UK Passport Photo Requirements
All UK passport photos must comply with HM Passport Office specifications. All staffed providers listed on this page produce HMPO-compliant photos as standard.
| 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 | 70–80% of image height |
| Recency | Taken within the last month |
| Glasses | Not permitted since 2018 |
| Head coverings | Not permitted except for religious reasons; full face must remain visible |
| Prints required | 2 identical prints (paper applications); 1 digital image (online) |
Full current requirements: gov.uk/photos-for-passports.
Staffed Passport Photo Services in Oldham Town Centre
Boots – Spindles Town Square
- Address:: 1 Town Square Shopping Centre, Spindles Town Square, Oldham, OL1 1XD
- Phone:: 0161 633 6136
- Hours:: Mon–Sat 8:30am–5:30pm; Sun 10:30am–4:30pm
- Services:: Passport Instant Photo Booth (staffed — call ahead to confirm), Instant Photo Kiosk, Photo Mini-Lab (1-hour digital, film, gifts and prints), pharmacy, opticians, hearingcare
- Price:: approx. £12–£15 staffed booth; self-service kiosk from approx. 30–55p per print
Boots at Spindles Town Square is the main town-centre Boots for Oldham, with a full set of photo services including a staffed Passport Instant Photo Booth, a Photo Mini-Lab offering 1-hour film, digital, gifts and print services, and self-service kiosks. Sunday opening (10:30am–4:30pm) is available for passport photos. Combined with the Post Office in the same centre, a full Sunday passport visit is straightforward.
Call 0161 633 6136 before your visit to confirm the staffed Passport Instant Photo Booth is operational. For baby and infant photos, the staffed booth is strongly preferred over self-service kiosks.
Timpson – Spindles Town Square
- Address:: Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre, Oldham, OL1 (inside centre)
- Phone:: 0161 624 1265
- Hours:: Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm; Sun 10am–4pm
- Services:: Digital passport photos (prints + digital code), key cutting, shoe repairs, watch repairs, engraving, locksmiths, mobile phone repairs
- Price:: approx. £12.99 for 4 prints + digital code
Timpson in Spindles Town Square is located within the shopping centre, a short walk from both Boots and the Post Office. It offers digital passport photos ready in minutes, with a set of prints and a digital code included. A free retake guarantee applies if HMPO rejects the photo. Timpson opens slightly earlier on Sundays (10am) than Boots (10:30am), making it the first passport photo option available in the centre on Sunday mornings.
Passport Check and Send in Oldham
Post Office – 10 Town Square Shopping Centre
- Address:: Unit 10, Town Square Shopping Centre, Oldham, OL1 1XD
- Phone:: 0345 722 3344
- Hours:: Mon–Sat 8:30am–6pm; Sun 10am–5pm
- Services:: Passport Check & Send (paper and digital), BRP collection, document certification, DVLA photocard renewal, SIA licence, international driving permits, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel money, savings, Drop & Go, Parcelforce, banking services
The Post Office at Unit 10, Town Square Shopping Centre is the newly refurbished permanent Main branch for Oldham, which reopened on 9 October 2025 following a period of service disruption. It sits within the same Spindles Town Square complex as Boots and Timpson, making the entire passport photo and Check and Send process achievable without leaving the centre.
The branch's Sunday hours of 10am–5pm are notably generous for a UK Post Office and make Oldham one of the best locations in Greater Manchester for a weekend passport visit. The Monday–Saturday closing time of 6pm is also among the latest of any Post Office in the region.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The main staffed options are Boots (1 Town Square, OL1 1XD, tel: 0161 633 6136) and Timpson (Spindles Town Square, OL1, tel: 0161 624 1265). Both are inside Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre, alongside the Post Office.
Yes — Oldham's Spindles Town Square is one of the best Sunday passport destinations in Greater Manchester. Timpson opens at 10am, Boots at 10:30am, and the Post Office at 10am (until 5pm). All three are in the same shopping centre, making a complete Sunday passport visit very straightforward.
The Post Office at Unit 10, Town Square Shopping Centre (OL1 1XD, tel: 0345 722 3344) is open Mon–Sat 8:30am–6pm and Sunday 10am–5pm. It offers full Passport Check and Send (paper and digital) including on Sundays.
There is no HM Passport Office in Oldham or Manchester. The nearest HMPO is in Liverpool (101 Old Hall Street, L3 9BP), approximately 25 miles away. Appointments must be booked in advance at gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently.
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