There are many different photos we use to represent ourselves in different spaces. From carefree Insta photos to serious LinkedIn photos to the snapshots we keep on our desk, everyone has their own preferred pics.
Of course, there are also the photos that we have no say in: the ones found on passports, driver's licenses, and other official documents. Why aren't we allowed to smile in these pics? The answer might surprise you.
It doesn't matter how your hair looks or what you're wearing, because the people who take passport photos aren't concerned with how good or bad you look. They just need a photo of your face that meets certain requirements: most notably, not smiling, ever.
Requirements vary slightly from country to country, but are largely similar. The photo generally needs to be recent, in color, cannot be edited or retouched, and have to come from a proper photo printer.
While taking physical photos and mailing them to the passport office feels decidedly old-school, there's actually some sophisticated technology at play — and this technology is precisely the reason that a neutral expression is required.
Airports and government agencies use biometric scanning tech to analyze the faces and the photos they see. Because these devices analyze a dozen or more individual points on the face, the mere act of smiling or scrunching your face up can mess up their ability to recognize a face. In short, this tech only works on neutral expressions.
If you're a glasses wearer who's had to apply for a passport recently, you may have noticed that you'll be asked to take your glasses off. This is because the frames and even the reflection on the lenses can obscure a person's face.
Those who wear religious headwear are allowed to do so on their passport photos, but even this comes with a few restrictions. The garb has to show the person's face, from the bottom of their chin to the top of their forehead, and has to be plain with no patterns.
While taking a picture of your unsmiling face might sound easy, there are so many restrictions and reasons that a photo might not be usable that the best practice advice is to go to a professional passport photographer.
Getting a baby or toddler to stay still for a passport photo is a challenge, so most countries allow kids below a certain age (usually three or so) to have an open mouth in their passport photo.
Passports allow us to travel the world, but getting through the red tape can be a challenge. Do you have any passport or passport photo horror stories? If so, please share them in the comments!
