United Kingdom SIA licence photo: size and rules
| Size | 700×900 pixels |
|---|
| Background | white or cream |
|---|
| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no glare |
|---|
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
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- Only if the Post Office or your employer didn't take your photo when checking your identity
- Colour, a close-up of the full head and upper shoulders, on a white or cream background, not edited
- Applying from outside the UK: a UK passport holder signs your photo
Note on the sources: GOV.UK gives no size or file limit for the SIA photo; this uses the UK online passport size.
Official rules: gov.uk: apply for an SIA licence. Rules checked on 26 October 2026.
Who needs it
Door supervisors, security guards, CCTV operators and other front-line security staff need an SIA licence. The Post Office or your employer usually takes the photo when they check your identity; you only send one when they don't.
How to apply
- Apply online for your SIA licence and book your identity check. (GOV.UK: apply for an SIA licence)
- If you're asked for your own photo: colour, in focus, a true likeness, a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders, on a white or cream background, not edited. (GOV.UK: apply for an SIA licence)
- Applying from outside the UK, a UK passport holder signs your photo and gives their details on a form. (GOV.UK: apply for an SIA licence)
How to take the United Kingdom SIA licence photo on your phone
- Stand about an arm's length from a plain white or cream 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 white background and checks every rule before you save.
- Save the file and upload it with the online application. 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 |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
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 SIA licence photo?
- 700×900 pixels.
- What background does the United Kingdom SIA licence photo need?
- A plain white or cream background with no shadows or patterns.
- Can I wear glasses in the United Kingdom SIA licence photo?
- Clear glasses are allowed if your eyes show clearly with no glare. Tinted glasses are not.
- How do I make the United Kingdom SIA licence 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.
- Do I need my own photo for an SIA licence?
- Only if the Post Office or your employer didn't take one during your identity check. Then it must be in colour on a white or cream background.
- What background does the SIA licence photo need?
- White or cream, plain, with your full head and upper shoulders in the frame.
Have a photo already? Check it free with the United Kingdom SIA licence photo checker.
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