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Rules and Regulations Regarding Passport Photos, Country By Country.
Do you fancy going on holiday next summer? Surely a resounding yes, but are you so quick to answer when asked if your passport is still in date? It's so easy to forget about something so vital to travel freedom, and yet many people do each year. They leave it until the last minute, realise their passport is out of date, and struggle to obtain passport photos, that meet the increasingly stringent rules and regulations of the national passport office.
So, how do you ensure that your next set of expensive photos won't end up tossed away in the kitchen drawer? Simple. Firstly, obtain a free passport photo software program, such as the one provided by CamToPrint. Doing so will erase the costly requirement for reproducing new passport photos, and allow you to edit existing ones to meet the necessary stipulations of the passport office, depending upon your country.
The regulations are as follows:
United States of America:
The first rule pertaining to passport photos in the United States is that the image itself must measure 2”x2” (two by two inches). This is not inclusive of any white border surrounding the image, and the photo itself should represent your full head and face: from the top of your hair to your chin. There is some leeway when it comes to the exact measurement of the head within the photograph, however, it should record no more than 35mm, and no less than 28mm in height. It should also have been taken within six months of the date of passport application.
Centering is also key to acceptance of your photo, and your image must feature you within the centre of the picture, facing forward your eye level not exceeding 35mm from the base of the photo. There should be no head covering or dark glasses worn (unless accompanied by medical verification from a doctor), and the face should be free from all shadow/ glare. Should you find subtle lighting issues, these can usually be fixed within photo editing software, inclusive within the CamToPrint studio.
United Kingdom:
The U.K guidelines for passport photo requirements are not dissimilar to those of the U.S.A, however some key differentiations include the acceptable photo size. The U.K Identity and Passport Service (I.P.S) stipulate that all photos must measure 45mm high x 35mm wide, excluding the border. The photo should also have been taken within a month of the passport application and should be countersigned by a legal professional such as a doctor or lawyer to certify the photo is of you.
U.K passport applications also require two photos which are exactly the same. Both should feature you centred and facing forwards, with a neutral or off-white background for sharp contrast. Photo issues such as red-eye and blurred focus will result in application rejection, so ensure you fix these within the passport photo software, prior to printing. The head height between the tip of your chin, and crown of your head should measure no more than 34mm, and no less than 29 mm. This usually means the tops of your shoulders may just be visible within the photograph.
To ensure no other photo blunders, remove any face covering, hats or glasses prior to taking your photograph. Glasses bounce light, and U.K law stipulates all aspects of your features must not be obscured. There are a few exceptions if you wear a head covering for religious or medical purposes, however, this will need to be verified by a doctor or person of religious standing.
E.U (European Union):
Contrary to popular belief, there are some differentiations between the passport rules of the United Kingdom, and those of the E.U. Standard regulations pertaining to the image size still apply; a photo must measure 45mmx35mm, however, the head height measurement range is between 32 mm and 36mm. Photos must be printed on high quality photo paper with a minimum resolution of 600 d.p.i. You can adjust the resolution prior to printing within the passport photo software suite. All basal rules regarding facial expression, angle and face coverings are the same as those of the United Kingdom.
South Africa:
The South African passport system can often be confusing to those applying for the first time, simply because they have six different passport formats; these range from permanent or “maxi” passports, to temporary passports issued when an unprecedented emergency occurs. In all cases, there are strict regulations regarding the types of photo which can be used, which are largely the same as all other major countries and continents. Your face must take up at least 70-80% of the photograph, and must be free from distractions to your features which include: a long fringe, glasses, face/ head coverings. In all instances, your facial features must be fully visible, and a clear contrast between your skin-tone and background must be evident.
Unlike other passport issuers, the African Consulate require two colour photos and two black and white. You can easily change the format of your photo to black and white using the option within your passport photo software.
India:
The key regulations for the issue of Indian passports are similar to Africa, apart from photo size and background. The Indian Government Agency specify photos must measure 35x35 mm excluding border. An off-white or light grey background must also feature within the photo. White is not allowed as it has a tendency to glare when the flash of a camera goes off.
Australia and New Zealand:
The accepted photo formats for Australia and New Zealand are the same as those stipulated by the E.U and United Kingdom. The only difference is the accepted photo size. Australian photos must measure 45-50mm in height and 35-40 mm in width.
The CamToPrint software supports the photo sizes for all countries and continents, and provides the ability to custom re-size, and crop photos to meet individual needs.
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