We all love to show off our pearly whites with a big smile in taking photos. But when it comes to passport photos, the rule changes. A friendly smile with visible teeth will indeed make you look positive and warm but is generally not recommended for a passport photo.
In this article, we’re going to dive into global requirements for passport photos and the reason why visible teeth are unapproved in passport photos. By the end of this article, you’ll be armed with the knowledge you need to take a great and compliant passport photo both for yourself and your baby! Let’s jump right into the topic.
Passport photo guidelines worldwide
Countries around the world employ various guidelines for passport photos. Will a passport photo with a tooth-visible smile be accepted by the international community?
In the U.S., teeth can only be slightly visible provided that your smile is natural, which can be interpreted as it’s best not to show your teeth in a passport photo.
In France, smiling is not allowed. The local authorities requires that the photographed person wear a serious expression when shooting. A tooth-visible smile is absolutely a no-no.
In Germany, Britain and the rest of the Schengen countries, smiling is allowed only if the facial expression will not impact the clarity of the face. Showing your teeth goes beyond the precondition and it will interfere with the measurement of facial identification. So smiling with visible teeth is not reasonable. The gold standard is a neutral face with mouth closed.
As for countries in Asia such as Singapore, Japan, the South Korea and China, the regulation is the same. The photographed person is requested to keep their facial expression muted in passport photos.
From the above exploration, we can see that a neutral expression is the foolproof way to go. Only part of countries allow smile in the passport photo and all the countries stress on the clear and distinct appearance of your looking.
So no matter where you are in Asia, Europe, or anywhere else, it’s best to avoid showing your teeth and exaggerating your smile. By keeping a neutral expression, your face can be clearly captured by the camera so that your photo is able to meet all the necessary requirements for travel purposes, though you might look ordinary.
Want to find out the specific requirements for your passport photo in your country? Visit your local agency’s website or check out the AiPassportPhotos to view several document details at your needs.
The science behind passport photo guidelines
Why almost all countries around the world don’t want people to smile in their passport photos? It absolutely isn’t because the authorities want to stifle your personality in passport photos but rather because a big grin can change the shape of your face and mess up the facial recognition technology.
When you smile to show teeth, the facial features of your face are altered, which could end up in a malfunction like a false positive or false negative. The purpose of passport photos is to gather the personal facial data of a person, which would be used to generate a facial signature exclusive to the holder. When the holder passes through security, he or she will be compared against the large database to figure out who he or she is. Those features include the space between your eyes, the depth of your eye sockets, the width of your nose, and the distance from your forehead to your chin.
It’s obvious that any wrinkles or exaggerated expression, like a grin in the upper image, can cause substantial changes in the appearance of the face and thereby influence the measurement used for recognition. This may fail the facial recognition and prolong the processing time, which will keep you waiting in front of the scanning machine longer, and, what’s worse, you may have to go for the manual check.
As technology has already benefited us a lot, let’s also do some good for it. Work to be considerate and refrain from showing our teeth or a big grin. After all, we wouldn’t want to stand stiffly in front of a scanning machine with our mouths open to show our teeth in public!
Passport photos for babies: smiling and showing teeth – what’s acceptable?
Taking passport photos of babies and toddlers can be challenging, as it’s difficult to ask a young child to follow specific instructions. So in some countries, such as the United States, a slight smile may be accepted for babies. However, in general, the rule of thumb is the same as for adults: a baby’s face should be clearly visible and straight, with eyes open and mouth closed.
Likewise, showing teeth or a tongue can also change the facial features of the baby, which are already hard to detect, and make it more difficult for officials to match the photo with the passport holder. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your baby’s face is neutral and clearly visible in the passport photo. If you’re struggling to get a good photo, you may want to consider seeking the help of a professional photographer who has experience taking passport photos of babies and toddlers.
Learn more about how to take a passport photo for your baby at .
Tips for a natural look
If you are getting ready to take a passport photo, you may be wondering what type of smile is allowed and how to look natural and neutral. Unfortunately, a grin that used to be helpful is a no-go in passport photos, as it can cause issues with facial recognition technology. However, fear not! If you are in the United States, you are allowed to wear a natural smile as long as it doesn’t significantly alter the shape of your face.
How to look natural and neutral while meeting the requirements?
Try to follow these steps:
● dress appropriately: wear clothing that is appropriate for the photo, such as a dark collared shirt
● pose correctly:sit up straight and align your head with the camera, avoid tilting your head or staring at one side
● relax your face: try not to tense your facial muscles or force a smile
● take a few deep breaths to compose your emotions and mood
● think of something that makes you genuinely happy and remember to keep your mouth closed, only the corners of your mouth up
To look natural and neutral in your passport photo, you may do some practice in front of a mirror. Try different poses and expressions until you find what works best for you.
If you’re still unsure whether your passport photo meets the official passport photo requirements, don’t worry – AiPassportPhotos is here for help!
AiPassportPhotos can generate a compliance test to check whether the photo you’ve uploaded is approved. In addition, the state-of-the-art AI technology can edit and enhance your photo to ensure it meets all the official requirements, guaranteeing a 100% acceptance rate.
Four simple steps to get a perfect and compliant photo for your passport application.
Step 1 Find a well-lit space
Step 2 Set up your digital camera or smartphone
Step 3 Poise yourself and snap
Step 4 Process passport photo
A good and compliant passport photo will shield you from potential application rejections and save you time and energy. Use AiPassportPhotos to protect your passport application.
A recap of the main points
To sum up, it’s clear that showing your teeth in passport photos is not advisable, as it probably changes your appearance and leads to rejection of your application. While a passport photo is tiny, it’s actually crucial for the application and can significantly affect your travel plans. Be familiar with the specific requirements before you take your passport photo, and save your pearly whites for personal occasions!
FAQ
Q: Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?
A: No, you can’t. In the United States, glasses is not allowed at all.
Q: Can I have my hair down in a passport photo?
A: Yes, you can. But remember to tie your hair back and ensure your face is not covered and ears are visible.
Q: Will my baby’s passport photo be accepted if his eyes are closed?
A: Yes. Infants under one year old can actually have their eyes closed in their passport photos. But for children over the age of one, it is best to keep their eyes open when taking a passport photo.
Q: What kind of clothing should I wear in a passport photo?
A: Avoid wearing white clothing, as it can interfere with the contrast between the background and your appearance. The best would be a dark shirt. Religious attire is allowed but requires an official statement. Uniforms are not allowed.
Q: Can I take passport photo at home?
A: Sure, it is possible to take a passport photo at home now. You can use your iPhone, Android device, or any other mobilephone to take your passport photo at any where you like.
Erin Lo