: The Queens Square, Adeyfield – a residential neighbourhood approximately 1.5 miles north-east of the Marlowes town centre
Timpson – Three Locations
Timpson operates three staffed digital passport photo concessions in Hemel Hempstead: in the Marlowes Shopping Centre, inside Tesco Extra on Jarman Way, and inside Sainsbury's at Apsley Mills. All three charge from £12.99 for 4 printed photos and a digital code, and all carry Timpson's free retake guarantee. Staff can assist with babies, young children and international visa formats for over 140 countries. The Marlowes Centre location is the most central, open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm – earlier and later than most other town-centre options on Saturdays.
- Kiosk Unit 4, Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1BX
- Tel: 01442 242092
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9:00am–5:30pm; check for Sunday hours
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, phone repairs, engraving, dry cleaning
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code; international visa photos from £14.99
- Location: Inside the Marlowes Shopping Centre, the covered mall off the main Marlowes pedestrian area
- C/o Tesco Extra, Jarman Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4JS
- Tel: 01442 214059
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat approximately 9:00am–6:00pm (within Tesco opening hours)
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, dry cleaning, phone repairs, engraving
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code
- Location: Inside Tesco Extra, Jarman Way – a large out-of-town retail park east of the town centre, close to the A414 and A4147
- C/o Sainsbury's, London Road, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9QZ
- Tel: 01442 218352 (Sainsbury's main number)
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat approximately 7:00am–10:00pm (within Sainsbury's opening hours); Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, dry cleaning, watch repairs
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code
- Location: Inside Sainsbury's at Apsley Mills Retail Park, London Road – south of the town centre near Apsley rail station; the retail park also includes Argos, Currys and The Range
Asda – Three Stores Including One Open 24 Hours
Hemel Hempstead has three Asda superstores, all with Max Spielmann passport photo booths. The self-service booths take up to 10 photos until you are satisfied, produce 4 printed photos plus a digital code for online applications, and are wheelchair accessible with on-screen instructions in six languages. The Redbourn Road store in Cupid Green is the outstanding option: it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it the only venue in the area where you can get a passport photo at any hour of day or night.
- Redbourn Road, Cupid Green, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7BA
- Opening hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Services: Max Spielmann passport photo booth, photo printing kiosk, pharmacy, café, petrol station
- Price: Booth photos £10 for 4 prints plus digital code; kiosk printing approximately 11p per sheet
- Location: Redbourn Road (A5183), Cupid Green – north of the town centre, close to the M1 junction 9 / A5183 area
- Hillfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4AA
- Tel: 01442 212802
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 7:00am–11:00pm; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Max Spielmann passport photo booth, photo printing kiosk, café, petrol station
- Price: Booth photos £10 for 4 prints plus digital code; kiosk printing approximately 11p per sheet
- Location: Hillfield Road – east of the town centre, close to Jarman Park leisure area
- Warners End Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3QF
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 6:00am–10:00pm; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Max Spielmann passport photo booth, photo printing kiosk
- Price: Booth photos £10 for 4 prints plus digital code; kiosk printing approximately 11p per sheet
- Location: Warners End Road – west of the town centre, in the Warners End residential area
Passport Photo Price Comparison – Hemel Hempstead
| Provider | Type | Price | Digital Code Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timpson Marlowes Centre | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Timpson Tesco Jarman Way | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Timpson Sainsbury's Apsley | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Boots Marlowes | Staffed booth service | Approx. £10–£12 | Yes |
| Post Office Marlowes / Adeyfield | Staffed (counter) | Approx. £10–£12 | Yes |
| Asda Redbourn Road (24hrs) | Self-service | £10 | Yes |
| Asda Hillfield Road | Self-service | £10 | Yes |
| Asda Warners End Road | Self-service | £10 | Yes |
| Boots kiosk (print own template) | Self-service print | Approx. 27–55p per sheet | No (bring your own) |
| Asda kiosk (print own template) | Self-service print | Approx. 11p per sheet | No (bring your own) |
Tips for Getting Your Passport Photo Right in Hemel Hempstead
Getting your passport photo right first time avoids costly delays. A few simple steps make a significant difference.
Wear plain clothing in a dark or mid-tone colour. Avoid white, which blends into the required white background, and avoid complex patterns or busy prints. Style your hair away from your face so it does not obscure your forehead or ears. Your expression must be strictly neutral – even a very slight smile can be grounds for rejection. Look directly into the camera lens, not at your own image on screen if using a self-service booth.
If you are applying for a foreign visa rather than a UK passport, check whether the destination country has different size or specification requirements. Timpson at all three Hemel Hempstead locations can handle international visa photos for over 140 countries from £14.99. It is worth calling ahead with your country and document type so the correct format can be confirmed before you visit.
