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Top Tips to Ensure Your Passport Photos Are Accepted First Time

By David Hawkin


Most countries have their own special requirements regarding passport photo dimensions. The US is no different in this respect however you shouldn't feel nervous obtaining your pictures. The following advice will guide you though pitfalls thus allowing you to obtain your US Passport without any problems.

Each passport application requires two identical passport pictures.

The paper your passport photos are printed on must be of special photo-media quality.

The Passport Photos you have printed must be in colour.

Your passport photos should have been taken within the last six months.

The size of the photos that you submit should be 2" x 2" to be acceptable.

Your picture must be square to the camera with out anything obscuring the face. Clothing should be simple day to day dress without a head covering or polarised glasses in front of a white screen. As you look at the camera ensure your mouth is closed and your posture is natural with eyes that are open. The photos must be clear sharp and not have a grainy image otherwise they will be disallowed.

Your head must be in the middle of the photograph and make up at least fifty percent of the picture. The measurements of your head should be within 1" and 1 3/8" from the top of your crown to the bottom of your chin.

A headdress or head-covering may be worn on religious grounds however it must not conceal, disguise, block or shade any portion of your face.

If you wear eye glasses during the course of the day you may leave them on in your passport photos. The photographer must ensure that there in no reflection otherwise the pictures will be unacceptable. It is also important that your eyes can bee seen clearly in the photographs.

If for medical reasons you wear tinted spectacles then you will be allowed to have them on in your pictures. It is possible however that you will be required to provide written proof from your Dr if asked.

Wearing a uniform in your passport picture is actively discouraged however you can for religious reasons.

Having passport pictures taken of infants and young children can be difficult. It is advised that you visit a professional photographer. Parents or guardians must not feature in the pictures neither should any mechanical device supporting their pose.

You may not copy or scan pictures from driving licenses or official ID they will be rejected. Furthermore your pictures should not be photo-shopped, retouched or airbrushed to modify or improve your appearance in any way.

Photographs copied from newspapers and magazines will not comply with the strict regulations. It is also likely that pictures from most vending booths will be rejected. Photos that are a full length body shot of the subject will also be disallowed.

You may take your own pictures with a digital camera providing it has sufficient resolution. The photographic equipment must have the ability to capture and store images with 1 megapixel or greater. It is however recommended that a professional photography lab prints the digital images as home equipment is very often unable to meet the specific criteria.




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