UK Passport Guide · April 2026
ASDA Passport Photo 2026: Price, Booth Locations & Cheaper Alternative
Quick answer: ASDA passport photos are provided by Max Spielmann in-store: £12.99 with a staff member, £10 at a self-service booth. Both often include a digital code for online renewal. Available in many ASDA supermarkets and 400+ booths nationwide (confirm your branch). Online alternative: PixID at $4.99 — HMPO-style digital file. Rules: GOV.UK — passport photos.
Written by the PixID.studio compliance team · Updated April 2026 · Official sources: GOV.UK · ICAO Doc 9303 · photo.asda.com.
TL;DR: ASDA does not run its own passport service — Max Spielmann operates staffed desks and booths in many stores: £12.99 assisted, £10 booth, digital code where included. Confirm on photo.asda.com. DIY: PixID $4.99.
How ASDA passport photos work
ASDA does not run its own passport photo brand. Services are operated by Max Spielmann — a national chain with HMPO-style capture and printed 35×45 mm packs. Max Spielmann runs both staffed desks and self-service booths inside ASDA superstores.
Before you travel: not every ASDA has a Max Spielmann concession, and not every store has a booth. Use the ASDA Photo — passport photos page or Max Spielmann’s store finder to confirm services at your branch.
ASDA passport photo prices (2026)
Prices from photo.asda.com, verified April 2026 — confirm before visiting.
| Service | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Max Spielmann in-store (staff) | £12.99 | Prints + digital code for online renewal (where offered) |
| Self-service booth | £10.00 | Prints + digital code where the booth supports it |
| International visa (in-store) | £14.99 | Prints + digital code |
| Driving licence (in-store) | £12.99 | Prints + digital code |
| Other ID (in-store) | £11.99 | Prints + digital code |
Staff service includes a colleague who can check HMPO-style framing before printing. Booths leave composition to you — shadows and head size mistakes are common.
ASDA passport photo booth: what to expect
Max Spielmann booths are installed in many ASDA supermarkets. Typical flow: enter the booth, follow on-screen steps, pick the best shot, pay by card, collect a strip (often four photos). If the booth supports HMPO upload, you may also get a digital code.
Limits: no staff compliance check; lighting varies; HMPO rejection may not include a free retake (unlike many staffed services); not every booth issues a digital code — ask before you pay.
UK passport photo requirements (HMPO)
Whether you use ASDA or shoot at home, HM Passport Office sets the rules.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 29–34 mm |
| Background | Light grey or cream — plain, no patterns |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Open, clearly visible, looking at the camera |
| Glasses | Not permitted |
| Headwear | Not permitted (except religious — face fully visible) |
| Recency | Taken within the last month |
| Paper applications | 2 identical printed photos |
| Digital | JPEG for online renewal via GOV.UK |
The one-month rule is stricter than many countries — a six-week-old photo can fail even if lighting and size are perfect.
Digital code vs digital file
Digital code (ASDA / Max Spielmann): a reference HMPO can use to retrieve your image from the provider’s certified system — you may never handle the file yourself.
Digital file (JPEG): you upload the image in the GOV.UK flow. That is what PixID delivers. Both routes are used for online renewal; a file gives you more control and often lower cost.
ASDA vs PixID
| ASDA booth | ASDA staff | PixID | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £10 | £12.99 | $4.99 (~£3.99) |
| Travel | Yes | Yes | No |
| Time | 15–30+ min | 15–30+ min | ~2 minutes |
| Digital for renewal | Code (if supported) | Code | JPEG upload |
| Staff check | No | Yes | Automated HMPO checks |
| Free retake if rejected | Often no | Often yes | Money-back guarantee |
| Prints | Yes | Yes | No — print separately |
Cheapest prints + digital: create a file with PixID, then order a 6×4 print from ASDA Photo or similar — often under £5.50 total versus £10–12.99 in store.
How to get a UK passport photo at home
Shoot: light grey or cream wall (or white with soft daylight), window light in front of you, someone else or tripod at eye level, neutral expression, no glasses.
After: upload to PixID, pick UK Passport — the tool crops to 35×45 mm, checks head height and background. Download JPEG for GOV.UK or a printable sheet for chemist kiosks.
Children and babies
ASDA/Max Spielmann staffed counters often handle children; babies who cannot sit may be photographed on a plain sheet per HMPO guidance — see UK baby passport photo requirements.
Apply and Go
Some stores advertise an Apply and Go-style service (staff photo plus help submitting the online application in-store) for an extra fee — you still pay the normal HMPO passport fee. Useful if you want a fully guided flow; otherwise standard photo service or PixID is usually cheaper.