Why you are not allowed to smile on a passport photo?

The passport photos are very much flattering as these are bound by some very strict laws about what is acceptable and what is not. You should not smile, and you should also not have hair on your face when you are taking photos for the passport- these are just two of the many guidelines that you will have to follow when you are taking photos for the passport.

When you are smiling, facial recognition software might not be able to recognize the face of the person. That is the reason you are not allowed to smile on a passport photo.

Why you are not allowed to smile in your passport Photo?

When you are applying for or renewing your passport, there are several requirements that you will have to follow while taking the passport photo. Apart from the bad lighting system, which can lead to rejections, there is another important point you need to consider when taking passport photos. This is the smile. An old Facebook profile picture will not do for a passport; therefore, you need to know the guidelines before you take the passport photo. It is for sure that the last thing that you would want is to add some stress to the travel, especially at a time when there are several other things that you might be stressed with. Smiling on a passport photo is not allowed in several countries, mainly concerning national and international security measures. Several airports use certain advanced scanning devices that contain facial recognition software.

This is software that scans a person’s face for certain distinctive biometric patterns that include the distance between the eyes of the person or the shape of the mouth and compare it to the passport photos that have already been submitted. If you are smiling or even having your mouth open or showing your teeth, this can distort the eyes of the person and change the relationship between the various points of the biometric.

Acceptable passport photos

The Department of Foreign affairs website has laid down the rules about taking a photo for a passport that will not be rejected. You have to know the passport photo requirements. The passport photos have to be 35mm to 40mm wide and 45mm to 50mm high. The maximum size of the face from the chin to the crown can be 36mm, and the minimum size is 32mm. With the passport application form, you will have to submit two identical photos of the best quality, and the prints you take should be less than six months old.

Make sure that you do not take a print of these photos from the inkjet printer. Moreover, retouching cannot be done by removing the backgrounds, wrinkles, scars, moles, etc.)

What are the reasons that result in the rejection of the passport application?

The passport photo is deemed unacceptable for several reasons other than a smile. The DFAT website explains that one cannot wear glasses in passport photos. You can also wear glasses provided you give a medical exemption in writing explaining the reasons as to why you want to wear glasses in the photo. Knowing the requirement of a visa passport photo is also important.

You will also have to ensure that the jewellery is not able to obscure any part of the face. There can also not be any reflection from the studs or the rings. If you cover your head for religious reasons, you can wear the covering while taking the passport photo but make sure that they have to be plain and cannot be without any patterns. These also have to be worn in a way so that the face is seen from the bottom of the chin to the top of the individual’s forehead. The edges on both sides of your face also need to be visible.

Where can I take passport pictures?

Yes, you can take your passport photos; however, as there are many rules that need to be followed, it would be better to get the photos clicked by a professional passport photo provider like:

• Many camera stores
• Professional photographers
• Large chain stores with printing facilities
• Post offices

Using online passport photo services and mobile apps for passport photos is not a good idea as it might result in identity theft.

Can you smile in passport photo?

There are several countries that have disallowed smiling in passport photos. The State Department guidelines in the United States state that the subject in the photo should have a neutral expression, and the eyes should also be open fully. If the first passport taken appears to be too distorted because of a smile, the candidate might be asked to pose for a new photo.

The rules against smiling, however, have certain clarifications and distortions. There is a chance that if you smile with a closed mouth, it will be acceptable. On the other hand, if the smile exposes the teeth, it will not be accepted. Again, the grimacing smile formed with a closed jaw might be accepted, provided the other facial features like the nose or the eyes do not get unnaturally distorted. This is, in most cases, the open mouth and the tooth-filled smile unacceptable.

Smiling has been discouraged in passport photos due to international security reasons. There are, however, many modern airports that use some of the most advanced biometric scanning devices that have facial recognition software. The face of the targeted passenger can also be scanned electronically and compared against a list of some of the passport photos that have been obtained. Certain distinctive biometric patterns that are checked include the distance between the eyes of the person or the shape of the mouth that can be altered to prevent the match from happening.

Passport picture rules – Do’s and don’ts while taking a photo for a passport

DO:

• Make sure you print the photo on either matte or glossy paper.
• The photo that you will provide should be of 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
• You should take a color printout of the photo.
• Wear the clothing that you normally wear
• Make sure that there is no red eye.

DON’T:

• Wear glasses, and if you have to, make sure that you submit an application stating the reason why you need to keep wearing the glasses when the passport photo is taken.
• Wear any hats or head coverings. You can only wear them in case you wear them regularly. However, you should ensure that the head covering does not cover or cast shadows on the face.
• You can wear headphones or wireless hands-free devices
• You can stand anywhere that casts shadows on your face
• Submit a blurry or dark photo
• Alter or retouch your passport photo in any way.

Conclusion

If you check through the website of Indian Passports, you will be able to check out the examples of the kind of passport photos that are accepted and the ones that are rejected. Once you take the photo and submit it along with the application form, you will have to wait for about 4 to 6 weeks to get the passport. You can, however, speed up the process by applying it under the tatkal scheme. You can also check out the good passport photo examples.

FAQS