How to look good for your passport photo

Travel Tips

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Your passport photo will be scrutinized. (Photo: Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images )

A passport photo usually sticks around for 10 years, so it’s always best to get one that’s not completely awful. It can be embarrassing to pass through immigration on the way to a great vacation knowing that your photo is sloppy or poorly done. Luckily, there are a few things you can do for a better passport photo. All it takes is a little preparation to prevent looking silly when traveling.

Photo Requirements

The State Department has specific requirements for U.S. passport photos. All travelers must face completely forward, keep both eyes fully open and have a neutral expression or natural smile. Glasses are not allowed, nor are hats or head coverings. Only those who submit a signed statement noting that the head covering is for religious reasons can get an exception. Headphones are also not permitted.

Each passport photograph must be in color, on a white or off-white background and printed on matte or glossy paper. The size should be 2 inches by 2 inches, with your head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches. All photos submitted with passport applications have to be taken within the past six months, so ensure yours is as current as possible.

Where to Take Photos

Dozens of retailers offer passport photo services. Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens can take and print photos in under an hour, and most shipping stores like FedEx Office will also provide the photos. These services are usually quick and inexpensive and make it easy to ensure the pictures match the official requirements.

Travelers can also opt to create their own passport photos at home. There are numerous websites that can help with creating a passport photo, or you can use your computer to crop a photo to the correct dimensions. Find a white background, like an empty wall, and ask a friend or family member to help take the photograph. Snap a few options, just in case one doesn’t fit the requirements or has an odd look. Print the photos at home with a color printer, making sure there’s sufficient ink.

Getting a Good Photo

It’s hard to look great in what is essentially a mug shot, but there are a few things you can do to look better in a passport photo. Ensure that you’re properly groomed or made up, using concealer to cover blemishes or problem spots on the face. Trim facial hair or shave off any extra stubble. Use powder to prevent shiny areas, especially around the nose and on the forehead (this can work for both men and women). Those who wear makeup should consider adding some color to the lips to help them stand out in the photograph. Brush your hair and style it carefully.

Wear a shirt in a neutral color that isn’t too light. Because the background will be white or off-white, select something with a contrast like blue or green. This will ensure you don’t look washed out.

Since you’re allowed to smile naturally, don’t just stare blankly into the camera. Smile with your mouth closed, being careful not to exaggerate the expression, and think about something funny or happy to get what Tyra Banks calls a “smize” (a smile in the eyes). Keep your chin up and straight, and keep your shoulders down. Most of all, try not to stress out. A passport photo isn’t anything to stress over, so just give it your best shot and don’t worry if it’s not perfect.

Disclosure

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

It’s almost travel season—which means you are that much closer to having to pull out your passport and brace yourself for one long cringe. It’s no secret that people do not look their best in their identification photos. After all, it’s hard to strike a good pose when there is a harsh flash that momentarily blinds you, morphing your face into something that either resembles a very surprised and slightly anemic ex-convict, or someone with an intense case of Sickly Resting Face. Even worse? If it’s a passport and you are over the age of fifteen, be prepared to live with that mug (shot) for five years. Luckily, instead of getting laughed at by border patrol (true story), we rang up makeup artists Romy Soleimani and Gucci Westman for five simple tips on how to transform your passport photo into something that you’re happy living with—even past its expiration date.

Start with a corrective makeup primer. “I would focus on giving yourself some color. There is a harsh flash, which creates a really blown-out lighting, making you look almost green, like the background,” says Westman, who suggests Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer for the occasion. “An apricot-toned formula will counteract any discoloration under your eyes, which is often brownish or purple, and will help with the texture of your skin” for an all-over healthier effect.

Give extra attention to dark circles. “I’d say use concealer or powder—even if you aren’t the type of person to normally wear those products,” says Soleimani of diffusing especially bluish undertones beneath the lower lash lines. In normal life, she adds, “it’s all about dewy and fresh, but with flash, you don’t want shine under your eyes.” Try a pressed powder like Clé de Peau Beauté’s translucent formula, and then add a concealer, like By Terry’s Touch Expert Advanced brush, on top.

Give a little lip. “On the mouth, try marker balms like Revlon’s Colorburst Matte Balm, in a rose or berry shade,” advises Westman. “You can make it as deep as you want because the texture of the product makes your lips feel nice and gives them a bit of luster, so they aren’t cracked or dry—just healthy-looking.”

Revisit problem areas. “The trickiest areas are the ones around your nose, and your laugh lines,” says Soleimani, “Those are areas that protrude and stand out more out in the light. Although you don’t need to do it in real life, soften them with some powder” for a photograph.

Add a flush to the cheek. A matte bronzer for contouring or a dusty rosy blush on the cheeks work well “for a little pop [of warmth], but still nicely blended,” says Westman.

Avoid excess dewiness. “Don’t do too much highlighting and avoid anything shimmery, especially shine on the forehead,” says Westman. “Also, steer clear of too much gloss on the lips because with the flash, it will become something you don’t want to live with.”

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

You’re going to have your new passport for the next ten years – we’re sure that you want your passport photo to look as good as possible! No one wants to have a photo that makes them look older than they are, or ill, or unhappy. And did you know you can take your own passport photo now too?

Passportinfo.com recently caught up with a friend of ours in the passport and visa expediting industry. She’s a former model who knows all kinds of tricks to look great in front of the camera… and she’s seen thousands of passport photos, good and bad! She filled us in on insider’s tips to taking a great passport photo.

What to Wear… and What Not to Wear!

The first thing to consider is your wardrobe. Keep in mind that the passport photo will only show your head and shoulders. It doesn’t matter what you wear below the waist, but the area around your neck will be visible in the photo.

If you’re renewing your passport, don’t wear the same clothes you wore in your last passport photo. If your new photo looks too much like the old one, it could be rejected because the Passport Agency won’t be able to confirm it was taken in the last six months.

Clothing DOs and DON’Ts

DON’T wear glasses! Your photo could be rejected and your application put on hold if you submit a photo with glasses. Especially if your glasses have a glare on the lenses.
DON’T wear anything on your head – no hats, headbands, or scarves. If you wear religious headgear on a daily basis, you are allowed to wear it in your passport photo as long as your face is clearly visible. You’ll need to also submit a letter explaining your religious headgear.
DON’T wear a uniform of any sort. The Passport Agency will reject photos that show you in uniform.
DO opt for business attire or a collared shirt for your passport photos. This isn’t a State Department rule – they don’t care whether you’re in a sloppy sweatshirt or a suit and tie. But if you ever have to present your passport for a business visa, or show it to a new employer as part of your paperwork when you are hired, you’ll be very glad that your passport photo supports your professional image!
DO wear a shirt or dress with a high enough neckline that it will show in the final picture. “I’ve seen too many passport photos where the traveler was wearing a tank top or a shirt with a wide v-neck,” our model friend says, “and when it’s cropped and printed onto the passport book, it looks like she’s naked!” Again, this isn’t an official rule, but it might save you some embarrassing moments at the airport!
DO consider wearing a color other than black or white. Your photo will have a plain white background, so a colored shirt will help ensure your photo doesn’t look washed out. Is there some color you always get compliments when you wear? Go ahead and wear it for your passport photo!

Makeup – Put Your Best Face Forward!

Sad but true: photo retouching isn’t allowed in passport photos. You aren’t allowed to PhotoShop out your blemishes or dark circles. But you know what is allowed? Makeup!

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo Makeup can make a big difference between a mediocre photo and a fantastic one. Remember that makeup always looks more subtle in photos than it does in the mirror, so don’t be afraid to wear a heavier than normal coat of foundation and plenty of powder to keep down shine. (Another model tip: if your face is looking shiny, a brown paper napkin makes a great blotting paper in a pinch. Grab a few extras when you’re at the coffee shop!) Highlighting and contouring the face with light and dark makeup is a standard in the modeling industry; there are lots of great tutorials on YouTube if you want to give it a try.

And guys? No one will ever know if you used a dab of concealer on your under-eye circles, or a little bronzer or translucent powder to even your skin tone. It’s what celebrity actors do before they step in front of any camera!

Hairdos and Hair Don’ts

Our friend, the former model, confessed a secret to us. “When I renewed my passport recently, I had my passport photo taken right after I had my hair cut. Now, for the next ten years, my passport will show me with my hair professionally styled!”

Whether or not you decide to hit the salon first, here are some tips on how to style your hair for your passport photo.

Make sure your hair isn’t covering your eyes or eyebrows. All of your features must be visible.
If you have long hair, we recommend that you brush it back behind your shoulders so your shirt is visible. If your hair is covering up all your clothing, it’s another reason that you might look naked in the photo!
Don’t wear thick headbands, large hairbows, or scarves in your hair. These could be considered “headgear” and could get your photo rejected! Thin ponytail holders, bobby pins, and small barettes are just fine.

Strike a Pose

Finally, practice your pose before you head to the photographer. Your passport photo needs to show you looking straight forward with a neutral expression, but that doesn’t mean you have to look grim. Sit up straight and roll your shoulders back to elongate the look of your neck. Although you can’t smile widely or show your teeth, you can channel Tyra Banks and “smize” – smile with your eyes! Many people also worry about looking like they have a double chin in photos, which often happens if you tip your chin downwards. Don’t be tempted to lift your chin upwards to correct this – this will just expose more of the area under your jaw and make it look larger. Instead, thrust your chin forward an inch or so, as if you were a turtle poking your head out of your shell. It will feel awkward and unnatural, but it will make your jawline look firm in the photo.

Make Sure You’re Happy With Your Passport Photo

Don’t accept a photo with bad lighting (such as overexposure or shadows across your face), poor printing quality, or an unnatural color cast. If you are paying for a passport photo, you should get one that will definitely be acceptable to the State Department… and to you!

I’m never very keen on photos of myself. But for passport photos, you can multiply that by a factor of a thousand.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

With that white background, brutal flash and unsmiling face, I always look both washed out and dead-eyed – more serial killer mugshot which isn’t normally the effect I’m hoping for. Even my photogenic three-year-old looked drained.

