UK Passport Photo Requirements
Before visiting any provider, it is worth checking exactly what HM Passport Office (HMPO) requires. Getting even a small detail wrong can 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 by all staffed services and modern booths) or a digital image uploaded directly to the HMPO portal. All staffed providers in Ipswich – Boots, Timpson and the Post Office – supply a digital code alongside printed photos.
Boots – Tavern Street (Town Centre)
Boots at 5 Tavern Street is the flagship pharmacy in Ipswich town centre, situated within the Tower Ramparts shopping area, directly on the main pedestrianised high street and a short walk from Ipswich railway station. The branch has a staffed Passport Instant Photo Booth service where a trained colleague takes your photo to HMPO standards, checks it on screen before printing, and issues 4 printed photos plus a digital code for online applications. There is also an Instant Photo Kiosk and a Kodak Instant Photo Kiosk for printing digital templates, plus a full photo mini-lab offering same-day processing. The branch also has Boots Opticians, Hearingcare and a pharmacy. Sunday opening runs from 10:30am to 4:30pm, making it one of the few town-centre passport photo providers open on Sundays.
- 5 Tavern Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3AA
- Tel: 01473 256525
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 8:00am–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), Boots Opticians, Hearingcare, pharmacy, travel vaccinations
- Price: Staffed booth service approx. £10–£12; kiosk printing approximately 27–55p per 6x4 sheet
- Location: Tavern Street, Ipswich town centre, within the Tower Ramparts shopping area. Approximately 0.4 miles from Ipswich railway station via Princes Street
Post Office – Westgate Street (Town Centre)
The main Post Office branch in Ipswich is at 12-14 Westgate Street, a short walk from Boots and Timpson on Tavern Street, and very close to the Sailmakers and Buttermarket shopping centres. It offers the full Passport Check and Send service, where staff verify your application form and photographs before posting directly to HMPO – providing an extra layer of checking that reduces the risk of delays or rejections. Staff can also take passport photos at the counter and issue a digital code for online applications. The branch is open Monday to Friday until 5:30pm and on Saturdays until 12:30pm – note the Saturday closing time is earlier than most other providers.
- 12-14 Westgate Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3EG
- Tel: 0345 611 2970
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9:00am–5:30pm; Sat 9:00am–12:30pm; closed Sunday
- Services: Passport photos, Passport Check and Send (paper and digital), BRP collection, document certification, DVLA services, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance, travel money, international driving permits, banking
- Price: Passport photos approximately £10–£12; Passport Check and Send service from £16.00
- Location: 12-14 Westgate Street, near the junction with Providence Street; a short walk from Tavern Street, the Buttermarket and Sailmakers shopping centres, and Ipswich railway station
Timpson – Four Locations in Ipswich
Timpson operates four staffed passport photo concessions in Ipswich, which is unusually high for a town of its size and gives residents a wide choice of locations and opening hours. Two are standalone town-centre shops on The Walk and Tavern Street; two are concessions inside the Tesco Extra at Copdock and inside Asda on Goddard Road. All charge from £12.99 for 4 printed photos and a digital code for online applications, and carry Timpson's free retake guarantee. Staff are trained to help with babies, young children and international visa photos for over 140 countries. The Tesco Extra and Asda locations both have Sunday opening (10am–4pm), making them the only Timpson locations in Ipswich open on Sundays. Of particular note, the Tesco Extra Copdock is open from 9am to 6pm every day including Sundays, giving one of the most consistent opening patterns of any staffed passport photo service in Ipswich.
