UK Passport Photo Requirements
All UK passport photos must meet the standards published by HM Passport Office (HMPO). The most common rejection reasons are incorrect head size relative to the frame, shadows on a plain white background, photos that are not recent enough, or red-eye.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Print size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Digital size (online applications) | 600 x 750 px minimum; 50 KB–10 MB |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey; no patterns or shadows |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes fully open and visible |
| Head position | Straight, facing camera directly; no tilt |
| Head size in frame | Must fill 70–80% of the image height |
| Recency | Taken within the last month |
| Glasses | Not permitted since 2018 |
| Head coverings | Not permitted except for religious reasons; must show full face |
| Prints required | 2 identical prints (paper applications); 1 digital image (online) |
Full current requirements: gov.uk/photos-for-passports.
Staffed Passport Photo Services in Maidstone
Snappy Snaps – High Street
- Address:: 99 High Street, Maidstone, ME14 1SA
- Phone:: 01622 600080
- Hours:: Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm; Sun 10am–4pm
- Services:: Staffed digital passport and visa photos for any country, photo printing, canvas and gift printing, film processing, document printing
- Price:: approx. £12–£15 for a set of passport photos
Snappy Snaps on the High Street is Maidstone's premier dedicated passport photo service and the best overall option for most people. As a specialist photography and printing shop, it offers a proper studio environment with controlled lighting and a compliant background, and trained staff who verify that the image meets HMPO requirements before printing. The service is walk-in only — no appointment needed. Digital files can be saved to USB or emailed. Snappy Snaps handles visa photos for any country, making it the best choice for non-UK applications.
Boots – King Street (The Mall / Chequers Centre)
- Address:: 56–62 King Street, Maidstone, ME14 1BW
- Phone:: 01622 690751
- Hours:: Mon–Sat 8:30am–6pm; Sun 10:30am–4:30pm
- Services:: Passport Instant Photo Booth (staffed – call ahead to confirm), Instant Photo Kiosk (self-service), photo mini-lab (prints, film, gifts), pharmacy, opticians
- Price:: approx. £12–£15 staffed booth; self-service kiosk from approx. 30–55p per print
Boots on King Street is Maidstone's largest pharmacy and health and beauty store, located at the edge of The Mall (Chequers Centre). It lists both a staffed Passport Instant Photo Booth and self-service Instant Photo Kiosks. Call ahead (01622 690751) to confirm the staffed passport booth is currently operational before visiting specifically for this service. Self-service kiosks allow printing from USB, SD card, or smartphone throughout all trading hours including Sundays.
Timpson – Chequers Centre (The Mall)
- Address:: 102 Chequers Centre (The Mall), Maidstone, ME15 6AR
- Phone:: 01622 677295
- Hours:: Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm; Sat 9am–5:30pm; Sun 10am–4pm
- Services:: Digital passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, engraving, dry cleaning, locksmiths, phone repairs
- Price:: £12.99 for 4 prints + digital code
Timpson in the Chequers Centre is the most conveniently situated passport photo concession for visitors arriving by bus, as it sits within the same building as the Chequers Bus Station. It also has one of Maidstone's earlier opening times at 8:30am Monday to Friday, making it practical for commuters. Passport photos include a digital code for online applications and carry Timpson's standard guarantee against HMPO rejection. This location is open on Sundays (10am–4pm).
Timpson – Fremlin Walk
- Address:: Unit 2A, Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre, Maidstone, ME14 1PS
- Phone:: 01622 685096
- Hours:: Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm; Sat 9am–5:30pm; generally closed Sunday
- Services:: Digital passport photos, key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, engraving, dry cleaning, locksmiths, phone repairs
- Price:: £12.99 for 4 prints + digital code
A second Timpson is located at the entrance to Fremlin Walk, the open-air shopping centre off Week Street. This branch is the closest staffed passport photo service to Maidstone East station — approximately 5 minutes on foot up Week Street and into Fremlin Walk. It opens early at 8:30am Monday to Friday. However, this branch is generally not open on Sundays.
Passport Check and Send in Maidstone
Post Office – Week Street (inside WH Smith)
- Address:: 38–42 Week Street (inside WH Smith), Maidstone, ME14 1RP
- Phone:: 0345 722 3344
- Hours:: Mon 9am–5:30pm; Tue 9:30am–5:30pm; Wed–Fri 9am–5:30pm; Sat 9am–12:30pm; closed Sunday
- Services:: Passport Check & Send (paper and digital), DVLA photocard renewal, Home Office Biometric Enrolment, document certification, foreign currency, banking services
The main Post Office in Maidstone town centre is inside WH Smith on Week Street — the principal pedestrianised shopping street. This is a full Crown-style branch offering the complete Passport Check and Send service (both paper and digital routes). Note that Saturday hours are significantly reduced, closing at 12:30pm. Neither Post Office branch in the town centre opens on Sundays, so a complete photos-plus-Check-and-Send workflow requires a weekday or Saturday morning visit.
Post Office – High Street
- Address:: 30 High Street, Maidstone, ME14 1JF
- Phone:: 01622 751641
- Hours:: Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm; Sat 9am–1pm; closed Sunday
- Services:: Passport Check & Send, document certification, foreign currency, banking, parcels
A second Post Office branch is on the High Street, close to Snappy Snaps. This branch is useful if the Week Street Post Office is busy, and has slightly extended Saturday hours to 1pm compared to some smaller branches. Like Week Street, it is closed on Sundays.
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 Hemel Hempstead
- 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 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 staffed options in Maidstone are Snappy Snaps (99 High Street, ME14 1SA), Boots (56–62 King Street, ME14 1BW), Timpson at the Chequers Centre (102 Chequers Centre, ME15 6AR), and Timpson at Fremlin Walk (Unit 2A, ME14 1PS). Snappy Snaps is the specialist photo lab and the best overall choice.
Three services are open on Sundays: Snappy Snaps at 99 High Street (Sun 10am–4pm), Boots at 56–62 King Street (Sun 10:30am–4:30pm), and Timpson at the Chequers Centre (Sun 10am–4pm). Neither Post Office branch opens on Sundays, so Check and Send is not available on Sundays in Maidstone.
Yes, during weekdays and Saturday mornings. Get photos at Snappy Snaps, Boots, or Timpson, then visit the Post Office on Week Street (inside WH Smith, open Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm, Sat 9am–12:30pm). On Sundays, photos are available but Check and Send is not.
The most affordable option is the self-service Instant Photo Kiosk at Boots (56–62 King Street), which prints from 30–55p per print when you bring a validated digital file. For a full staffed service including compliance checking, Snappy Snaps and both Timpson branches charge around £12–£13.
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