United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) photo: size and rules
| Size | 700×900 pixels |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
- Head and shoulders, portrait, in colour, facing forward, eyes open, no red-eye
- Plain, light background with clear contrast
- JPG or PDF under 5 MB (no HEIC)
Note on the sources: The RYA gives no pixel size; this uses the UK online passport size.
Official rules: rya.org.uk: ICC application. Rules checked on 26 October 2026.
Who needs it
Skippers who sail or motor-boat on European waterways or charter abroad often need an International Certificate of Competence (ICC), issued in the UK by the RYA.
How to apply
- Apply on the RYA website with your qualification or ICC assessment. (RYA: ICC application)
- Upload a head-and-shoulders photo in portrait, in colour, facing forward, on a plain light background with clear contrast. (RYA: ICC application)
- Upload a JPG or PDF under 5 MB; HEIC files from iPhones aren't accepted. (RYA: ICC application)
How to take the United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) 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 |
|---|
| 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 RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) photo?
- 700×900 pixels.
- What file size does the United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) photo need?
- 50 KB to 5 MB. Picproved saves the file inside this limit.
- What background does the United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) photo need?
- A plain cream or light grey background with no shadows or patterns.
- Can I wear glasses in the United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) photo?
- Clear glasses are allowed if your eyes show clearly with no glare. Tinted glasses are not.
- How do I make the United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) 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 upload an iPhone photo for my ICC?
- Not as HEIC. Save it as a JPG first; Picproved saves a JPG.
- What photo does the RYA ICC need?
- A colour head-and-shoulders photo in portrait, facing forward, eyes open, on a plain light background, as a JPG or PDF under 5 MB.
Have a photo already? Check it free with the United Kingdom RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence) photo checker.
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