The old saying goes that if you look like your passport photo, you need the holiday. But it would be nice to have one which doesn’t make me (and immigration officials) flinch. When I posted my latest set on Facebook, everyone seemed to have a similar tale of woe. So after my posts on how to take great photos, I started looking for more tips on how to take a good passport photo.

1. Pick your moment

Passport photos are unforgiving enough anyway, so taking them when you’ve got a heavy cold, a bad hangover or after a sleepless night with a newborn is not ideal. If you can postpone it… do.

2. Wear make-up

That flash is instantly draining, so whether you normally bother putting on make-up or not, now is a day to try. Steer clear of anything too shiny (lip gloss or forehead) as it’ll look extra reflective, and use tinted moisturiser or more blusher/bronzer.

You might feel like Barbara Cartland in real life, but it’ll look less dramatic in the end result. Neutral and natural is also better than regretting the blue eyeshadow/eyeliner flicks for the next 10 years. Guys, if concealer/tinted moisturiser gives you a better photo, I for one am not about to judge.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Not this scary in real life. Honest.

3. Think about your hair

The rules say it has to be off your face – but if you have long hair, tucking it behind your ears is less severe than scraping it back, which can leave you looking almost bald in the end result. If you are bald, skip this step…

4. Pick the right top

There’s not much shoulder showing in the photo but the right or wrong top can make a surprising difference – one friend’s strappy summer vest left her looking naked.

White shirts add to the ghostly finish or blend in to the background while prints can look odd, so simple block colours often work best. If all else fails, go for a top you love and which makes you look good. At least that’ll be a happy memory.

5. Can you live with it?

Every time you travel for the next 10 years (unless it’s so bad you’ll pay to update it early), that photo will be there. The quirky earrings. The striking make-up. The high fashion top. Will you still love it tomorrow (and in five years)?

6. Smile with your eyes

Not something I’ve ever been very successful at (see above) – but when you can’t smile with your mouth, it helps give your face some animation.

7. Check the requirements

Have you got the right background, is there anything covering your face, are your glasses off (or angled so they don’t reflect)? Because if not, you might just have to do it all again.

Share your top tips on how to take a good passport photo in the comments…

Is it accurate to say that you are headed out of the country? Time to get your passport! To apply, you’ll need an ongoing photograph taken inside the most recent a half year. In the event that you need to glance great in your photograph, you may need to do a little prep work. Here are some tips to look good for your passport photo. Before you read further, you can get your passport photo online.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Style your hair:

Try not to do anything you wouldn’t usually do to your hair for a visa photograph. Visa photographs ought to be a decent portrayal of what you normally resemble with the goal that you don’t get confined.

Try not to wear a cap or some other head covering except if you as of now do as such regularly for strict purposes. On the off chance that you do wear a head covering, for a U.S. identification, your face must be obvious. The covering can’t conceal your hairline or cast shadows over any piece of your face.

Put on the same amount of makeup as you usually do:

On the off chance that you generally wear makeup, feel free to put it on not surprisingly. On the off chance that you never wear makeup, you most likely would prefer not to put on a huge amount of it for the photograph. You won’t look like yourself, and you could get confined.

Wear a little oil-engrossing powder to forestall sparkle in the event that you need to. This will be generally helpful on your brow or nose.

Regardless of whether you don’t as a rule wear makeup, you might need to put a touch of concealer or powder over any dark circles under your eyes. These dim spots can cause glare and make you look tired.

Dress appropriately:

Recall that you may need to utilize your visa for some events other than traveling. (For instance, in some cases you can utilize it to get a personal investigation when you go after a position.)

-Try to wear something complimenting and sensibly agreeable.

-Try not to wear anything too flashy, or it will make individuals take a gander at your outfit rather than your face.

-Give the most consideration to your shirt, since that is the thing that will be in the photograph.

-Since you will be before a white or dark foundation, evade those hues. Pick hues that compliment your skin tone.

-Wear minimal jewelry.

Take your Glasses off:

This is a requirement.

– In the event that you can’t evacuate your glasses for clinical reasons, it would be ideal if you incorporate a marked note from your doctor with an application.

– Reapply makeup. Specifically, on the off chance that you will in general look sparkly in photographs, you might need to include a touch of oil-engrossing powder at last. Make certain to likewise check for lipstick spreads or eye makeup that has smudged.

follow directions:

Accepting that you’re not taking your own photograph, listen cautiously to the individual who is. The picture taker needs to catch you from your most complimenting point. Follow their bearings precisely and don’t move starting with one posture then onto the next except if the person asks you to.

The author has written about getting a cheap passport photo online.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

In every Professional Babe’s bag of tricks she knows how to take a good photo. Passport photos though can be a different story. Here is the Professional Babe’s guide to taking a flattering passport photo.

Before you shake your head at something trivial as a gorgeous passport photo, I’d like to remind you of the time Tyra Banks booked a big modelling job from a passport photo.

Yes. That’s right *clicks in Z formation*

I’m not saying that you’re going to wind up working for Chanel, but in every Professional Babe’s bag of tricks she should know how to slay her passport photo.

Recently I had my passport photo taken and I happily instagrammed the end result.

I’ve had photos taken before but I wasn’t happy with any of them. One time my makeup washed me out too much. Another time I wore too much. Another time the lighting in the place was hideous.. And well, the others I lost.

I refused to have an unflattering passport photo. So I decided to test out a few theories to see what worked and what didn’t.

Here are your 6 tips to acing your passport photo:

1. Choose a venue with good lighting

The screen they photograph you against should face the light, such as a nice bright window or the door. It will produce a very flattering shot and will help to cancel out the ghastly overhead lighting. Your photo can also be rejected if the lighting isn’t right and there are unusual shadows, so go to a quality place to get them taken.

2. Be well rested

Don’t get your passport photo taken on a day where you have a to-do list of 27 things. Have a good nights sleep and have it as the first thing you choose to do that day.

3. Do you hair

This doesn’t mean go to the salon and get the blow-dry of all blow-drys. Your passport photo will be rejected if you have hair across your face, for that reason get it out of the way before you go so you aren’t hurriedly doing it whilst 15 people are waiting behind you.

4. Wear a little makeup, but not too much

Fill your brows in, apply some bronzer and go to town with mascara. Enhance your natural beauty so you feel like the best version of you but don’t go overboard with Kim K. contouring. You don’t want the customs officers laughing 3 years down the track because you overdid it.

5. Think happy thoughts

Although you can’t smile, it doesn’t mean you have to look like you’re attending a funeral. You’ll need to keep your mouth closed, but think about something that makes you happy. It will show in your eyes.

6. Clench your teeth

My secret Supermodel tip for making your cheekbones pop and getting a nice defined jawline. This can take a little practice to appear natural but I do believe it makes a big difference. Whenever I do a headshot for modelling I’ll clench my back teeth. I noticed my face didn’t appear as defined when I relaxed my jaw but I find that it helps to hollow your cheeks slightly which is why it makes your cheekbones pop!

PS. Want to look good in all your photos? I created a guide that teaches you how to look amazing in photos. Check it out here!

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Editor of Professional Babe, Peta has a penchant for pretty things, Tom Hardy and ginger kittens. You can find her sipping a long black, creating killer content or making sure her winged eyeliner is even. Peta is a writer, model & Pilates Instructor based out of the Hunter Valley.

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, or are renewing one, you will have to undergo the dreaded business of taking a passport photo. In this article, we’ll show you our top tips for looking good when it comes time to renew your passport photo.

Most of us are adept with taking gorgeous selfies in the soft glow of afternoon light or with the help of a serious filter, but it is damn hard to take a good passport photo under the tyranny of a five-billion megawatt flash.

So if you’re determined to avoid rocking a passport photo that you loathe for the next 10 years, but don’t want to have your passport application rejected on a technicality, we’ve got a few top tips to get you camera ready.

What should I wear in my passport photo?

Luckily, your clothes aren’t a major showpiece in a passport photo, as only your head and shoulders are on display, but there are some official dos and don’ts you should know.

Wear dark colours with a high neckline for your passport photo

The DOs of looking good in your passport photo

Do wear colour! – Your passport photo is required to have a white background, and if you don’t want to look like a floating head, we advise against super light pastels, whites, and neutrals.

Do opt for a collar or a high neckline – This isn’t because you need to look professional, or that it’s some fashion crime to wear a tank top. But if you aren’t wearing something with a visible neckline, you will look like you took it in the nude.

The DON’Ts of looking good in your passport photo

Don’t wear glasses – Not even your super cool perspex clear ones. The glare can reflect off the glass and mean that your photo is rejected on your passport application.

As of 2018, glasses are not allowed in passport photos* unless you have to wear them for medical reasons. If you meet these requirements, you will need to submit your photo along with a signed medical certificate.

Don’t wear hats, scarves or headbands – This does not apply to religious headgear, as long as your head coverings are plain coloured, and your face is clearly visible.

Don’t wear a uniform – Clothes must be neutral. Your photo can be rejected if you are wearing a recognisable uniform in the picture.

Can I wear makeup in my passport photo?

Yes, you can wear makeup in a passport photo. If you do intend on wearing it, we recommend that you apply your makeup as close to your normal style as possible, or as natural as possible, so that the photo is a fair representation of you when you travel. You don’t want to be stopped at a border because passport control don’t recognise you!

Wearing makeup can make for a sharper photo finish

Use correcting primer

An apricot correcting primer can give a warmer tone to your skin. If you tend to have a red face, a green tinted primer can neutralise that.

Try concealer

The harsh flash required to take a passport photo can make any circles under your eyes look more prominent. Dab some concealer under your eyes to give your eyes a brighter look.

Add some lip colour

This doesn’t have to be lipstick if you’re not a lipstick person, but a tinted balm can give your lips enough definition so that they don’t get lost under the bright flash.

Check your cheeks

Not literally! But a little bronzer or blush can give your face a warmer look.

Powder up!

Dewy looks are all the rage, but if you want to avoid a shiny forehead or nose in your passport photo, then we recommend setting your makeup with powder.

One last thing…

Though you should stick to either your normal style of wear or a natural look, that doesn’t mean you can’t go a little heavier on application. Makeup looks subtler in photos, so you can add a little more coverage if you like.

How should I wear my hair in my passport photo?

