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Passport photo requirements explained
Passport offices and online renewals publish technical requirements because machine readers score your portrait. The short version: straight-on face, even lighting, plain light background, no heavy filters, and export at the exact pixel dimensions your country lists.
- Head height is measured as a percentage of the frame — too zoomed-in or too far away fails automated checks.
- Glasses are allowed only when thin-framed and glare-free; some countries disallow them entirely.
- Digital submissions still care about JPEG quality, progressive encoding, and kilobyte caps.
FAQ
- Can I smile?
- Neutral expression is the safe default for most passports. If your issuing authority allows a slight smile, follow their examples — our readout still checks geometry and exposure.
- What background color?
- Off-white to white is typical for digital portals. Busy rooms and patterned walls are the most common automatic failures.