Free PDF and photo tools for the UK
Convert photos to PDF, compress scanned PDFs and images, watermark copies or hide unnecessary details. These four free tools process files in your browser, use UK examples and let you inspect the copy before downloading.
- WatermarkMark who the copy is for and keep the required details readable. Processing stays on your device.
- CompressFit your scan to the upload limit. Free in your browser, with UK documents as examples.
- Photo to PDFConvert photos or put both sides of a card on one A4 sheet. Nothing is uploaded.
- Hide detailsHide unnecessary details on a copy. Check the recipient’s requirements before sharing.
Choose the job you need
| What the recipient asks for | Free tool | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A readable photo or scanned PDF below an upload limit | Compress | The form’s actual limit and the small print in the result |
| A photo in PDF format or both sides of a card on one sheet | Photo to PDF | A4 is the default; choose the recipient’s required layout |
| A reference copy marked for one organisation | Watermark | That the recipient accepts a watermark |
| A copy without unnecessary identifiers | Hide details | That required fields and repeated codes are handled correctly |
Examples here are your UK passport, driving licence and GHIC. The tool demonstrations use fictional UK specimens; a saved copy does not become an official digital identity.
Inputs, outputs and limits
Choose JPG, PNG, HEIC or PDF up to 25 MB. HEIC support depends on the browser; selecting a photo from the iPhone library can provide JPG. The first ten pages of a PDF are used. Add the back when a card needs both sides.
Download saves JPG or PDF. Location and other camera metadata are removed. A PDF exported by this tool contains images. Existing selectable text, form fields and digital signatures are not preserved. Keep the original file if those features matter; this is a tool for copies of scans and photos.
Crop, Rotate and Blur are available within each tool. To watermark and shrink the same copy, save the marked result and open it in Compress. Keep the unaltered source separately.
Local requirements come first
GOV.UK’s visa evidence guidance explains the self-upload process and asks for readable images. Read the checklist and file requirements in the service you are using. Upload supporting scans in the requested format; do not redraw an official digitally signed document or a fillable application form as images.
Right to rent checks apply in England, not throughout the UK. Right to work checks have their own UK-wide process. Follow the GOV.UK route that applies: an online share code, an eligible identity service or an original-document check. A watermarked or redacted scan you email is not a substitute for the required check.
The regional guides explain scanning, locked storage, official credentials and safer sharing on iPhone. The tools prepare copies and do not certify documents, preserve digital signatures or replace an issuer’s verification service.
No document upload or account
The browser reads your chosen file and draws the copy on your device. Once the page and required resources are loaded, processing can work offline. The website does not store your document; you decide where to keep the download.
For repeated use, Dokus keeps originals encrypted on your devices and shares smaller or watermarked copies. Its free tier includes all sharing tools and optional iCloud sync with five documents included for free.
Common questions
Are all four tools free?
Yes. No account or document upload is needed. Choose the tool, inspect the preview and save your copy.
Which paper size does this region use?
The conversion tool defaults to A4. Choose a different paper when the recipient asks for it; print at actual size for a real-size card copy.
Can I edit a searchable or signed PDF here?
The tools redraw pages as images. Selectable text, interactive fields and digital signatures are not preserved. Keep the original when those features matter.
Are the example documents real?
No. The demonstrations use existing regional specimens with fictional details, marked as specimens.