That’s a good question. There are several styles that are allowed, as long as you remember the primary rule: to keep your hair away from your face.

Up or down?

Either is fine. If you have long hair, you can wear it down, but it must not cover your face. Don’t worry, fringes are okay! But if your fringe is long, and covers any part of your eyes, you will need to pin it back.

How should I pose in a passport photo?

When you are ready for your passport photo there are a few rules you needs to follow*, such as keeping your eyes open, mouth closed, and face looking directly at the camera.

Learn how to pose for a passport photo

No smiling

That’s right, for an Australian passport you must not smile, as your photo will be rejected. The Australian Passport office requires a neutral look in your passport photo. If you’re worried about looking too stern, smile just before the photo is taken for a softer look.

Sit up straight

Roll back your shoulders, and sit up straight. This will elongate your neck without you needing to lift your chin, as you must keep your face in a central, level position.

Look directly at the camera

This may sound obvious, but try not to tilt your head to the side, up or down. Your face needs to be in the middle of the frame.

And you’re done!

You’re ready! Go forth and take your passport photo. You’re armed with everything you need to look good for the 10 solid years that photo will be in circulation!

When news broke that Philippines passports will now be valid for 10 years, we only had one thing on our minds: our passport photos. Because if we’ll be stuck with one for an entire decade, then only a flawless one will do from here on out. How will we do that exactly? Refer to the list below!

1. Practice your no-teeth smile beforehand.

Since we won’t be allowed to show our pearly whites, this is a must if your grin is a toothy one. The goal is to master your most neutral happy face in one go. Because in case you didn’t know, DFA employees will only give you one chance at a retake.

2. Don’t apply too much sunscreen.

Yes, sunscreen is important, but wearing too much tends to give the skin an unflattering white cast in flash photography. That’s why unless dead and ghostly is the look you’re going for, apply a little less or skip it entirely—just this once! (Just don’t forget to apply it right after the shot, got it?)

3. Skip the colored contact lenses.

Your passport photo will require you to be au naturel, which means you’ll have to leave your favorite gray lenses at home. Even if your contacts are merely corrective, you’ll still be asked to remove them.

4. Bring your own reflector.

It sounds a little extra, but if you have a portable one, why not? A reflector will help balance the lighting around your face and remove unflattering shadows from the photo. Just hold it under your face, adjust it quickly, and wait for the camera’s click!

5. Treat blemishes before your appointment.

When you’re scheduled for a new photo, makeup artist Xeng Zulueta suggests putting skin care on top of your priorities. Because according to her, no matter how much makeup you put on, it’s hard to hide bad skin under those non-pro DFA lights. So if you develop a giant zit days before your appointment, sort it out ASAP with a spot treatment or a trip to your dermatologist.

It’s gonna be with you for 5 years.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Everybody wants to look good in their passport photo. After all, you’re going to have that picture on your passport for the next five years. However, unlike your Instagram pictures, you can’t add a filter on this image. Don’t worry, we have all the tips to help you look amazing in your next passport photo.

Text: Arissa Ha / The Singapore Women’s Weekly / October 2017
Additional text: Hidayah Idris, Smita DeSouza
Images: Unsplash, 123RF

Wow, we never thought we’d ever say that because sun protection factor (SPF) is such an integral part of any skincare routine. But the same ingredients that are meant to bounce the sun’s rays off the skin also cause the camera flash to bounce off, rendering you with a white cast or ghost face. So for the purpose of this photo, skip sunscreen or any foundation that has SPF in it.

Strong brows, heavy eye makeup, bold lips—while these look great on Instagram, they don’t exactly translate well onto the printing quality that ends up on your passports. Plus, no one really looks like that in real life, and unless you want to go through immigration with heavy makeup all the time, we suggest going with natural-looking makeup.

While you want to avoid any heavy makeup, you don’t want to look completely washed out either. Opt for a soft, matte blush to add a healthy flush to your complexion. If you have a round face, apply the blush starting at the temples and blending downward so there are no harsh lines. If you have an oval face, you can apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks. Don’t forget to blend.

Celebrities have been victims of powdery patches underneath their eyes thanks to translucent powder. While they’re great at mattifying and setting makeup, they’re also highly reflective which spells bad news for flash photography. If you have to reduce shine, use loose powder and dab it on with a powder puff.

Although strong colours should be avoided, there is a fine line between creating contrast and too much contrast. As passport photos are usually monochrome, too much contrast on the lips and brows will cause other facial features to disappear. Opt for peach, pinks and corals for the lips and cheeks and avoid darker colours like burgundy and plum.

There are plenty of regulations concerning hair when it comes to passport photos, and instead of fumbling with it while you’re at a photo booth, style your hair before taking the photos. Don’t be afraid of being more heavy-handed with the styling products. Heck, if you have to do it at the salon, go ahead! After all, you have to stick with this photo for the next five years.

More often than not, flash photography isn’t very forgiving on shiny faces. Lay off the extra glittery highlighters (we still love you, BECCA Champagne Pop), and opt for highlights with soft matte finish if you want to contour your face.

Your kohl-rimmed eyes may look good in a colour photo, but since Singapore’s passport photos are in grayscale, you might just end up looking like you didn’t sleep for days. Go for neutral eyeshadow colours to brighten up your look and stick to a slim flick of eyeliner for subtle definition.

If you have thin, overplucked brows, there’s no better time to start filling them in than when taking your passport photo. You might be able to control the lighting if you’re taking it yourself, but ICA will still adjust the contrast/saturation to match their system’s and sometimes, your thin brows might just disappear. So, it’s best to fill them in just to make sure you don’t look like you shave them all off—unless that’s the look you’re going for.

It’s not uncommon to take your own passport photos now thanks to the popularity of apps like “IC Photo Singapore“, but photography rules still apply and light is one of the most important aspects. Natural daylight is the most flattering so it’s better to take your photos outdoor against a white wall. If you have to, a photo taken along your HDB corridor with a piece of mahjong paper taped to the wall as your background would make for a much better photo than one taken under fluorescent light.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Style your hair:

Put on the same amount of makeup as you usually do:

Wear a little oil-engrossing powder to forestall sparkle in the event that you need to. This will be generally helpful on your brow or nose.

Dress appropriately:

Recall that you may need to utilize your visa for some events other than traveling. (For instance, in some cases you can utilize it to get a personal investigation when you go after a position.)

-Try to wear something complimenting and sensibly agreeable.

-Try not to wear anything too flashy, or it will make individuals take a gander at your outfit rather than your face.

-Give the most consideration to your shirt, since that is the thing that will be in the photograph.

-Since you will be before a white or dark foundation, evade those hues. Pick hues that compliment your skin tone.

-Wear minimal jewelry.

Take your Glasses off:

This is a requirement.

– In the event that you can’t evacuate your glasses for clinical reasons, it would be ideal if you incorporate a marked note from your doctor with an application.

follow directions:

The author has written about getting a cheap passport photo online.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

With the travel season coming up, it’s time to dig out your passport, complete with the passport photo which looks more like a mug shot than something you’d be pleased to show to strangers for the next ten years of your life.

The problem is that there are now so many rules about passport photos – no hair in your face, no head coverings, mouth firmly closed – that it makes it almost impossible to look good in your photos. There are some things which you can do to tip the balance slightly back in your favour though. While many of these apply to the ladies, there’s nothing to stop the gentlemen giving them a go as well!

Choose a quality place with good lighting

Before you get in front of the camera, try a corrective primer base. This will give your face some colour, which is helpful as flashes from the camera tend to bleach out colours, or even worse, make you look a bit green. Try a peachy toned primer to combat the bleaching.

Apply a little makeup

Dark circles can look a lot worse in a passport picture, so pay attention to those by covering them with some concealer or powder. Even if it’s not an area you usually cover-up, you’ll be grateful you did for this.
A light coloured lipstick will stop you looking too unnatural. Again, the whitening effect of the harsh flash means that a bold lipstick will seem a lot more intense than it actually is, so tone it down on this occasion.
If you like to use blusher, follow the same sort of guidelines, and keep the tones neutral to cope with the sudden flash. A bronzer might be a safer bet on your cheeks than a pink or red blusher. Can you wear makeup in a passport photo?

Follow Camera Directions

While contouring is all the rage at the moment, remember that trends come and go. Think of the dewy looks of the 90s – you wouldn’t want to go out like that now. If you must contour, try to keep the focus away from the forehead and more into the centre of the face.

Ready to take your photo?

Upload it to us at Paspic when you’re done, and we’ll get your model-ready passport photo back to you in no time. With our helpful tips, you might even want to double up and use it as a headshot for your portfolio!

Once upon a time, you would have had to queue up outside a photo booth to get hold of a passport photo. These days you can just snap the photo yourself – ultimately saving a lot of time, money and effort. The question is: how do you take your own passport photo?

It’s not, of course, as simple as just taking a selfie and hoping for the best. With this in mind, let’s look at the best plan of action for taking your own passport picture.

The guidelines are quite specific about what the picture should and shouldn’t show. In particular, you might want to pay special attention to the parts about facial expression. This is because you’ll need to sport a neutral expression even though you’re relaxed and taking it from the comfort of your own home. There are also guidelines about hair and accessories (such as glasses), which you’ll need to familiarise yourself with beforehand.

Choose your spot

While it’s true that you no longer have to leave your home to take your own passport photo, this doesn’t mean you can snap it in just about anywhere. Instead, you must ensure that you pose in front of a plain, light-coloured background with no other objects in the shot. You must also take steps to avoid there being any unnecessary shadows, so you’ll need to take lighting into account as well.

Have it checked

It can be risky to make your own judgement call on the photo, especially since it can delay your passport application if your picture doesn’t meet the guidelines. Due to this, you’ll be best served to use a service like Paspic. Through going down this route you’ll have confirmation that the image will be successfully approved. You can then complete the application by either submitting the hard copies or the digital versions.

It can be a little daunting taking your own passport photo, especially when you’ve become accustomed to the rigmarole of having it done in a photo booth. Thankfully you’ll soon learn that it’s both easier and more convenient to do yourself – and there’ll be no doubts that you’ve done it right thanks to the help you’ll get from Paspic.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

In April I turn 26. It’s not a particularly exciting birthday, and I think the only thing the occasion marks is the expiration of my passport (Hallmark should consider producing a “Congratulations on getting to the end of your first adult passport” card.)

