TfL Zip Oyster photocard photo maker
TfL asks for a clear, unaltered colour digital photo saved as a .jpg, .bmp or .gif file of less than 6MB. The same file rule applies to the 11-15 and 16+ Zip Oyster photocards, the 18+ Student Oyster photocard and the 60+ London Oyster photocard. Frame a head-and-shoulders photo here and save a JPG well under that limit.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
TfL Oyster photocard photo requirements
| Photo file type | .jpg, .bmp or .gif |
|---|---|
| Photo file size | Less than 6MB |
| Colour | Colour photo |
| Editing | Clear and unaltered |
| Head covering | None, unless worn consistently for religious or medical reasons (TfL staff guidance) |
| Passport details image (Zip and 60+) | A separate colour image, .png or .jpg, less than 6MB |
| If the photo is rejected | TfL emails you and you upload another to finish the application |
| Cards covered | 11-15 Zip, 16+ Zip, 18+ Student and 60+ London Oyster photocards |
Checked against the official source on 11 November 2026. Source: TfL: 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard · TfL: 16+ Zip Oyster photocard · TfL: 18+ Student Oyster photocard · TfL: 60+ London Oyster photocard · TfL FOI: Book 3, Discounts and Photocards (March 2025). Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- The card holder only: the child for a Zip card applied for by a parent or guardian, or you for an 18+ Student or 60+ card.
- A clear colour photo that has not been altered. No filters, beauty modes or edits.
- A true likeness of the card holder.
- Nothing covering the head unless it is worn consistently for religious or medical reasons.
- TfL publishes no pixel size, head size or background colour on its photocard pages. A plain, light background and a head-and-shoulders crop, as for a passport photo, is a sensible default.
Which card, which page
TfL has a separate page for each photocard, but the photo rule is the same on all of them: a .jpg, .bmp or .gif file under 6MB. The 11-15 Zip card (£16.50 fee) and the 16+ Zip card (£22) are applied for by a parent or guardian, unless the applicant is already 18. The 18+ Student card is applied for by the student once enrolled, and the 60+ London card by the holder from 13 days before their 60th birthday. All start with a photocard web account at TfL.
The passport image is a different upload
For Zip cards TfL checks age and identity from a valid, machine-readable passport, and asks for a colour image of the details page showing the photo, name, date of birth and passport number. The 60+ card asks for the same image if you use a passport. That upload has its own format rule (.png or .jpg). Do not put the portrait photo there, and do not upload a photo of the passport page as the portrait.
If there is no suitable passport
TfL lets you start online and finish at a Post Office with a printed letter, or for some Zip applicants collect the card from a TfL Visitor Centre. The portrait photo rules above still apply.
Common problems with Oyster photocard photos
- A PNG or HEIC portrait. The photo upload takes .jpg, .bmp or .gif; this tool saves a JPG.
- A file of 6MB or more straight from a phone camera.
- A filter or beauty mode left on, so the photo is no longer unaltered.
- A cap, hood or headband that is not worn for religious or medical reasons.
- Uploading the passport details page as the portrait, or the portrait as the passport image.
- An old photo that no longer looks like the card holder.
✓ 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, which suits most documents; check the official page if you are unsure about the colour.
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 TfL Zip Oyster photocard photo
What size photo do I need for a Zip Oyster photocard?
TfL sets a file limit, not a pixel size: a clear, unaltered colour digital photo as a .jpg, .bmp or .gif file of less than 6MB. This tool saves a passport-shaped JPG well under 6MB.
Is the 60+ Oyster photocard photo the same as the Zip one?
Yes. The 60+ London Oyster photocard page asks for the same thing: a clear, unaltered colour digital photo, .jpg, .bmp or .gif, less than 6MB, plus a separate passport image if you use a passport.
Can my child wear a hat or headscarf in a Zip photocard photo?
Only if it is worn consistently for religious or medical reasons. TfL's staff guidance says the applicant should not be wearing anything that covers their head otherwise.
What happens if TfL rejects the photo?
TfL emails you, and you need to upload another photo to finish the application. Rejected photos delay the card, which usually arrives within 2 weeks of the photo being accepted.
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