- 10 The Walk, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1EA
- Tel: 01473 280600
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 8:30am–5:30pm; closed Sunday
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, phone repairs, dry cleaning, engraving, locksmiths
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code; visa photos from £14.99
- Location: The Walk, Ipswich town centre – a covered pedestrian arcade running between Tavern Street and Buttermarket. One of the most central passport photo locations in Ipswich, surrounded by the main shopping area
- 44 Tavern Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3AP
- Tel: 01473 232216
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9:00am–5:30pm; Sat 9:00am–5:00pm; closed Sunday
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, phone repairs, dry cleaning, engraving, locksmiths
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code; visa photos from £14.99
- Location: Tavern Street, Ipswich town centre – a few doors from Boots and within the main pedestrianised shopping area. One of two town-centre Timpson branches in Ipswich
- C/o Tesco Extra, Copdock Interchange, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3TS
- Tel: 01473 684605
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9:00am–6:00pm; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, engraving, locksmiths, car key cutting
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code; visa photos from £14.99
- Location: Inside Tesco Extra at Copdock Interchange, off the A12/A14 junction (Junction 55), approximately 2.5 miles south-west of Ipswich town centre. The same Tesco Extra also has a Max photo shop self-service booth, so both staffed and self-service passport photo options are available at this site. The Tesco Extra opens Mon–Sat 6am–midnight and Sun 10am–4pm
- C/o Asda Superstore, Goddard Road, Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5PD
- Tel: 01473 240234 (Asda store)
- Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9:00am–6:00pm; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm (within Asda store hours)
- Services: Passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, phone repairs, dry cleaning
- Price: Passport photos from £12.99 including 4 prints and digital code
- Location: Inside Asda Superstore at Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Goddard Road – approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Ipswich town centre, off the A14 at Junction 53 (Whitehouse). The Asda store itself has a Max Spielmann passport photo booth open during extended store hours (Mon 7am–midnight, Tue–Fri 6am–midnight, Sat 6am–10pm, Sun 10am–4pm)
Asda – Two Stores With Max Spielmann Passport Photo Booths
Both Asda supermarkets in Ipswich have confirmed Max Spielmann passport photo booths, providing self-service options that are available outside the hours of the staffed Timpson concessions. The Asda on Goddard Road (Whitehouse Industrial Estate) is the later-opening of the two, opening from 6am on weekdays and closing at midnight Monday to Friday, making it the longest-hours passport photo venue in Ipswich. The Asda Stoke Park on Stoke Park Drive is a smaller superstore with more standard hours. Both booths produce 4 printed photos plus a digital code for online applications.
- Goddard Road, Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5PD
- Tel: 01473 240234
- Opening hours: Mon 7:00am–midnight; Tue–Fri 6:00am–midnight; Sat 6:00am–10:00pm; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Max Spielmann passport photo booth, Timpson staffed passport photo service (Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm), photo printing kiosk, pharmacy, opticians, petrol station, George clothing, travel money, home shopping
- Price: Booth £10 for 4 prints plus digital code; Timpson staffed service from £12.99; kiosk printing approx. 11p per sheet
- Location: Whitehouse Industrial Estate, off Goddard Road – approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Ipswich town centre, accessible from Junction 53 (Whitehouse) of the A14. Free car park. Bus routes 8, 88, 113, 114 and 88A serve the site
- Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 9EG
- Tel: 01473 556000
- Opening hours: Mon–Wed & Sat 7:00am–9:00pm; Thu–Fri 7:00am–10:00pm; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Max Spielmann passport photo booth, photo printing kiosk, petrol station, George clothing, pharmacy, grocery click & collect
- Price: Booth £10 for 4 prints plus digital code; kiosk printing approx. 11p per sheet
- Location: Stoke Park Drive, approximately 1.5 miles south of Ipswich town centre in the Stoke Park area, close to the A14/A137 junction. Free car park. A Post Office branch is also located nearby on Stoke Park Drive
Tesco Extra – Copdock Interchange (Max Photo Shop + Timpson)
The Tesco Extra at Copdock Interchange is one of the best-equipped passport photo sites in Suffolk, combining a Timpson staffed concession with a Max photo shop self-service booth in the same large superstore. The store itself opens at 6am from Monday to Saturday and closes at midnight, making it another strong late-evening option alongside Asda Goddard Road. The Timpson concession inside operates Monday to Saturday 9am–6pm and Sunday 10am–4pm. The Max photo shop is available during store opening hours. The Tesco Extra also has a pharmacy and travel money, and is conveniently accessible from the A12/A14 Copdock interchange with extensive free parking.
- Copdock Interchange, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3TS
- Store tel: 0345 677 9383
- Store opening hours: Mon–Sat 6:00am–midnight; Sun 10:00am–4:00pm
- Services: Max photo shop self-service passport photo booth, Timpson staffed passport photo service (Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm), photo printing kiosk, Tesco pharmacy, travel money, F&F clothing, petrol filling station, café
- Price: Max photo shop booth approx. £6–£8; Timpson staffed service from £12.99; kiosk printing approx. 11–55p per sheet depending on kiosk used
- Location: Copdock Interchange Retail Park, off the A12/A14 junction (Junction 55 Copdock), approximately 2.5 miles south-west of Ipswich town centre. Accessible by Park & Ride bus routes 13 and 800 from Ipswich town centre. Large free car park
Passport Photo Price Comparison – Ipswich
| Provider | Type | Price | Digital Code Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timpson The Walk | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Timpson Tavern Street | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Timpson Tesco Extra Copdock | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Timpson Asda Goddard Road | Staffed digital | From £12.99 | Yes |
| Boots Tavern Street | Staffed booth service | Approx. £10–£12 | Yes |
| Post Office Westgate Street | Staffed (counter) | Approx. £10–£12 | Yes |
| Asda Goddard Road (Max Spielmann booth) | Self-service booth | £10 | Yes |
| Asda Stoke Park (Max Spielmann booth) | Self-service booth | £10 | Yes |
| Tesco Extra Copdock (Max photo shop) | Self-service booth | Approx. £6–£8 | 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 Ipswich
Getting your passport photo right first time avoids delays. A few straightforward steps make a significant difference.