Everyone hates their passport photo, but my last one was particularly bad – I looked ill, greasy and severely depressed. So I was determined to produce a more flattering image this time around, and the result isn’t too bad. Sure, I wouldn’t make it my Facebook profile picture or anything, but it could be a lot worse, right?

If you’re also updating your passport this year here are my top tips on how to look good in your passport photo:

NATURAL HAIR AND MAKEUP. ALWAYS.

This is not the time to experiment with contouring or any other beauty fads. Stick with natural hair and makeup and your headshot won’t look dated five years from now. Opt for a matte foundation (“dewy” translates to “oily” in passport images), brighten your complexion with a subtle dusting of bronzer (or Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder) and use a clear or nude gloss in place of bright lipstick.

PERFECT YOUR “HAPPY FACE”

For some reason you’re not allowed to smile in passport photos. (I can only assume this is because no one ever smiles in the passport control line at airports.) This sucks, because no one wants to be identified by their resting bitch face. So it’s worth spending five minutes in front of a mirror perfecting your “happy face”. Lift the corners of your mouth ever so slightly (so you’re on the verge of a smile), widen your eyes and think happy thoughts (Channing Tatum dancing to ‘Pony’ should work).

WEAR A FLATTERING COLOUR

Don’t assume that just because you’re taking a headshot it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. The neckline of your top will be visible, so carefully select a flattering colour that gives you a refreshed, healthy look. And, as with hair and makeup, it’s probably best to keep jewellery to a minimum. Your tasteful statement necklace might collect compliments right now, but in 2026 it could be the equivalent of a Von Dutch trucker hat…

Do you have any other tips for how to look good in passport photos?

There are only a few things more exciting than traveling out of the country and exploring a whole new place. Just taking in the sights and sounds and absorbing a rich, unfamiliar culture can change you in ways that you wouldn’t have imagined. But before the fun part, there’s the paperwork that you need to get through first, that is, a passport and/or a visa.

Information about the requirements are easy to find, but how about the pictures you need to take? Of course we want to look pretty – or at least, human – in our passports/visas, so here’s a guide on how to achieve just that with a bit of makeup!

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

First things first: the most important thing to remember is that you can’t wear or do anything above your shoulders that would drastically alter your resting face. That means, no jewelry, no smoky eyes or loud lips, no angling your face or even smiling. So how do you look photogenic without all these things? How do you make your skin look great even in bad lighting? Here’s my advice!

Tip #1: Wear a matte foundation with little to no SPF. A foundation with over SPF20 typically shows a white cast due to the sun protecting ingredients, so avoid that when having your pictures taken by cameras with flash. Matte is recommended because that harsh flash also magnifies the shine of light-reflecting makeup.

In any case, don’t forget to retouch with powder before your photo sesh! And wear foundation that matches your neck.

Tip #2: Define your features well but keep the colors muted. You want to look professional and put-together. Do your eyebrows slightly darker, wear only brown/black eyeliner, blush should be light, and lips are ideally a muted pink. Avoid bright colors and go for natural-looking, clean, and polished makeup.

Here’s my actual visa photo, for your reference! This was taken last November.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

That’s my daily look but with a slightly heavier hand, as I expected the flash would wash out most of the makeup in the photo. Which brings me to my third and possibly most important tip.

Tip #3: Contour as if your life depends on it. Apply contour powder on your jaw, sides of the face, nose, and eye crease. This is sorta kinda like cheating but remember, the camera and the weird lighting won’t show how you actually look in real life. So tip the odds in your favor by contouring correctly.

Some visa photos are also printed out in black and white like in my Japan visa, so the contouring really helped me look presentable here.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Contouring shows up better in black and white

Additional pointers to lessen the possiblity of having your visa picture returned by an embassy:

Wear a collared shirt when going in for your visa picture.
Your hair should not cover your face. It should be able to show your ears.
Don’t forget to use a white background if you’re taking your own photo.

And those are the most important things to remember really! Keep your makeup clean but slightly heavier, contour, and if you can, look as nice a person as possible. ^_^ This will go a long way in making a good impression, especially if you’re applying for a visa.

Good luck! If you have more tips, please share in the comments!

I have always looked awful in my passport photos but due to some unexpected circumstances I need to renew my passport (I lost my old one, lol). So it is a chance for me to be more attentive and to look better in the new passport photo!! Do you know any tips for that? I’ve read different articles about how you need to have a neutral makeup and put your glasses off but anyway, do you know something which REALLY works?

Going to a photographer.
Most studios take passport pictures, my last one was £10.

I can’t use the booth it takes pictures of some alien when I sit in.

Think about colour. I am fair, and can barely been seen against a white background in my latest ones.

If you are like me, don’t wear a pale dress and do wear slap- brows, eyelashes and lips at a minimum. Next time I’ll be in full on teen style eyebrows, contouring and pout in the hope I can be seen.

And I’ll style my hair to show around my face instead of being pulled back.

Go to a photographers instead of a booth and practice a non-bitchy resting face in front of the mirror! You can get away with a very very slight upturn of the lips. Not smiling, but not completely neutral. But you have to be really careful with that one!

Otherwise, eyeliner, brows, not too much blusher but enough for colour and a dab of lip tint to stop the ghost look. Obviously no contouring or eyeliner wings!

lekkerkroketje is right: the slightest smile will do. I also don’t look great in my passport/driving license pictures so last lime I had to renew my passport I just used the picture I liked and made the background white in a special program. They accepted it somehow.

I wouldn’t stress too much, the new passports have the photos printed directly into the paper, with a massive hologram pattern over it. It’s very difficult to make much detail out on mine and it’s quite dark. In terms of its purpose, it’s probably one of the more minor identifiers embedded into all the other tech and counterfeit stuff on that page.

They accept your own photo uploaded, so you can take it as many times as you like until you’re happy anyway.

Learn how to get a good passport photo, without paying a professional photographer

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Everyone turns into a stunned mullet or an ex-con in their passport photo. But with these five simple steps, you can get a good passport (or licence) photo, without paying a professional photographer.

1. The face
Good grooming is the first step to an acceptable passport photo (let’s be reasonable with our expectations here). The standard equipment used to take a passport photo washes everything out, so women should consider wearing stronger makeup than they normally would. Dark eyeliner, a coat of mascara and a light, matte covering of foundation and some rouge should help to stop you from looking completely featureless. Even if you don’t opt for the works, try wearing a darker lipstick than normal—this will at least ensure your lips don’t blend in with the rest of your face.

Men should ensure that facial hair is either freshly-shaven or well groomed, as a five o’clock shadow is likely to leave you looking more like a drink-driving offender than rugged and manly.

2. The hair
Make sure your hair is well-groomed. If you have long hair and normally pull it back, consider going for a looser, more relaxed style, as this will stop you from looking like you’ve recently had a buzz-cut.

Men should consider having a haircut about a week beforehand. This will leave you looking neat but a few day’s growth will save you from looking like you’ve tried too hard.

3. The clothes
Patterns, such as checks or stripes, do not show up well in passport photos. Bright reds and yellows can often bring out imperfections in the face, and beiges and creams will leave you looking washed out. Consider wearing a solid, dark colour, such as blue, with a classic neckline. This picture will be around for the next ten years, and you wouldn’t want your clothing to look dated towards the end of that time.

4. The expression
Although research shows that not smiling in passport photos may distort the face more than a natural (and attractive) grin, the powers that be insist on asking for a poker face.

Stress and worry will show up on your face, so make sure you get a good night’s sleep beforehand, and try to relax before you go in for your photo. You can also try smiling on the inside—think about something which makes you happy, or how excited you are about your upcoming trip, and this will shine out through your face, even if you can’t show your pearly whites.

5. The photo
As soon as they call you up, be prepared. Passport photographers are notoriously sneaky and will attempt to snap your photo when you least expect it. Think happy thoughts, remain calm, and make sure you are looking at a spot just above the camera the whole time, as this will help you to avoid the half-asleep mug-shot which plagues so many of us. Do not attempt to talk or interact with those around you until you are sure the deed has been done, and even then be ready for a do-over.

Do you have any tips for a good passport photo?

by Sarah Campbell

Published Aug 24, 2013

Is it just us or are all driver’s license photos… not so flattering? Perhaps it’s some combination of fluorescent lighting and 5-hour-DMV-line fatigue, but we always end up looking like something the cat dragged in—not awesome for a picture we have to have for years. To get some advice for how to improve the outcome of pics snapped in less than desirable circumstances, we spoke to celebrity makeup artist Marina Gravani. Read on for her tips.

Find your light

Fluorescent lighting can cast weird shadows on the face, so make sure to use concealer under your eyes. Marina recommends Cle de Peau for its wearing power and coverage. You’ll also want to brighten the high planes of the face—that is, the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and chin. Use a matte bronzer and a good powder, like Laura Mercier translucent powder, to eliminate shine and set your foundation. But, as Gravani points out, you’ll have to look at the photo for quite some time, so it’s best to avoid any makeup that’s too trendy. “Your license or passport photo should be an elevated version of your fresh-faced day look,” she says. “Go a little heavier on the eyeliner or mascara and don’t forget to fill in your eyebrows! They can disappear in that lighting.” We love the control of Anastasia’s thin-tipped Brow Wiz.

Perfect your angle

Ask the photographer to raise the camera and point down. According to Gravani, that angle will make for a more flattering photo. “If they won’t cooperate with that request, you can usually request to see it and get a couple redos,” she suggests. “Know your angles and which side of your face to tilt in order to look best in photos.” You can even do a few test shots at home before you go; the practice will actually help you any time you have to pose.

Do an at-home shoot

For passport photos, you can usually take them yourself, even with your phone. To give you good lighting, “commission a friend to hold a sheer white fabric, like a linen napkin or white T-shirt, over the smartphone light,” says Gravani, adding that you have to hold it so that it covers the light only, not the viewfinder, so the fabric doesn’t show up in the photo. This will bounce the light onto your face and give you a glow. Use a light, neutral background, too. Beige or gray sheets work well for this.

