United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo: size and rules
| Size | 700×900 pixels |
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| File size | 50 KB to 5 MB |
|---|
| 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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- Close-up of the head and shoulders, the face filling about 70% of the frame, in full colour
- Plain, light background; no filters or edits, no sunglasses; selfies are fine
- JPG, PNG, BMP or GIF, 5 MB or smaller
Note on the sources: Railcards give no pixel size; this is the UK online passport size, which their rule (the DVLA and passport rules) follows.
Official rules: railcard.co.uk: help. Rules checked on 26 October 2026.
Who needs it
Railcards take a third off most rail fares in Great Britain. The 16-25, 26-30, Two Together, Disabled Persons, Veterans and 16-17 Saver railcards carry a photo, uploaded when you buy one online or in the Railcard app.
How to apply
- Choose your railcard and buy it online, with proof of age or eligibility. (railcard.co.uk: help with your photo)
- Upload a close-up of your head and shoulders in full colour, the face filling about 70% of the frame, on a plain light background. A selfie is fine; filters and edits are not. (railcard.co.uk: help with your photo)
- The file must be JPG, PNG, BMP or GIF and 5 MB or smaller. A photo that breaks the rules can be rejected. (railcard.co.uk: help with your photo)
- For a Disabled Persons Railcard, upload the photo with your proof of disability on its own site. (Disabled Persons Railcard: applying online)
How to take the United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo 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 5 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 |
|---|
| 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 Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo?
- 700×900 pixels.
- What file size does the United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo need?
- 50 KB to 5 MB. Picproved saves the file inside this limit.
- What background does the United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo need?
- A plain cream or light grey background with no shadows or patterns.
- Can I wear glasses in the United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo?
- Clear glasses are allowed if your eyes show clearly with no glare. Tinted glasses are not.
- How do I make the United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo 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 I use a selfie for my railcard photo?
- Yes. Railcards accept a selfie or a photo someone else takes, as long as it is a sharp close-up of your head and shoulders on a plain light background, with no filters.
- Why was my railcard photo rejected?
- Usually a busy background, a filter, sunglasses or a face too small in the frame. The face should fill about 70% of the photo, and the file must be 5 MB or smaller.
- Is a Two Together railcard photo needed for both people?
- Yes. Each person named on a Two Together railcard needs their own photo on it.
Have a photo already? Check it free with the United Kingdom Railcard (16-25, 26-30, Two Together and others) photo checker.
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