Wear plain clothing in a dark or mid-tone colour, avoiding white (which blends with the required white background) and complex patterns. Style your hair away from your face so it does not obscure your forehead or ears. Your expression must be strictly neutral – even the slightest smile can cause rejection. Look directly into the camera lens rather than at your own image on screen. Glasses are not permitted under any circumstances since 2018, regardless of whether they are prescription or photochromic lenses.
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 four Ipswich locations can handle international visa photos for over 140 countries from £14.99. It is worth calling ahead with your specific country and document type before visiting.
Online passport applications save £9.50 compared to paper applications and require either a digital photo code (issued automatically by all staffed providers and modern booths) or a digital image uploaded directly via GOV.UK. If you have already taken a compliant photo at home using a validated online tool, you can print it at any photo kiosk – Asda Goddard Road or Asda Stoke Park kiosks are among the most cost-effective in Ipswich at around 11p per 6x4 sheet.
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
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- Passport Photo Hartlepool
- Passport Photo Hastings
- Passport Photo Hemel Hempstead
- Passport Photo High Wycombe
- Passport Photo Huddersfield
- Passport Photo Islington
- Passport Photo Kingston Upon Hull
- Passport Photo Leicester
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- Passport Photo Middlesbrough
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- Passport Photo Northampton
- Passport Photo Norwich
- Passport Photo London
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Frequently Asked Questions
The main options are: Boots at 5 Tavern Street, IP1 3AA (tel: 01473 256525, Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, Sun 10:30am–4:30pm); Timpson at 10 The Walk, IP1 1EA (tel: 01473 280600, Mon–Sat 8:30am–5:30pm); Timpson at 44 Tavern Street, IP1 3AP (tel: 01473 232216, Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm, Sat 9am–5pm); Timpson inside Tesco Extra Copdock, IP8 3TS (tel: 01473 684605, Mon–Sun); Timpson inside Asda Goddard Road, IP1 5PD (Mon–Sun); the Post Office at 12-14 Westgate Street, IP1 3EG (Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm, Sat 9am–12:30pm); Max Spielmann booths at Asda Goddard Road (IP1 5PD) and Asda Stoke Park (IP2 9EG); and a Max photo shop at Tesco Extra Copdock (IP8 3TS).
Timpson (all four locations) charges from £12.99 for 4 prints and a digital code. Boots Tavern Street staffed service and the Post Office each charge approximately £10–£12. Max Spielmann booths at both Asda stores charge £10. The Tesco Extra Copdock Max photo shop is typically around £6–£8. Kiosk printing for a digital template you bring yourself costs approximately 27–55p per 6x4 sheet at Boots, and around 11p per sheet at Asda.
Yes. Boots at 5 Tavern Street, Ipswich, IP1 3AA (tel: 01473 256525) has a staffed Passport Instant Photo Booth service, Instant Photo Kiosk, Kodak kiosk and a full same-day photo mini-lab. Open Monday to Saturday 8am–6pm, and Sunday 10:30am–4:30pm.
Yes. The Asda Superstore at Goddard Road, Whitehouse Industrial Estate, IP1 5PD (tel: 01473 240234) has a Max Spielmann passport photo booth and opens from 6am on Tuesday to Friday and 7am on Mondays, closing at midnight on weekdays. Tesco Extra at Copdock Interchange, IP8 3TS also opens at 6am on weekdays and has both a Max photo shop booth and Timpson staffed service. These are the earliest-opening and latest-closing passport photo venues in Ipswich.
There are four Timpson locations in Ipswich: 10 The Walk, IP1 1EA (tel: 01473 280600, Mon–Sat 8:30am–5:30pm); 44 Tavern Street, IP1 3AP (tel: 01473 232216, Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm, Sat 9am–5pm); Tesco Extra Copdock, IP8 3TS (tel: 01473 684605, Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm); and Asda Goddard Road, IP1 5PD (Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm). All charge from £12.99 including 4 prints and a digital code.
Yes. The best options for babies and young children in Ipswich are the four staffed Timpson locations and the Boots Tavern Street staffed booth service, where a trained colleague assists with positioning. Self-service booths at Asda and Tesco are not suitable for babies, who must sit unsupported, face the camera directly, and have no adult visible in the frame.
The main Ipswich Post Office at 12-14 Westgate Street, IP1 3EG (tel: 0345 611 2970) offers the full Passport Check and Send service (paper and digital), open Monday to Friday 9am–5:30pm and Saturday 9am–12:30pm. The Check and Send service costs from £16.00 in addition to the standard HMPO application fee, and gives extra assurance that your application and photos meet all requirements before submission.
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