CSCS card photo maker
A CSCS card photo must be in colour, taken against a plain white background, no more than two years old, unaltered, and uploaded as a JPG or JPEG file showing a close-up of your full head and shoulders. You only upload one if you apply with an alternative to the CITB HS&E test or CIC course.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
CSCS photo requirements
| Background | Plain white, in clear contrast to you |
|---|---|
| Colour | In colour, clear and in focus |
| How recent | No more than two years old |
| Framing | Close-up of your full head and shoulders, no other objects or people |
| File type | JPG or JPEG. PDF files are not accepted |
| Editing | Unaltered by computer software |
| When you need to upload one | Only if you apply using an alternative to the CITB HS&E test or CIC Health and Safety course |
Checked against the issuing organisation's own page on 11 November 2026. Source: CSCS: Photo requirements. Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- You facing forward and looking straight at the camera.
- A neutral expression with your mouth closed.
- Eyes open and visible, with no reflection or glare from glasses.
- Eyes not covered by sunglasses, tinted glasses, glasses frames or hair.
- Nothing covering your face, and no head covering unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons.
- No red eye and no shadows.
- Nobody and nothing else in the picture.
Do you need to upload a photo at all?
For most applicants, no. CSCS says the photograph taken at the test centre for your CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, or at your CIC Health and Safety course, will in most instances be used on your card. You upload your own passport-style photo, together with valid photo ID, only when you apply with one of the alternatives to that test or course that CSCS lists on its website.
If CSCS asks for a new photo
CSCS may ask for a new photo if the one you sent does not meet its criteria. The most common reasons are easy to check before you apply: the background must be plain white rather than a wall at home, the file must be a JPG rather than a PDF scan, and the photo must not be more than two years old.
Who sets these rules
CSCS (the Construction Skills Certification Scheme) is the construction industry's card scheme, not a government body. The rules on this page are taken from its own photo requirements page.
Common problems with CSCS photos
- A cream, grey or patterned background. CSCS asks for plain white.
- Sending the photo as a PDF, or a scan of a document. Upload a JPG or JPEG.
- An old photo from more than two years ago.
- A photo cropped from a group or work-site picture, with other people or objects in it.
- Glare on glasses, tinted lenses, or hair over the eyes.
- A hard hat, cap or hood that is not worn for religious or medical reasons.
✓ Good: plain background, even light, neutral face
✕ Shadow on the wall and face
✕ Busy background
✕ Glare on glasses
✕ Selfie taken too close
✕ Too dark, orange light
More on this in why ID photos get rejected. The examples use an off-white wall. The background row in the table above gives the exact colour this document asks for.
How to use this tool
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m, at eye level, in even daylight in front of a plain wall.
- Add the photo above. The tool finds your face and frames it to the size on this page.
- Check the green lines: one on the top of your head, one on your chin. Drag or zoom to adjust.
- Read the automatic checks, then download. Nothing in the photo is retouched, only cropped and resized.
Questions about the CSCS card photo
What background does a CSCS card photo need?
A plain white background. The photo must also be in clear contrast to the background, with no shadows.
What file format does CSCS accept for the photo?
A JPG or JPEG file. CSCS asks applicants not to send images in PDF format. It publishes no pixel size or file size limit.
How old can my CSCS photo be?
No more than two years old, and it must be unaltered by computer software.
Do I need to upload a photo for my CSCS card?
Usually not. The photo taken at the CITB HS&E test or CIC Health and Safety course is normally used. You upload a passport-style photo with valid photo ID only if you apply with an alternative to that test or course.
Guides for this photo
- Why passport and ID photos get rejectedThe reasons authorities list themselves, and how to avoid each
- How to take a passport photo at homeDistance, light, background and pose, step by step
- Are edited or AI passport photos allowed?What ten authorities say about retouching, filters and AI
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not