Blend your base

In any flash photography situation, go with foundation that’s a bit darker than your complexion, or mix a darker tinted moisturizer with your regular foundation. Just remember to take it all the way down your neck. “You don’t want to have that dreaded white face/dark body in the photo! The darker hue will help counteract the blowout from the flash,” says Gravani. Good to remember for night-time events and parties!

Show Your Beauty Up

Find your light

Perfect your angle

Do an at-home shoot

Blend your base

Before 2018, the last time I looked decent in my passport photo was when I was a baby. For my driver’s license, I always look like a shady person, but I blame it on the Philippine government’s cheap ID card material and printers. Ask any Filipino and they’ll tell you horror stories of getting their driver’s license.

When I dabbled in beauty editorial for magazines, I learned through fellow beauty editors how they were able to look great in their driver’s licenses, passports, and visas. After years of trial and error, I finally did it! And no, there’s no need for you to pull a Hollywood diva stunt by bringing your own photographer, makeup artist, and lighting crew. But there is a process involved.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo Things I need to travel: MacBook for blogging, mirrorless camera, secondary hipster camera, big map for flat lays, lots of coffee, sunnies, and most of all… a decent passport/visa photo! For security purposes, I can’t share with you my visa photo. But trust me, I look goooooooddd!

When you have to be photographed in the government office

In the Philippines, this applies to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) for your passport, LTO (Land Transportation Office) for your driver’s license, and any other government agency that requires you to wait for long hours before sitting or standing awkwardly in front of everyone else in the room as a grumpy employee takes your photograph.

1. Practice your Mona Lisa smile at home. The government employee doesn’t care if you look like an ogre in the photograph—a misrepresentation of the fabulous queen or king that you are in real life. The nicer ones will allow one re-take, and that’s it; you’re stuck with that photograph for the next two years or so. You better master the art of smizing without tilting your head (straight front angle only!).

2. Do the polished natural makeup look. I’ve heard of horror stories where Filipino government employees asked girls to remove their makeup and false eyelashes on the spot because they deemed it “too much.” The objective isn’t to look like an overly contoured Kardashian heading to a party, but to be the best natural version of yourself. There are hundreds of YouTube videos to help you fool the grumpy photographer into thinking you’re not wearing too much makeup.

3. Top makeup tips: Don’t use SPF because it gives your face a white cast when the camera flashes. Cover blemishes well and aim for a flawless but natural base. Concealer is your friend! For lips, stay away from those bold lip kits and go for a tinted balm or creamy lippie that enhances the natural color of your lips. Look up MLBB—my lips, but better. Fill in your eyebrows and dab some natural blush. The contouring may disappear under the poor lighting condition and general camera settings, but your eyebrows, lips, and cheeks will stand out.

4. Google to see the passport photo requirements, because it may differ per agency. For example, some embassies allow eyeglasses, while others don’t. Most don’t allow contact lenses—not even the clear kind. Some allow white tops, while others prefer colored. Most don’t allow uniforms and accessories. Know their rules beforehand.

5. Fix your hair beforehand, not when you’re about to be photographed. Your ears need to be seen, so tuck your hair. Pin your bangs and keep your hairstyle simple (No Arianna Grande ponytail, sorry!). No earrings or hair accessories.

6. Bring your own reflector —if you dare. I’ve read stories of girls who got away with it, but I didn’t have the chutzpah to pull it off. Safer alternative: Wear a white collared top (only if they allow white), which can do a bit of light reflection to give your face a studio finish.

7. Retouch! With fast hands, dab some light powder to get rid of the shine right before the camera click. Quickly check your face in the mirror before smizing for the camera. Do it fast enough so that the person who will take your photo doesn’t lose his patience (as there are hundreds of you that they have to go through daily).

If you need to submit your own photo

1. Rejoice! This means you’ll have a little more control and time to look good.

2. If you have the money, spend a little more on a reputable photo studio. While those one-hour photo kiosks in the mall or streets are quick and affordable, they won’t do your face justice. Trust me, I’ve tried them all! This year, I skipped the budget photo kiosks and went to a professional photography studio in the mall. Because you are paying a hefty sum, they will not rush you. You may take your sweet time to fix your hair and retouch your makeup, and most of all, have more than two retakes. Reputable private photo studios have the same lighting used in modeling shoots. The result: My new visa photo finally looks great. It’s a travel investment. Hello, I will be using this photo for the next 10 years! Thank you, Great Image in Uptown Mall, BGC. No, this is not a sponsored post.

3. Don’t forget the makeup tips I mentioned above. Cisgender males, it’s totally okay to wear some concealer and BB cream for the photo. Those heartthrob K-Pop stars (the ones your girlfriends are in love with) do it all the time. Ain’t no shame!

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo No time to find a photo studio? DIY!

If you’re in the middle of traveling and you suddenly need a digital ID photo

I’ve seen this happen to my backpacker friends. They’re in the middle of traveling in a foreign country. They’re also applying for another country’s program (ex. Workaway, short course, etc.) that requires them to submit a specific ID photo (ex. white background with collared top). The solution? DIY! Do your own makeup (see my tips above), wear the appropriate attire, and find a clean, plain wall in the color needed. Find good lighting, ask a friend to take your photo, or just use your camera with tripod. Use the hi-res setting. Crop accordingly. There’s no need to print because they usually need you to submit the digital version online. Ta-da!

Raise your hand if you look fabulous in your passport or visa photo. Share your tips in the comments section below.

You must provide one photo with your passport application.

All our photo policies apply to both adults and children under age 16. We have a few exceptions to our photo policies for infants.

Submit a color photo, taken in last 6 months
Use a clear image of your face. Do not use filters commonly used on social media.
Have someone else take your photo. No selfies.
Take off your eyeglasses for your photo.
Use a plain white or off-white background.

COVID-19 Update: Face Coverings and Masks

We realize customers may wear face coverings and masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

When someone takes your passport photo, you must remove your face covering or mask so your full face is visible and the face covering and mask do not block portions of your face. We need to see your full face to establish your identity.

We encourage you to stay six feet away from the individual taking your photo so you are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations on social distancing. Please do not take a selfie because they are often the incorrect size and have the wrong head position for passport photos.

Tips for Submitting your Photo

Resolution, Print Size, and Quality

Submit a high resolution photo that is not blurry, grainy, or pixelated.

The correct size of a passport photo is:
- 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
- Head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 – 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head

Printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper

Do not digitally change the photo

You cannot submit a damaged photo with holes, creases, or smudges.

Pose and Expression

Have a neutral facial expression or a natural smile, with both eyes open.

Face the camera directly with full face in view.

Note to parents of young children: we have sample photos in the Photo Examples section below with tips for submitting a baby’s passport photo. We realize that an infant’s pose and expression are challenging to maintain for a photo.

Attire

You cannot wear glasses.
- If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, please include a signed note from your doctor with application.

Taken in clothing normally worn on a daily basis.

You cannot wear a uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage attire.

You cannot wear a hat or head covering.
- If you wear a hat or head covering for religious purposes, submit a signed statement that verifies that the hat or head covering in your photo is part of traditional religious attire worn continuously in public.
- If you wear a hat or head covering for medical purposes, submit a signed doctor’s statement verifying the hat or head covering in your photo is used daily for medical purposes.
- Your full face must be visible and your hat or head covering cannot block your hairline or cast shadows on your face.

You cannot wear headphones or wireless hands-free devices.

You can wear jewelry and keep on your facial piercings as long as they do not hide your face. Permanent tattoos are acceptable for passport purposes as well.

Photo Examples

Shadows and Lighting
Glasses
Size and Position
Resolution, Print Size, and Quality
Digital Alterations and Retouching
Pose and Expression
Attire, Hats, and Hair
Background
Children

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear glasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses in my passport photo?

No, take them off for your passport photo.

If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, you must submit a signed statement from your doctor with your passport application.

What pose should I be in for my photo?

Face 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 photo?

You may wear a hat or head covering, but you must submit a signed statement that verifies that the hat or head covering is part of recognized, traditional religious attire that is customarily or required to be worn continuously in public or a signed doctor’s statement verifying the item is used daily for medical purposes.

Your full face must be visible and your hat or head covering cannot obscure your hairline or cast shadows on your face.

Can I wear a uniform in my photo?

No. Both adults and children cannot wear uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage attire in their photos.

Can I remove red-eye from my photo?

No, you can not digitally alter a photo to remove red eye. You will have to submit a new photo without red eye.

Can I smile in my passport photo?

Yes, but it must be a natural, unexaggerated smile. Both your eyes must be open.

What’s the best way to take a photo of a baby or toddler?

When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other person should be in the photo.

Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or off-white sheet. Make certain there are no shadows on your baby’s face, especially if you take a picture from above. Covering a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and taking a picture of your child in the car seat may also be helpful.

Is it acceptable for my child’s eye to be closed in his or her photo?

It is acceptable if an infant’s eyes are not open or entirely 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 significantly changed from what is in your current passport. Growing a beard or coloring 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 have to apply for a new passport if you have:

Undergone significant facial surgery or trauma
Added or removed numerous/large facial piercings or tattoos
Undergone a significant amount of weight loss or gain
Made a gender transition

If the appearance of your child 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.

Stick it to the overpriced drugstores and print your own passport photos with the DIY project.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Drugstores will charge you as much as $10-15 for a measly photo, adding insult to injury when you’re tied up in a long and expensive passport application process.

If you’re willing to pay the price for convenience, so be it, but if you like to “DIY,” you’ll be happy to hear that taking your own passport photos is actually pretty simple.

A digital camera (or smartphone)
Computer
A photo printer (or local photo printing center)

Easy enough, right? Now follow the steps to take your passport photos, DIY-style.

Step 1: Set up your shot

Get yourself in front of a white or cream-colored background, like a wall or posterboard. That’s the easy part. Now, with the help of a friend, adjust the lighting so that there aren’t any shadows or glare on your face or around your head and body. This could mean getting near natural daylight, or turning on/off household lights.

