Why passport photos get rejected
Most rejections come from a handful of avoidable problems. Use this checklist before you submit your photo.
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- Stays on your device
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Before you take the photo
- Face the camera with a neutral expression, mouth closed and both eyes open.
- Use even light with no shadows on your face or behind you, and no glasses.
- Ask someone to take it from about arm's length with the camera at eye level. Selfies are often rejected.
- Print at 100% (actual size), without "fit to page".
Common reasons
- Shadows on the face or the background.
- The wrong background color, such as white for a UK photo or a patterned wall.
- A head that is too small or too large for the allowed range.
- A blurry or low-resolution photo.
- Filters, retouching or heavy editing.
- A tilted head, a big smile or closed eyes.
- Glare on glasses, or a hat or head covering that is not allowed.
- An old photo. Many authorities require a recent one.
How this tool helps
The tool replaces the background with the right color, sizes the photo and shows estimated checks for head height and tilt. It cannot judge expression, lighting or sharpness, so look at the preview carefully before you download.
Authorities decide whether a photo is accepted, so always read the official rules for your country before you apply.
Questions
What should I do if my photo is rejected?
Read the reason given, retake the photo to fix that problem and submit the new one. Check the official rules to be sure nothing else is wrong.
Can I fix a blurry photo in the tool?
No. Retake it with steady hands, good light and a clean lens.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. Your photo is processed on your device. The face detection model files are downloaded once when you first use the tool, but your photo is never sent to a server.
Will my photo be accepted?
The tool follows the published size and head-height rules, but the issuing authority makes the final decision. Check the estimates, compare against the official rules, and retake the photo if it is blurry, tilted or has shadows.
Which countries are supported?
The US and the UK for now. More countries will be added after checking each official specification.