Online passport applications save £9.50 compared to paper applications and require either a digital photo code (issued automatically by all staffed providers) or a digital image uploaded directly to the HMPO portal. If you have already taken an HMPO-compliant photo at home using a validated online tool, you only need to enter the code during your application – no provider visit required. For paper applications, both Post Office branches offer the Passport Check and Send service, which provides a useful extra verification step to minimise the risk of errors.
More Passport Photo Guides
Looking for passport photo services in other UK towns and cities? See our related guides:
- Passport Photo Birmingham
- Passport Photo Belfast
- Passport Photo Blackburn
- Passport Photo Bournemouth
- Passport Photo Brighton
- Passport Photo Croydon
- Passport Photo Derby
- Passport Photo Derry
- Passport Photo Doncaster
- Passport Photo Dundee
- Passport Photo Harlow
- Passport Photo Harrogate
- Passport Photo Hartlepool
- Passport Photo Hastings
- Passport Photo High Wycombe
- Passport Photo Huddersfield
- Passport Photo Ipswich
- Passport Photo Islington
- Passport Photo Kingston Upon Hull
- Passport Photo Leicester
- Passport Photo Luton
- Passport Photo Maidstone
- Passport Photo Middlesbrough
- Passport Photo Milton Keynes
- Passport Photo Newport
- Passport Photo Northampton
- Passport Photo Norwich
- Passport Photo London
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Frequently Asked Questions
The main options are: Boots Marlowes at 149 Marlowes, HP1 1BB (staffed booth and kiosk, tel: 01442 256288, Mon–Sat 8:30am–6pm, Sun 10:30am–4:30pm); Timpson in the Marlowes Shopping Centre, HP1 1BX (tel: 01442 242092, Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm); Timpson in Tesco Extra, Jarman Way, HP2 4JS (tel: 01442 214059); Timpson in Sainsbury's Apsley, HP3 9QZ; Post Office at 160 Marlowes, HP1 1BA (Mon–Fri 9am–6:30pm, Sat 10am–5:30pm); Post Office at Adeyfield Square, HP2 4EP; and Max Spielmann booths at Asda Redbourn Road (HP2 7BA, 24 hours), Asda Hillfield Road (HP2 4AA, until 11pm on weekdays) and Asda Warners End Road (HP1 3QF).
Timpson (all three locations) charges from £12.99 for 4 prints and a digital code. Boots Marlowes staffed booth service and Post Office photos cost approximately £10–£12. Max Spielmann self-service booths at all three Asda stores charge £10 for 4 prints and a digital code. If you bring a digital template already prepared, kiosk printing is approximately 27–55p per 6x4 sheet at Boots Marlowes, or around 11p per sheet at any of the three Asda stores.
Yes. Boots at 149 Marlowes, HP1 1BB (tel: 01442 256288) has a Passport Instant Photo Booth service (staffed), an Instant Photo Kiosk for printing digital templates, a Kodak kiosk, and a full photo mini-lab. Open Monday to Saturday 8:30am–6:00pm and Sunday 10:30am–4:30pm. The Post Office at 160 Marlowes (Passport Check and Send) is right next door.
Yes. Asda at Redbourn Road, Cupid Green, HP2 7BA is open 24 hours, seven days a week, and has a Max Spielmann passport photo booth. This is the only confirmed 24-hour passport photo option in Hemel Hempstead – useful for early-morning departures, last-minute needs before travel, or those working night shifts.
Yes. The best options for babies and young children in Hemel Hempstead are the Timpson staffed service at the Marlowes Centre or inside Tesco Jarman Way, where a trained colleague uses a professional digital camera system. The Boots Marlowes staffed booth service can also assist. Self-service booths at Asda are not suitable for babies, as the child must sit unsupported, face the camera directly and remain still – requirements that are impractical for infants.
The nearest HMPO premium service appointment centre is in London. Hemel Hempstead is approximately 25 miles north-west of central London, with fast rail services to London Euston in approximately 30–35 minutes from Hemel Hempstead station. The nearest London premium appointment centres are at Victoria (89 Eccleston Square, SW1V 1PN) and the Peterborough Passport Office (Aragon Court, Northminster Road, PE1 1QG) for those heading north. Premium appointments must be booked in advance via the HMPO website and are only available for urgent applications.
Yes. Both the main Marlowes Post Office branch (Unit 1, 160 Marlowes, HP1 1BA, Mon–Fri 9am–6:30pm, Sat 10am–5:30pm) and the Adeyfield branch (44 The Queens Square, HP2 4EP, Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm, Sat 9am–1pm) offer passport photos and Passport Check and Send. The Passport Check and Send service verifies your application and photographs before posting directly to HMPO, reducing the risk of errors or rejections.
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