Step 2: Make yourself presentable

The U.S. government has a pretty strict set of guidelines that address what you should look like in your photo. In a nutshell, you should look like your everyday self. (That might vary if you’ve got your headphones glued to your ears all day.)

Abide by these rules to get your passport photo accepted:

Wear your everyday clothing and hairstyle. This is not the time to get creative or try that new electric green eyeshadow. Uniforms and costumes are unacceptable, unless they’re worn daily for religious reasons.
No electronics can be in the photo, so take of your headphones, Bluetooth devices, and 3D glasses before hitting the shutter.
Hats, sunglasses, and tinted glasses are forbidden, but if you wear prescription glasses, you can sport those.
Pose with a neutral face. A smile or straight face are OK, but no goofy expressions!
For a complete list of guidelines (which you should review) go to the U.S. Department of State’s Web site.

Step 3: Shoot, edit, print

If the lighting looks good and you’re sporting a government-approved look, frame the shot that there’s plenty of headroom and room around your arms. You should be cropped out just below the shoulders. It’s better to be too zoomed out than too zoomed in, since you’ll be able to crop later.

Snap a few shots and transfer your photos to your computer.

To edit your photo to the proper dimensions and composition, head to the U.S.’s own photo-editing tool (link). Upload the photo to the site, then zoom in or out, and move the photo around until your face is aligned with the outline. It’s imperative that it’s lined up as close as possible, or else your photo may be rejected.

Save the photo to your desktop, and you’re ready to print. The program will save it as a 2-inch-by-2-inch photo, which will be the final printed size. If you’re printing at home, use your photo printer to print your headshot on matte or glossy photo paper. Otherwise, go through a service like Shutterfly to print it out at your local drugstore.

You should attach only one photo to your passport application, and finally, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Passport photos that don’t meet our requirements are the #1 reason applications get held up during the application process. In 2017, nearly a quarter million passport photos were not accepted! Submitting a passport application with a bad photo will delay your application and could interfere with planned travel.

Save yourself the anxiety of delays and make sure you’re not making these mistakes!

1. Photo taken more than 6 months ago

It’s tempting to submit an old photo from a previous passport! Your passport photo needs to have been taken within the last 6 months. We verify that the photo looks like you. So, save your old photos for throwback Thursdays!

Watch this video to see a sample of a quality photo!

2. Overexposed or Underexposed

Photos that are too bright or that show shadows on your face will also cause you problems. Your photo needs to be a clear image of your face. Remember, photo filters are good for social media, not your passport photo.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Watch this video to see a sample of a quality photo!

3. Image size

Selfies are a bad idea when it comes to passport photos. Photos that are taken too close or too far away will be rejected.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Watch this video to see another example!

4. Low quality image or paper

Photo is blurry, grainy, pixelated, or printed on the wrong paper. Photos should be high resolution.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Watch this video to see another example!

5. Glasses

As of 2016, we no longer allow eye glasses in passport photos. We are still seeing four-eyed passport applicants and their shiny specs! Please remove your eyewear for your passport photo so there is no delay with your application.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Watch this video to see another example!

Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, go to our photo requirements to learn more about proper dimensions, see sample passport photos, and use our helpful photo tool. With these additional tips and tools you are on your way to having a picture perfect passport.

Special Passport Fairs

Note: Due to public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all special passport fairs are canceled at this time.

We’re holding special passport fairs all across the United States to help you get your passport more easily. New events are added to our site every week.

Most events are for first-time applicants and children, (who use Form DS-11). If you can use Form DS-82, you can renew by mail at your convenience!

Picture Perfect Passport

Get some quick tips for a great passport photo in this video.

Travel Tips

If money is no object, a passport applicant is absolutely free to get dozens of passport photos taken before going to a passport acceptance facility. Then it’s easy to select a good one. Once the application heads to the State Department, however, the quest for a better picture is dicier.

Plan Ahead

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but if it’s your passport photo and you look awkward or ugly, those words may not be fit to print. But face it folks, this is your own fault. Nobody said you had to have your photo taken at the passport acceptance facility. A little planning beforehand will allow you to look your best, or at least acceptably attractive, in a passport photo.

How to do it? You simply get your passport photo taken well before it’s time to apply for a passport. It’s convenient to get it done at a passport acceptance facility since it’s sort of a one-stop-shop for getting that application in. But if it’s really important to you to have a good photo, start early.

Do a quick internet search of places in your area that offer to take passport photos. You’ll find a wide range of options from professional photographers to photo-services in drug stores. Many will take several photos for a set fee, so just keep paying that fee until you get a photo that pleases you. Then use the new photo on your application.

Renew for a New Photo

Here’s the bad news: you cannot get a passport photo changed on an existing passport. If you didn’t plan ahead and have a good photo taken, you may have relied on the passport acceptance facility to do a decent snap. But your passport arrived in the mail, and you cannot bear to look at it. Don’t waste your time asking them to replace the photo. They won’t do it.

But here’s the good news. You can replace the passport by renewing it at any time from the moment you get it. And renewal requires a new passport photo.

Use DS-82 to renew your passport. You don’t even have to go back into the passport acceptance facility and wait in line. Renewal by mail is possible as long as you can include the passport you are replacing, and it hasn’t been seriously damaged. It’s a fairly easy process since the former passport acts as proof of identity and citizenship. Of course, the downside is the fee. You just paid the fee for the ugly-photo passport and you’ll have to pay it again for the renewal passport. But opening it to a gorgeous photo might be worth it.

Disclosure

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

You need 2 identical printed photos if you are applying for a passport using a paper form.

You need digital photos to apply for a passport online.

You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.

Your photo must have been taken in the last month.

Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.

You can get help with your passport photos if you’re disabled.

The size of your printed photos

You need to provide 2 identical photos.

If you use a photo booth outside the UK, check it can give you photos that measure 45mm high by 35mm wide.

The size of your image

The image of you – from the crown of your head to your chin – must be between 29mm and 34mm high.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

The quality of your printed photos

Your photos must be:

printed to a professional standard
clear and in focus
in colour on plain white photographic paper with no border
without any creases or tears
unmarked on both sides (unless a photo needs to be countersigned)
unaltered by computer software

What your printed photos must show

Your photos must:

be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders
contain no other objects or people
be taken against a plain cream or light grey background
be in clear contrast to the background
not have ‘red eye’

In your photo, you must:

be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
have a plain expression and your mouth closed
have your eyes open and visible
not have hair in front of your eyes
not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
not have anything covering your face
not have any shadows on your face or behind you

Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. You can wear other glasses if you need to, but your eyes must be visible without any glare or reflection.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Photos of babies and children

Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.

Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.

Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.

Posting your photos

When sending your application, your photos must be:

separated from each other
left loose and not attached to your application form

With these easy steps, we guarantee you won’t ever be ashamed to hand over your photo ID again

By Andrea Karr March 1, 2013

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Before & After: Meghan Foley, online intern

We all have at least one cringe-worthy passport or license photo in our portfolio—whether it’s the “dead eyes,” “prison mugshot” or “I-smell-a-skunk face”—but you never have to be a victim again. Get your photo taken on the weekend when you have time to ask the tech to take several quick snaps and choose the best of the bunch. Also be sure to follow our tips for styling your hair, makeup and clothes. We visited Domenico & Drea salon in Toronto’s Yorkville with FLARE.com intern Meghan to get suggestions from the pros. Guaranteed, you’ll be able to smile as you hand over your “I’m sexy and I know it” photo on your next trip to the club or out of the country—every time for the next five years!

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Top model Jessica Stam looking pretty on her Ontario license

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

American editor Eva Chen’s stylish passport photo

Tip #1. Wear Your Hair Down

Even if you have supermodel cheekbones, head-on non-smiling shots taken in haste generally aren’t good for the self-esteem—and wearing your hair in a messy ponytail is only going to make matters worse. If you’re really organized, plan your snaps for a day when you’re already getting a haircut or blowout. Trust us: When your hair looks good, you look good.

Domenico Sanelli, co-owner of Domenico & Drea, offers blowouts starting at $35, but if you plan to style your hair yourself, he suggests focusing on the roots first and making sure they’re completely dry. “They’re the healthiest and they hold the most water,” he says. “If your hair starts to frizz and poof an hour after you blow dry, it means you missed some of the water in your hair.” Taking better care of your locks will also result in a better hair day. Deep condition or slather your strands in coconut oil once a week and try to shampoo your hair less often. Only shampoo every three or four days and on the other days “give your scalp a good scrub with your fingers [when you’re in the shower], then add conditioner on the ends.”

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Co-owner Domenico dries Meghan’s locks

Tip #2. Neutral Makeup Is Key

Whether your photo is in colour or black and white, bright makeup often looks garish and unflattering when photographed under fluorescent lighting. Instead, apply neutral shadows, a soft blush and a little rosy lipstick or gloss. Makeup artist and co-owner Andria Mendocino-Sanelli used a BB cream on Meghan’s whole face, including as a shadow primer for her lids, and blended it into her neck. She suggests using a concealer duo to mix your own perfect shade. “For your under eyes, it’s always good to go a little lighter if you have dark circles,” says Andria. “But if you have an imperfection, you want to go a little closer to your skin [tone].”

“Keep blush close to the natural colour of your skin,” says Andria, “And choose a matte [formula] to avoid any sparkle.” She also dusted a rose-hued shadow on Meghan’s lid and applied a neutral lip liner and gloss to Meghan’s lips. She suggests filling lips completely with liner to prevent a visible line when your gloss or lipstick wears off.

Skip harsh eyeliner, because if your line is even a little off (say there’s a slight wiggle on one eye, or the left flick ends slightly higher than the right), your eyes will look wonky in your pic. Andria chose to tightline Meghan’s upper lid (meaning, she rimmed the inside of the lash line) with a brown liner and only applied mascara to the upper lashes.

Tip #3. Get Matte Fast

“Even if you don’t wear powder, today is the day,” says Andria. She set Meghan’s makeup with a loose powder and suggests soaking a makeup sponge in water, squeezing out the excess, and dotting your face with it to blend and prevent a cakey finish. Bring along blotting papers and dab your face before getting snapped to remove excess oil and shine.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Co-owner Andria freshens Meghan’s makeup

Tip #4. Stick To Wardrobe Staples

If you have dark hair, wear a light coloured shirt and vice versa. Since the background is often white, choose a coloured top in a hue that flatters you. If you always get complements on the shade of your teal sweater, for example, wear it!

