Showing your teeth or smiling is unacceptable - because it distorts the face

All countries state that a natural expression is necessary - however you don't have to look like you are at the dentist !

Indian Baby Passport

Guide to Unacceptable Passport and Visa Photos

Avoid Rejected Passport and Visa Pictures

General Guidelines including some hidden rules for successful passport pictures

Ensure that the background colour specified for your country is also acceptable

Passport and Visa photos produced from scanned pictures will never be accepted

Excessive makeup and jewelry are common grounds for rejecting photos

USA Baby Passport Photo

US passport requirements are slightly relaxed for babies but stipulate that babies must have their eyes open. Stick as closely as possible

to the adult passport requirements to avoid rejection.

Canadian Baby Passport

Greek Baby Passport

Examples of Common Countries

At the time of writing Greek Passport photo requirements seem to have gone crazy - the authorities are being incredibly fussy and it is

difficult to meet their criteria even for adults photos - God help any one with a baby.

Baby rules for Indian Visa, OCI and passport photos are relaxed. Babies under 1 year of age do not have to have their eyes open. Rules for

toddlers up to 5 years are relaxed with regard to line of sight and facial expression.

No matter what size of passport you need, or what colour background is required, the guide below is representative of common faults

which are unacceptable as passport and visa photos for all countries. See our guide on unacceptable Baby Passport and Visa Photos.

Some people have BIG hair - our advice is not to let it go outside the edge of the photo - tie it back

Digital retouching to alter or enhance your facial features is forbidden

Passport photos which are creased, have staple holes or otherwise marked in any way are unacceptable

The requirements for official Canadian ID photos is quite complex and they do like to stick to the rules. The requirements regarding

babies is relaxed regarding facial expression but that seems to be the only concession.

Many countries will not accept pictures of people in uniform

As a general rule it is wise to look as smart and as respectable as you can

Best advice for people who wear glasses - ALWAYS take them off

Always wear something over your shoulders - otherwise you will look naked - Not Good

Accepted & Rejected Visa & Passport Photos