A passport photo is a key aspect of getting a passport. It must be taken from an approved source, and it must meet strict requirements in order for the passport office to accept it. When choosing where to take your picture, you will want to make sure that they are reputable and that they offer high-quality services. Online sites that allow you to print your passport size photo online are often the best option.
Since passport photos are used in passports, visas, work permits, and other official documents. To make these photos for official use, you must follow the rules and regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was created to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation. ICAO sets standards for travel documents such as passports, visas, and other official documents that travel internationally.
Let’s talk about the dos and don’ts of a passport photo and how you must avoid the basics of errors.
Dos
- Passport photos must be in color, with a white or off-white background.
- Passport photos must have your head in the photograph, in full view, front-facing, and centered within the frame.
- Passport photos must not show hair accessories of any kind such as hat, turban, cap, etc.
- Passport photos must not show eyeglasses of any kind, however, the character of your eyes is unable to be obscured by shadows or reflections.
- Passport photos must not have “distracting elements” such as shadows on the face, wrinkles in clothing, and even stray hairs that do not belong to you or anyone in the photo.
- Passport photos must not show signs of editing such as airbrushing, retouching, etc.
- Passport photos must not show your head at an angle. One way to avoid this is to sit straight in front of the camera, with both eyes facing directly forward.
- Passport photos must not show any kind of uniform, including school uniforms or military uniforms.
- Passport photos must not show any head coverings such as a hijab, yarmulke, etc.
- Passport photos must not include watermarks. They usually occur when photos are captured from an online paid tool or photobooth.
- Passport photos must not show uneven or cut-off shoulders.
Don’ts
- Do not use a photo that has been taken from a previous passport, as the design and color of the passport have since changed.
- Do not use a photo that has been cut or cropped from another source, even if it meets all other requirements above.
- Do not include anything other than your head in the photograph. This includes shadows on your face, people standing behind you, and even your shoulder.
- Do not use a photo that has been taken from another passport application, or an expired passport.
- Do not include anything in the background of the photo such as trees, patterns on clothing, curtains, etc. Online tools such as Online Passport Photo will allow you to crop your photos for this purpose.
- Do not include anything that may obstruct the character of your eyes. Online tools such as Online Passport Photo will allow you to blur out the background and ensure that you and your eyes are the only focus of the photo.
- Do not use a photo with any signs of editing such as airbrushing or retouching. Online tools such as Online Passport Photo will allow you to upload a photo and edit it using contrast and saturation.
Conclusion
You need to be extra vigilant when you are starting to organize your passport photos. As it is a sensitive requirement, you must ensure that passport photos meet every requirement to get approval. Make use of a passport photo maker online free and hopefully, you will tackle most of the requirements successfully.
