Many people want to change a passport photo because they are not pleased with it. With U.S. adult passports having a validity of 10 (ten) years, most people want to look best in their passport photos, after all, you need to show your passports to a lot of people every time you travel. So, can you change a new photo in your passport? Will you get in trouble if you take out the old photo and paste it into a new better one?
In this article, we have provided you with some detailed guidelines for the requirements of passport photo change.
What Circumstances Can You Change Your Passport Photo?
Of course, our appearance changes over time, and a lot can happen over the course of a few years. Maybe we decide to adjust our appearance through cosmetic surgery. Or some unfortunate event has affected our face and we need to undergo major facial trauma surgery. In most cases, such a drastic and rapid change in appearance requires a new passport photo. However, you can’t just change your existing passport photo, you’ll need to get a new passport after a major change in appearance. So, here’s a list for you to meet the official requirements to change your passport photo when applying for a new U.S. passport. That means you need to change your passport photo regardless of the validity of your current passport:
- Significant facial trauma – Permanent bone or soft tissue injuries (i.e., scars) caused by car accidents, assaults, gunshot wounds, burns, etc.
- Reconstructive facial surgery – Facial plastic surgery is performed to reshape structures in the head, typically the nose, ears, chin, and cheekbones.
- Considerable weight gain or loss – Losing or gaining lots of weight may change your face as well it might be necessary to get a new picture.
- Gender transition – You will need to apply for a new passport with a new, valid photo before undergoing gender transition procedures.
- Add or remove any facial piercings or tattoos – If you add or remove some significant amount of your features on the facial area, you will need a new photo to match the changes.
| Notes: Anything that significantly and dramatically changes your appearance will require you to change the photo on your passport and your photos must reflect as closely as possible what you look like now. In these cases, it is necessary to apply for passport renewal in order to obtain a valid travel document. |
What Circumstances Can’t You Change Your Passport Photo?
The previous section mentioned that the premise of changing the passport photo is that there is a considerable change in the facial structure, which has caused a great impact on the identification process. However, some trivial and minor changes do not require a photo update on the passport. Such as increases or decreases in facial hair, adding or removing tiny tattoos or piercings, small increases or decreases in weight, growth of a beard, or changes in hair color and/or length, etc.
Nevertheless, customs officials may look at it a second or even third time, sometimes wondering if you’re the person in the picture, but they know that a lot can change in 10 years. These are not considered significant changes in the government’s eyes. Officials who deal with passports are professionally trained to focus on facial features. Therefore, it is not necessary to renew a passport each time a change occurs.
How to Change My Passport Photo?
The only way to change your passport photo is to submit a new U.S. passport application or renew your passport. When you decide to change your passport photo, please refer to and follow the steps below to successfully complete the process.
Step 1：Learn About the Requirements of A Passport Photo
Before taking a photo of your passport, take some time to learn about the requirements that you will need to take a photo of your passport, such as the rules of size, background, lighting, and facial expressions, etc. that are required for the photo. You can choose to go to a photo studio or take your own photos at home.
Below are some must-followed rules to secure your passport hassle-free:
- Submit a color photo, taken in the last 6 months.
- Use a plain white or off-white background.
- Take off your accessories such as glasses for your photo.
- Use a clear image of your face. Do not use filters commonly used on social media.
- Take off your accessories such as glasses for your photo.
- Submit images in the right size and dimensions.
Step 2: Take Your Passport Photo
- Find the right camera or a smartphone.
- Find a white or off-white background.
- Find good lighting conditions.
- Have a friend or family member take a close-up photo of your head and shoulders.
- Pose naturally and relax, you can’t smile or frown, with your eyes open and mouth closed.
- Start shooting.
Step 3: Upload and Resize To Fit Requirements
Now it is the time to convert your photo to one that meets the national passport photo regulations. If you want to crop your photo and adjust the background, we recommend visiting the official website to experience the AI technology – AiPassortPhotos, which is a professional passport photo editor. There are a lot of detailed requirements and instructions for passport photos on AiPassportPhotos, Follow the steps, it will ensure photo compliance and save you from the stress of a rejected passport photo! Therefore, try it! You will have plenty of time to take multiple photos and then choose the best one to become your perfect passport photo.
Steps to Make Good Quality Passport Photo
Step 1: Open the AiPassortPhotos website on your devices.
Step 2: Create an account and log in.
Step 3: Click “Popular Documents” and select the passport type that you need.
