TL;DR
Scan your passport bio page in colour at 300 DPI as PDF or JPG. The whole page must fit on the scan including all four edges and the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom. Phone scans work if lighting is good and the page is photographed straight. Use a flatbed scanner if you have access to one.
How to scan your passport for a UK visa
- Find a flatbed scanner or document-scanner app — UK libraries, high-street print shops, or Adobe Scan / CamScanner / Apple Notes.
- Set DPI to 300, colour mode — never greyscale for the bio page.
- Place the passport flat — bio page facing down on the scanner glass, or flat on a table for phone scanning.
- Ensure the whole page is visible — including all four edges and the MRZ at the bottom.
- Avoid glare and shadow — direct overhead lighting works best for phone scanning.
- Save as PDF (preferred) or JPG — never save as a phone screenshot.
- Check the result at 100% zoom — every detail of the MRZ should be readable.
Equipment options
| Equipment | Quality | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flatbed scanner (300 DPI colour) | Excellent | Free at most UK libraries | 1-2 min per page |
| Adobe Scan (free app) | Very good with good lighting | Free | 30 sec per page |
| CamScanner / iScanner | Good | Free with watermark / paid pro | 30 sec per page |
| Apple Notes / iPhone built-in | Good | Free | 30 sec per page |
| Casual smartphone photo | Often rejected | Free | 5 sec per page |
For passport scanning specifically, flatbed beats phone — the bio page sits perfectly flat against the glass with even illumination. Phone scans always have some perspective distortion and lighting variation.
Pages to scan
For a UK visa application, scan:
- Bio page (the photo identity page, usually inside back cover)
- Every page with a UK visa stamp (current or previous, even cancelled)
- Every page with a foreign visa stamp (UKVI uses these for travel history verification)
- Endorsement pages (work permits, residence permits printed in the passport)
- The signature page if separate from the bio page
You don't need blank pages, unless your country has specific blank-page requirements (rare).
Required image quality
UKVI assesses scans on these factors:
- Resolution: 300 DPI minimum, 600 DPI maximum (overkill above 400)
- Colour: Required for ID; greyscale rejected
- MRZ legibility: Both lines of the machine-readable zone at the bottom must be perfectly readable
- Edge visibility: All four page edges visible; cropping rejected
- No glare: Reflections from holographic features are acceptable; glare obscuring text isn't
- No skew: Page should be straight; rotated scans frustrate caseworkers
Common issues
MRZ unreadable
The two-line MRZ at the bottom of the bio page is critical — UKVI uses it to verify authenticity. Common problems:
- Phone scan at an angle compresses the lower part of the page
- Low-light photo introduces noise that obscures the small print
- Aggressive compression (re-rendering at low DPI) blurs the MRZ
Fix: rescan at 300 DPI minimum with even lighting.
Glare from photo and security features
Modern passports have reflective security features that show as bright spots under direct light. Some glare is fine — but if it obscures the photo or text, rescan with diffused light (window light beats overhead lamp).
Cropped scan
Don't crop the page edges in your scanner / app settings. UKVI looks at the full page including the binding strip and any marginalia.
Phone-app PDF too large
Many phone scanner apps default to high-DPI scanning that produces 5-10 MB single-page PDFs. Reduce DPI to 300 in app settings, or compress the result with our Compressor.
What about old passports?
If you've held more than one passport in the last 10 years, scan the bio page of each. Old passports document continuous identity and are checked against immigration history.
If old passports are lost, declare on the application form and explain. Don't fabricate scans.
What about the BRP / eVisa?
If you hold a Biometric Residence Permit, scan both sides of the physical card the same way — colour, 300 DPI, all four edges visible. From 2025-2026 most UK immigration status is digital (eVisa) — you'd include a screenshot from the gov.uk View and Prove service instead of a card scan.
After scanning
Bundle the passport scan with your other supporting documents using our Bundler — it places passport scans first in the canonical UKVI order, with a cover sheet and clickable index. If the result exceeds the upload limit, run it through our Compressor.
Tools mentioned
- Visa Document Bundler — merge passport with other documents
- Compress PDF for UK visa — fit upload limits after bundling
- Personalised checklist — confirm what to scan and bundle
Sources
Common questions
- 01
What DPI should I scan my passport at?
300 DPI is standard. Lower than 200 DPI is usually rejected as illegible. Higher than 400 DPI produces unnecessarily large files without quality benefit; 300 DPI is the sweet spot.
- 02
Can I scan my passport with my phone?
Yes — modern phone document-scanner apps (Adobe Scan, CamScanner, Apple Notes' built-in scanner) produce acceptable scans if you have good even lighting and the phone is held perpendicular to the page. Avoid casual photos through a plastic sleeve.
- 03
Should the scan be colour?
Yes. UKVI rejects greyscale passport scans because the holographic and security features need colour visibility. Greyscale is fine for text documents (bank statements, letters) but not for ID.
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