United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+): size and rules
| Size | 700×900 pixels |
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| File size | 50 KB to 6 MB |
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| Background | cream or light grey |
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| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no glare |
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| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
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- A colour photo of the head and shoulders, full face, on a plain light background
- JPG, BMP or GIF under 6 MB; a parent applies for an 11-15 card
- Under-11s travel free and need no photocard
Note on the sources: TfL gives no pixel size or background colour; this is the UK online passport photo.
Official rules: tfl.gov.uk: 16+ Zip Oyster photocard. Rules checked on: to be confirmed (the official page couldn't be opened to recheck them, so confirm them there before you apply).
Who needs it
Zip Oyster photocards give London children free bus travel and young people reduced Tube and rail fares: the 11-15 card for secondary school ages, the 16+ card for 16 and 17 year olds in education. A parent or guardian applies for an 11-15 card.
How to apply
- Apply online for an 11-15 or 16+ Zip Oyster photocard. (TfL: 16+ Zip Oyster photocard)
- Upload a colour photo of the child's head and shoulders, full face, on a plain light background, as a JPG, BMP or GIF under 6 MB. (TfL: 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard)
- TfL posts the card. Children under 11 travel free without one. (TfL: 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard)
How to take the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+) on your phone
- Stand about an arm's length from a plain cream or light grey wall, facing a window or other soft light, so there are no shadows on your face or behind you.
- Tilt clear glasses so they don't reflect the light, push your hair away from your eyes and eyebrows, and keep a neutral face with your mouth closed.
- Hold the phone at eye level, or ask someone to take it. Picproved's camera tells you when your head is straight, centred and the right size.
- Picproved crops the photo to 700×900 pixels, evens out the cream background and checks every rule before you save.
- Save the file and upload it with the online application: it comes out 50 KB to 6 MB. There is no printed photo to send.
Why photos like this get rejected
If the office rejects it
| Picproved | Other big passport photo apps |
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| Which photos are covered | Every photo you save | Two of the four pay out only for photos that passed their own expert check or a paid human check |
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| Proof of the rejection | None. Tell us it was rejected | Three of the four ask for proof of the rejection or a reason for the claim |
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| Time to tell us | 90 days from your order | 14 days from getting the photo at one, 30 days from the rejection at another; we found no limit at the other two |
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No face retouching. Pay once. 90-day redo and refund, no letter needed. Saving is free while we launch; the promise covers every paid photo once payments open. How the promises compare
Questions
- What size is the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+)?
- 700×900 pixels.
- What file size does the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+) need?
- 50 KB to 6 MB. Picproved saves the file inside this limit.
- What background does the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+) need?
- A plain cream or light grey background with no shadows or patterns.
- Can I wear glasses in the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+)?
- Clear glasses are allowed if your eyes show clearly with no glare. Tinted glasses are not.
- How do I make the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+) with my phone?
- Stand facing the camera against a plain wall in even light. Picproved shows live checks while you take it, crops it to 700×900 pixels and checks the rules before you save. Your photo stays on your device.
- Can a parent take the photo for a Zip Oyster card at home?
- Yes. Stand the child against a plain light wall, head and shoulders in the frame, facing the camera, and upload it with the application.
- Does an under-11 need a Zip Oyster photocard?
- No. Children under 11 travel free on buses and trams and with an adult on the Tube without a photocard.
Have a photo already? Check it free with the United Kingdom Zip Oyster photocard (11-15 and 16+) checker.
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