Tip #5. Practice Your Smize

Tyra Banks has often been mocked for her tendency to “smize” (smile with her eyes) in photographs, but the woman knows how to work a camera. The big benefit of the “smize” is that it brightens up the face and prevents sour or angry expressions (even without an actual smile). Practise relaxing the tension out of your face muscles and smizing into the mirror. The goal is to look calm and confident, without appearing bug-eyed.

Many people cringe or are shy when they have to show their passport photo to people. They feel embarrassed that it doesn’t look like them or that it’s just a terrible photo. Well there is no need to worry, as we’re here to help you take the perfect passport photo. It’s important, as if you take one that doesn’t look like you do normally, you might be delayed when you enter a new country.

Hair and face

Your hair should look like it does normally. Also, do not wear a hat or any other head covering unless you already do so every day for religious reasons. If you do have a head covering your face must be fully visible. The covering cannot cast shadows on any part of your face or hide your hairline.

Make-up

As mentioned above, you want your photo to look how you normally do every day. The advice on make-up is to wear the same amount as you do on any other day.

General rules

You should check the passport photo rules for your own country, but in general guidelines around the world are similar. Here are some class rules to follow:

Photo size: *check your own country’s regulations*
Printed professionally
Taken within the last month
In color
Take against a neutral background (white, plain cream or light grey)
Clear and in focus
Without any creases or tears
Unmarked on both sides
Unaltered by computer software

Your passport photo must:

be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders
contain no other objects or people
be in clear contrast to the background

We strongly recommend that you:

face forward and look straight at the camera
have a neutral expression and your mouth closed (don’t smile!)
have your eyes open, visible
not have hair in front of your eyes
not have anything covering your face
not have any ‘red eye’
not have any shadows on your face or behind you

Glasses

You can wear glasses if you do so every day, but it is important to note that they need to be positioned so that there is no reflection or glare
You cannot wear sunglasses or glass with tinted lenses

If you’re interested in why there are so many rules about taking a simple picture, check out this post on passports on our blog.

You need a passport picture for your next ID, passport or driving licence. (change)

Did you know?

You can adjust your photo via drag’n’drop. It can be moved with W A S D , zoomed with + and – , and rotated with q and e or , and . . For quick-rotating an image 90 degrees, press r or Enter .

Switch the uploader?

Go back to the Adobe Flash based comfort-upload. Or try our simple HTML file upload – if you plan to order, adjusting the picture to the template is then done by our team.

Choosing the perfect photo

Taking a good starting picture for creating a biometric passport photo is easy. Ideally you have a helping hand for taking the photo, because shoulders and big parts of the upper body are shown on the final photo. Your arms usually are not long enought for this job and sadly a selfie (without a stick) won’t work.

At a pinch you can trigger your camera with the built-in timer. The camera then could be placed on a shelf or higboard, so it is at eye-level. You can only find a table? Of course, you could alternatively crouch down or sit on the ground.

For best results take the photo at daytime. The person should look straight towards a window. The face then usually is well lit.

One last thing: face the camera directly and make sure to look straight into its lens.

About the Online Passport Photo Generator

Since 2009 our Online Passport Photo Generator allows you to crop your photos to the correct passport photo size and align them photos to the template. The usage is completely free.

If you’ve got a good image printer, you can download your photo for free and as an experienced user fine-tune or retouch your image, and print it afterwards. If you don’t have time for this, try our service. We check if the image is suitable, fine-tune and retouch it for a perfect result and then send you your high quality prints.

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If you’re jetting off on your travels this summer but need to renew your passport, the process has recently been made a little easier. Instead of tracking down a photo booth and paying for a set of passport photos as you usually would, you can now take your own digital passport photo at home.

You’ll need to find someone to help you, as you can’t take your photo yourself – which means no selfies. Unfortunately, you still can’t show off your best smile either, as the same strict rules around your appearance and pose apply for digital passport photos too. But this change does mean that you can save money, and hopefully some hassle, when renewing your passport – giving you a little extra spending money, and a less stressful lead up to your holiday.

You can submit your photo digitally as part of your online application to renew your passport, so you won’t need to worry about printing it out. If you don’t want to complete an online application and would prefer to fill out a paper form, then you’ll still need to get a traditional printed passport photo to send with your application.

Taking the perfect passport photo

Because of the rules around passport photos, you won’t be able to reuse an existing digital photo, so you’ll have to take a new picture specifically for your online passport application. Read on for some detailed passport photo tips to help you get your picture right first time.

Step one: Find a camera and a photographer

You can take your passport photo using any device that captures photo, whether that’s your phone, a digital camera, or a tablet. Then find someone to take your picture. You can’t submit a selfie as your passport photo, and you can’t use a webcam either, so you’ll need to find a helpful friend or family member to lend a hand.

A tripod is optional, but may make it easier to keep the camera steady and level.

Step two: Find a plain background and the right position

It’s important to use a plain background that is light grey or cream in colour. Avoid standing in front of tiled walls or patterned wallpaper, and make sure there are no objects in the frame.

Then get into position. You should stand 1.5 metres away from the person taking the photo, and half a metre from the wall.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Step three: Ensure there is space around your head and shoulders

Your photo should not be closely cropped – the Passport Office will crop your image once they’ve received your application. Check the space around your head and shoulders to ensure there is enough room around them.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Step four: Check the lighting

The best lighting is natural lighting, so if possible position yourself facing towards a window. There should be no shadows on your face or behind your head, and the light should be even. Don’t stand too close to a lamp, as this will only light one side of your face.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Step five: Remove headwear

You should take off any headwear unless it’s worn for religious or medical reasons. Remove anything that could obstruct your photo, such as hair clips or glasses on the top of your head.

Step six: Make sure your face and eyes are visible

Your whole face should be visible in the photo, so you may need to tie your hair back if it covers your face or eyes in any way. If you have a longer fringe, it may be best to sweep it to the side.

If you wear glasses, ensure that there are no reflections in the glass, as these can obscure your eyes. The Passport Office recommends removing glasses but if you must wear them, take care to avoid glare on the lenses. It’s also worth noting that sunglasses and tinted lenses aren’t permitted – save those for your holiday!

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Step seven: Don’t smile!

Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression. Your mouth should be closed and you shouldn’t smile.

Once you’ve taken your photo, check that the image is clear and in focus, with no red-eye. You shouldn’t make any edits to your image using computer software.

There you have it, seven simple steps to help you take the perfect passport photo. We adapted these tips from advice provided by the Passport Office, and if you’d like more information, you can find an overview of the rules for digital passport photos on their website.

Imagery courtesy of the Passport Office.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Off on your travels?

If you’re getting ready to go away, don’t forget to document your adventure so you can relive those happy holiday memories for years to come! See our ideas, tips and tricks for creating your very own CEWE PHOTOBOOK to commemorate your trip.

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Replies to “How to Take a Passport Photo at Home”

thank you great advise

Thank you for your very helpful advice

Does this need to be a certain color background? This article doesn’t specify.

Hi Deb, your photo should be taken against a plain light-coloured background! Thanks, Kate from CEWE.

Deb Herman the article does specify color background- ‘cream or light gray’.

Very helpful – the photo booth in our city is either too light, too dark and recently out of order completely!

Wow, this is so great! It was concise and I don’t have to pay 15.00 to get a photo at the post office! Thanks so much!

Just FYI. You cannot wear glasses in a passport photo anymore. I was just on the government website for renewing a passport, and their photo specifications say they’ve changed this now.

Thanks for this, Mary! We have updated our post accordingly.

Dick pics, veiled threats, and silly goofs

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Share All sharing options for: Animal Crossing fans go feral with their passport photos

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Animal Crossing: New Horizons allows the player to set up a passport with a title and photo. I’m a “messy egg,” and my character is staring straight ahead into the camera, complying with all passport photo regulations. It didn’t take me long to find out that other players have taken a much more imaginative approach.

For instance, the addition of Redd and his assortment of art — including Michelangelo’s David — allows players to pose with an assortment of new props, including some that are, uh, a little NSFW.

In fact, you can include all sorts of props in your passport, and with the right caption, a player can paint a vivid portrait that will truly make their mark on anyone else they encounter.

Some players, like my colleague Karen Han, prefer to try and capture the most authentic picture of themselves possible. These shots are all about character, and they don’t include props or patterns in the frame.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to get this passport photo shut up

Other players are creating passport photos that tell a story. Sometimes these photos refer to recent events, and other times they’re more about trying to capture a specific mood.

— thembo @ commissions & acnh (@lupusdaemonis) April 22, 2020

— Animal Crossing Horror (@crossingore) April 27, 2020

My new passport photo in #AnimalCrossing sums up how I feel about Zipper bombarding my island full of eggs for the last two weeks#BunnyDay

Clever positioning of custom patterns also allows players to get more unique passport photos — if you can get it onto a canvas, you can angle the passport shot to include that pattern and use it to portray yourself. Some Animal Crossing fans are using this trick to have all manner of unexpected photos, like Nicolas Cage, because why not?

On the New Horizons subreddit, Aurion971 posted a visual guide on how to get some truly absurd and hilarious shots of villagers that can then be re-purposed into a passport shot. Harv’s Island, while unnerving to some, allows players to get some otherwise impossible shots.

Other players use their passports to celebrate the more mundane aspects of their island. One player, villianboy, has created an ode to the humble weed — the most common aspect of every island, but also a plant that is disrespected by most players.

FinStop, another Reddit user, posted a passport photo that depicted the surprisingly popular turtle. The close-up shot of this angry amphibian’s face is fantastic; it deserves to go into the new art wing of Blathers’ museum.

Other New Horizons fans have taken advantage of the game’s custom patterns to set up an elaborate homage. For instance, Hell-N on Reddit posted this The Shining inspired passport; it’s a perfect shot that captures Kubrick’s vision a little too well.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers players tons of ways to customize their islands and their characters; it’s no surprise that fans are getting equally creative with their passports. Luckily, travel restrictions are pretty loose with Dodo Air, because most of these photos absolutely would not pass a stricter inspection.