Step 4: Follow the steps listed on the website and start uploading!
Step 4: Submit Your Passport Applications
Passport Applications in United State
Among the most common passport forms, US citizens can distinguish DS-11, DS-82, and DS-5504 forms. The first one is used for applying for their first US passports, the second one is used for adult passport renewals, and the last one serves as a form to change your passport’s personal information. According to the above explanation, you can download from a government website and choose the appropriate form to fill out according to your needs.
For those of you who may be confused about DS-11 and DS-82, to be eligible for passport renewal using DS-82 instead of a new passport application DS-11, an applicant must have: Possess a previously undamaged (except for routine wear and tear) U.S. passport.You have obtained your original passport at the age of 16 or older and within the last 15 years.A current name on your passport or having a document proving a legal name change (such as a marriage certificate).Failure to meet even one of the above criteria will require the applicant to submit a new passport application (form DS-11) rather than a US passport renewal (formDS-82).
After filling out the specified forms, you can mail your renewal form directly to the State Department. If you don’t meet all the renewal requirements, you’ll need to go to a Post Office in person and do a new, first-time passport application.
Passport Applications in United Kingdom
The UK Passport Service has two options for you to choose from:
- Option 1: Apply online. Using the passport renewal portal on the Passport Office website. The online application form contains all the questions you need to answer and where you can upload your new passport photo.
- Option 2: Apply using a paper application form, available at all participating post office branches. Pick one up from your local branch, fill it out at home, and put it in an envelope along with a paper passport album. Applicants need to complete Sections 1, 2, 3, and 9 to renew their passport. If their appearance has changed significantly, the countersigner will need to fill out Section 10.
Passport Applications in Canada
The Canada application process only has three steps:
- Fill out the online application with your details and upload your passport photo. Proceed to pay for the Canadian government fee.
- Prepare a toolkit with the required documentation and instructions that must be followed. Take the documents and your old passport to the nearest mailbox.
- Track the process with the details, the Canadian government takes 25 business days to process your passport.
Passport Applications in Singapore
The Singapore application process is as below:
- Check you’re eligible for an online application.
- Gather the documents needed.
- Log into the online MyICA service and sign in or create an account.
- Complete the digital application.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the fee based on the reason for the application.
- You’ll be notified by email, post or SMS when your passport is ready.
- Collect your passport at the ICA office or a post office.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What about children?
Children under the age of 16 do not require a passport photo change, since children grow fast, and their physical features also change quickly. Therefore, it is not necessary to change their passport photos as these changes occur.
- How long does it take to change your passport photo?
If you just want to renew it, not exchange it for a new one, the process should take no more than three weeks. For first-time applicants, their paperwork is usually ready within six weeks.
- Can you change your passport photo before it expires?
About United States: The only way to change one’s passport photo is to submit a new U.S. passport application or passport renewal. Except for passport renewals, the only cases in which you have to get a new passport photo are 1) significant facial surgery or trauma; 2) a gender transition; 3)a substantial change in weight; 4) the addition or removal of large or numerous facial piercings of tattoos.
- Can you change your passport photo anytime?
In theory, possible to change a passport photo at any time. However, if your appearance has not dramatically changed, the photo on the document will stay the same until renewal.
- Can you retake your passport picture if you are not happy with it?
Passports issued to adults are valid for 10 years. You can’t just change the photo on your passport. The only way is to apply for a renewal. You can do this at any time but will lose the remaining validity of your current passport.
- I dyed my hair or it has turned grey, do I need a new passport?
No, the color of your hair has no effect on the validity of your passport photo. That’s because the biometric data on the passport doesn’t include hair color, and the digital reader looks at the dimensions of your facial structures, such as the distance between your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. If the face has not changed dramatically, there is no need to take a new passport picture.
- How often can you change your passport photo?
As mentioned above, passport holders can change their photos anytime. Remember, though, the Government will charge for every renewal, and the remaining time on the old passport does not carry over to the new one.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you may know under what circumstances we can change the passport photo. All you need is an application form, a previous passport, a new photo that has been updated, and a fee, and you can get the new photo you want. In addition, if we want to meet the standards and look perfect in passport photos, we not only need to carefully understand the requirements of passport photos but also utilize the recommended AI tool AiPassortPhotos, with powerful features that make it easy to achieve a perfect passport photo. Finally, hope you find this article helpful.
Dolores Xiao