The document outlines the requirements and guidelines for acceptable passport and visa photos, emphasizing the importance of natural expressions and specific criteria that vary by country. It highlights common rejection reasons such as excessive makeup, specific rules for baby photos, and the necessity of meeting background color specifications. The guide also offers advice on appearance, including tips for individuals wearing glasses and guidance on hairstyles.

1. Showing your teeth or smiling is unacceptable - because it distorts the face
All countries state that a natural expression is necessary - however you don't have to look like you are at the dentist !
Indian Baby Passport
Guide to Unacceptable Passport and Visa Photos
Avoid Rejected Passport and Visa Pictures
General Guidelines including some hidden rules for successful passport pictures
Ensure that the background colour specified for your country is also acceptable
Passport and Visa photos produced from scanned pictures will never be accepted
Excessive makeup and jewelry are common grounds for rejecting photos
USA Baby Passport Photo
US passport requirements are slightly relaxed for babies but stipulate that babies must have their eyes open. Stick as closely as possible
to the adult passport requirements to avoid rejection.
Canadian Baby Passport
Greek Baby Passport
Examples of Common Countries
At the time of writing Greek Passport photo requirements seem to have gone crazy - the authorities are being incredibly fussy and it is
difficult to meet their criteria even for adults photos - God help any one with a baby.
Baby rules for Indian Visa, OCI and passport photos are relaxed. Babies under 1 year of age do not have to have their eyes open. Rules for
toddlers up to 5 years are relaxed with regard to line of sight and facial expression.
No matter what size of passport you need, or what colour background is required, the guide below is representative of common faults
which are unacceptable as passport and visa photos for all countries. See our guide on unacceptable Baby Passport and Visa Photos.
Some people have BIG hair - our advice is not to let it go outside the edge of the photo - tie it back
Digital retouching to alter or enhance your facial features is forbidden
Passport photos which are creased, have staple holes or otherwise marked in any way are unacceptable
The requirements for official Canadian ID photos is quite complex and they do like to stick to the rules. The requirements regarding
babies is relaxed regarding facial expression but that seems to be the only concession.
Many countries will not accept pictures of people in uniform
As a general rule it is wise to look as smart and as respectable as you can
Best advice for people who wear glasses - ALWAYS take them off
Always wear something over your shoulders - otherwise you will look naked - Not Good
Accepted & Rejected Visa
& Passport Photos