Step 1: Use a digital camera or smartphone
Find someone to take the photo for you, and the selfie photo is not accepted for the passport photo app. If you have a tripod, use it. A tripod will make it easier to keep the camera steady and level.
Step 2: Find a place with a simple background and good lighting
Depending on your country, there may be a slightly different background color requirement. For most countries, the background should be white. Make sure there are no other objects in the background. When taking a photo, you should face the light, such as a nice window or door. This can even provide lighting to avoid shadows on the face and background.
Step 3: Dress appropriately for your passport photo
Don’t wear a uniform. Wear regular street clothes in your photo.
Do not wear glasses. If you wear glasses, sunglasses or shades, take them off for your passport photo.
Your face should still be fully visible. Don’t let your hair drape over your face or obscure it. If you have very long braces covering your eyebrows, you should pin them back with bobby pins. It’s best if you show your ears, but that won’t make your photo get rejected.
No hats are allowed in passport photos, unless it is religious headgear, such as a top hat or a yarmulke that you wear every day.
Photo for passport – Best tips for better photos!
- Look straight at the camera, with your face facing the camera. Your head should not be tilted or turned.
- Both ears showing or both edges of the face are visible if hair covers the ears.
- Shoulders should be visible and there should be enough space around the head for cropping the photo.
- Position the camera at the same height as the head.
Step 4: Have a neutral facial expression
You can smile in passport photos, but the government prefers you to have a neutral facial expression.
Smiling or opening your mouth is usually not acceptable, especially under the new international passport rules.
Passport Photographs – Passport Requirements Checklist
- Background: The background of the photo must be white. There should be no shadows in the background or objects.
- Lighting: The face must be evenly lit. There must be no shadows or glare on the face.
- Clothes: Clothes should be dark enough to make a good contrast with the background.
- Glasses: Glasses are not allowed for the US passport or visa photo.
- Hair: Hair should not cover the face. Both eyes and eyebrows must be visible.
- No smiling: Facial expression must be neutral. Mouth closed.
Photo Passport – Passport Size and Requirements
- Your head must face the camera directly with your full face in view.
- You must have a neutral facial expression or a natural smile with both eyes open.
- Worn in clothes normally worn daily
- Brought in within the last 6 months
- Use a white or light white background
- Be correctly sized – 51 x 51 mm 2 x 2 inches
- Head should be between 1 – 3/8 inches (25 – 35 mm) from bottom of chin to top of head
- Printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper
- Printed in colour
- You cannot wear glasses.
- If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, please include a signed doctor’s note with your request.
- You may not wear a hat or headpiece.
- If you are wearing a hat or head covering for religious purposes, please submit a signed statement verifying that the hat or head covering in your photo is part of a recognized
- traditional religious attire that is customary or required to be worn continuously in public.
- If you wear a hat or head covering for medical purposes, send a signed doctor’s statement verifying that the hat or head covering in your photo is used daily for medical purposes.
- Your full face must be visible, and the hat or head covering cannot obscure the hair or shadows on your face.
- You may not wear headphones or hands-free wireless devices.
Passport photograph – Other rules, guidelines and specifications for passport/photographer’s visa
Can I wear glasses, sunglasses or shades from the photo in my passport?
No, remove them for your passport photo.
If you cannot remove glasses for medical reasons, you must send a signed statement from your doctor with your passport application.
What position should I be in for my photograph?
Make the camera with your head centered in the frame and not tilted with a neutral expression or natural smile.
Can I wear a hat or head covering in my photograph?
You may wear a hat or head covering, but you must submit a signed statement verifying that the hat or head covering is part of recognized traditional religious attire that is customary or must be worn continuously in public or a signed physician’s statement verifying the Product is used daily for medical purposes.
Your full face must be visible and your hat or head covering cannot obscure the hair or shadows on your face.
Can I wear a uniform in my photo?
You cannot wear a uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform or camouflage outfit.
Can I remove red eyes from my photo?
Yes, it is possible to remove red eyes. However, other digital changes or editing are not allowed.
Can I smile in my passport photo?
Yes, but it must be a natural, non-exaggerated smile.
What is the best way to take a photo of a baby or toddler?
When taking a photo with your child or toddler, no other person should be in the photo.
Lay the child on their back on a white or blank sheet of paper. Make sure there are no shadows on the child’s face, especially if you are taking a photograph from above. Covering a car seat with a white or off-white sheet and photographing your child in the car seat can also be helpful.
Is it acceptable for my child’s eye to be closed in the photograph?
It is acceptable if a child’s eyes are not open or fully open. All other children must have their eyes open.
Do I need a new photo if my appearance has changed (grown a beard, dyed my hair)?
Only if your appearance has changed significantly from what is in your current passport. Growing a beard or colouring your hair would not constitute a significant change. If you can still be identified from the photo in your current passport, you do not need to apply for a new passport.
You may need to apply for a new passport photos if you have:
- Interfered with major surgery or facial trauma
- Have added or removed numerous/large piercings or facial tattoos
- Removed a significant amount of weight loss or gain
- Made a gender transition
- If your child’s appearance under the age of 16 has changed due to the normal aging process, you do not need to apply for a new passport for him or her.