“,”entry_id”:21004202,”image_url”:”/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/animal-crossing-new-FD7EC.jpg”,”anchor_id”:”Animal_Crossing:_New_Horizons-1511031″>’> How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is “a much-needed escape from everything,” according to our review.

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How to be Ridiculously Good-Looking in Your Passport Photo

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo “I got my new travel mugshot” said my friend when she renewed her passport. Admittedly, my own passport isn’t fantastic, and also looks like I am angry about something. Remember Prince’s passport photo? Perfection.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo credit: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON::PASSPORT PICTURE 2/11/16

Here are some tips for taking the best passport photo of your life, so you don’t wind up like Stuart Boyd, who found his finished passport photo made him look like Adolf Hitler complete with a toothbrush mustache.

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo Photo Credit: Gary Louth

Here are five tips for taking a great passport photo:

1. Make sure your hair is in place. A little mascara and lip color is fine, but keep it as natural as possible. Avoid lip glosses, they don’t photograph well.
2. Don’t take your passport photo when you’re tired.
3. Wear something that will contrast with the plain white background, beige is not your friend. Solid, dark colors work the best.
4. Remember the bright flash has a tendency to wash out skin tones, it’s okay to wear some makeup. Revlon makes a foundation Photoready Perfecting Primer that will halt any green undertones or washout from happening.
5. You can’t smile, just keep a relaxed face and “smile” with your eyes.

Your passport photo going to be with you for several years, Use these tips and get the photo you want to present for your travels.

Some countries have different requirements for the passport photo size. The US requires passport photos to have a size of 2 x 2 inch (visit the US Department of State). Most countries (including European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Australia and others) require ‘standard’ 3.5 x 4.5 cm photos.
Passport Photo also complies with the EU, UK and Australian specifications for biometric passports.

The important thing to remember about passport photos is that they should allow border inspectors to recognize you when they look at your passport. These guidelines will help you shoot and prepare photos that can be used in passports.

Include a full face, front view and open eyes
Make sure photo presents full head from top of hair to shoulders
Take the photo in a plain white or off-white background
Avoid shadows on the face or background
Face in photo should have a natural expression (closed mouth)
Photos should not include sunglasses or hats
The contrast and lighting in the photo should be normal

What people use for printing passport photos?

Passport Photo users have reported which hardware they’re using to print their own photos at home. Check out the list of printers and paper types.

Passport photo checklist

Make sure the face shows fully

This sample shows my kid, Tomer, holding a pillow. It’s pretty obvious that the pillow obstructs part of his face.

Even though you can cut the pillow out, the full face and shoulders are required for making a passport photo.

Stand in front of clear white background

That’s me (Amir), sitting in front of the laundry. My intention was to sit in front of the white sheet, but it didn’t work well.

Passport photos should be taken with a clear white background, without any shadows (including from the person being photographed).

Keep a neutral expression

That’s Eran, my other kid. He’s making a strange smile. Although his grandmother finds it cute, you can’t make a passport photo with this expression.

For a good passport photo, the person should wear a normal expression, no big smiles, or other gestures. Both eyes should be open, and the mouth closed.

Mind the contrast, lighting and colors

This photo was taken with bad exposure settings, causing it to appear blue and therefore un-useable as a passport photo.

Indirect sunlight, with no flash and default camera setting will give good results in most cases.

A good passport photo

This photo isn’t perfect, but it’s OK for a passport.

A professional photographer would have probably taken a better picture, but it fulfills the requirements from a passport photo. The expression is neutral, the entire face is shown (and shoulders too), the background is plain white and lighting is good.

Using Passport Photo you can make great passport photos from this type of photo, and print them in a shop at a fraction of the cost of a regular passport photo.

Do you want to make your own passport photos?

How to Look Good for Your Passport Photo

Passport Photo lets you create and print your own pictures in one minute. It costs just $9.95 – like printing a single set of passport pictures in a shop.

This is how it works:

Select a photo.
Choose size (USA / UK / EU).
A special cropping tool guarantees that photo size and composition are correct.
Print with your own printer or save a JPEG file for printing in a shop.

You’ll get perfectly sized passport photos, ready to be used for your application.
Learn more about Passport Photo or just download now!

The passport photo is the number one reason for applications to be denied. It’s important you take the perfect passport photo to avoid costly delays. Routine passport processing takes 6-8 weeks or longer. If your passport photo is rejected, it could take another few weeks before your passport is ready. Our expedited passport services are available for travelers that need their passport fast. Our processing times range from 2 weeks to as fast as 24 hours. We also help make sure you have the correct documentation and passport photo to avoid application errors and delays. Get started online today or call our team of passport advisors if you need your passport fast.

Where to get a passport photo

There are several different places you can go to get passport photos made, or you can do it yourself. The important thing is to make sure your passport photo meets all of the strictly-controlled federal requirements. The U.S. Department of State can reject your photo for many reasons.

Can you take your own passport photos?

You can take your own passport photos with a smartphone and the right app. You’ll need to make sure you have a white background. Also, it’s usually best to have another person take the photo for you. We recommend the Passport Photo Creator app. It’s free and easy to use and allows you to take a compliant passport photo from your iPhone or Android device. The app uses a clever template and smart software that is calibrated to the complex requirements set by the U.S. Department of State Passport Agency. The benefit is that you can take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the way you look. Once you like your passport photo and it meets the requirements, you can choose to print at any Walgreens location near you. There is no additional fee to use this app so you only pay the normal passport photo price when you pick it up at Walgreens. We like this app because you have full control over the final product- your perfect passport photo.

Pros: You can do as many re-takes as you like. This is an especially good option for infants and children because you can take as many pictures as you want for free, instead of crossing your fingers, hoping and praying that your little darling doesn’t decide to yawn, cry, or start sucking his thumb in the middle of a drugstore photo shoot.

Cons: Even if you read the US Passport Agency’s guidelines for passport photos carefully, there is no guarantee any photo will be accepted. It’s ultimately up to the agent that is processing your application. However, this app will give you the best chance of having a compliant photo.

Can I get a passport photo online?

You can get a passport photo online but make sure you do your research. Find a reputable company as your application will be rejected if the resolution is too low or the print paper is not high enough quality. Printing a passport photo online is convenient. What’s not convenient? The State Department rejecting your passport application because your online print doesn’t meet their specifications.

Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite-Aid and most other drug store chains offer passport photo services. The cost is usually around $15 for two photos. There is no guarantee your photo will meet the compliance guidelines and you may not like the way your photo looks. Still, most people use this option.

Pros: Ideally, the photographer has been trained and is aware of all the special requirements for passport photos. Plus, drug stores provide instant gratification, since your photos are ready in just a few minutes.

Cons: This option is more expensive than doing it yourself, retakes cost extra and the quality of the pictures can vary. Babies and toddlers can require multiple retakes to get pictures that comply with US Passport Agency regulations, and the charges can add up.

Post Office

Many post offices across the country are also passport acceptance facilities and some of them offer photo services.

Pros: Post office employees should be familiar with acceptance requirements for passport photos. Also, you can get your photo taken and turn in your application at the same time, so you’ll save a trip.

Cons: You may be required to make an appointment and they may not have passport photo options available.

Professional Photographers

Some professional photography studios offer passport photo services.

Pros: You’ll probably get better, more attractive passport photos, since the person on the other end of the camera is a professional, full-time photographer. For infants and small children, professional photographers might get better results because they have extensive practice coaxing good pictures out of little kids.

Cons: Fees vary by studio, but expect it to cost a good deal more than the post office.

How to look good for your passport photo

Travel Tips

Related Articles

Photo Requirements

Where to Take Photos

Getting a Good Photo

Disclosure

What to Wear… and What Not to Wear!

Clothing DOs and DON’Ts

Makeup – Put Your Best Face Forward!

Hairdos and Hair Don’ts

Strike a Pose

Make Sure You’re Happy With Your Passport Photo

1. Pick your moment

2. Wear make-up

3. Think about your hair

4. Pick the right top

5. Can you live with it?

6. Smile with your eyes

7. Check the requirements

In every Professional Babe’s bag of tricks she knows how to take a good photo. Passport photos though can be a different story. Here is the Professional Babe’s guide to taking a flattering passport photo.

1. Choose a venue with good lighting

2. Be well rested

3. Do you hair

4. Wear a little makeup, but not too much

5. Think happy thoughts

6. Clench your teeth

What should I wear in my passport photo?

The DOs of looking good in your passport photo

The DON’Ts of looking good in your passport photo

Can I wear makeup in my passport photo?

Use correcting primer

Try concealer

Add some lip colour

Check your cheeks

Powder up!

One last thing…

How should I wear my hair in my passport photo?

Up or down?

How should I pose in a passport photo?

No smiling

Sit up straight

Look directly at the camera

And you’re done!

Choose a quality place with good lighting

Apply a little makeup

NATURAL HAIR AND MAKEUP. ALWAYS.

PERFECT YOUR “HAPPY FACE”

WEAR A FLATTERING COLOUR

by Sarah Campbell

Published Aug 24, 2013

Find your light

Perfect your angle

Do an at-home shoot

Blend your base

Show Your Beauty Up

When you have to be photographed in the government office

If you need to submit your own photo

If you’re in the middle of traveling and you suddenly need a digital ID photo

COVID-19 Update: Face Coverings and Masks

Tips for Submitting your Photo

Resolution, Print Size, and Quality

Pose and Expression

Attire

Photo Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear glasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses in my passport photo?

What pose should I be in for my photo?

Can I wear a hat or head covering in my photo?

Can I wear a uniform in my photo?

Can I remove red-eye from my photo?

Can I smile in my passport photo?

What’s the best way to take a photo of a baby or toddler?

Is it acceptable for my child’s eye to be closed in his or her photo?

Do I need a new photo if my appearance has changed (grown a beard, dyed my hair)?

Step 1: Set up your shot

Step 2: Make yourself presentable

Step 3: Shoot, edit, print

1. Photo taken more than 6 months ago

2. Overexposed or Underexposed