NEW passport applications reached a record high this year, after thousands expired during the pandemic.
This has resulted in huge passport delays with many families waiting months for a new one.
And with many holidays facing being cancelled due to the delays, passport-photo.online has revealed seven easy mistakes you could be making with your passport photo that will delay your application even further.
1. Strong eye make up
You might want your passport photo to look good but dark winged eyeliner could mean it is rejected as it changes the shape of your eyes.
And you will want to leave the glittery eyeliner in your make-up bag too.
Experts state: "The reason being that not only will it distort how your eyes look, but it will cause glare in the photo itself, which will render it unreadable to the AI."
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2. Facial piercings
The Passport Office accepts some piercings like nose and lip rigs, but they will need to be small.
Any large piercings will cover the face and cause shadows, meaning it affects the biometrics at the airport border.
3. Wearing sunscreen
While it may seem odd, even sunscreen on your face can cause problems with your photo.
This is because it if flash photography, so any sunscreen which makes your face shiny could distort the picture.
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4. Showing your teeth
If you are tempted to smile, you might want to keep your mouth shut.
Showing your teeth can hinder the software recognition at the airport, so is likely to cause your passport picture to be rejected.
The only place it is allowed? The US, which allows smiles in passport pictures.
5. Fake tan
An important guideline for passport photo makeup is to pick products for your complexion that will closely resemble your skin tone – so make sure you get the right fake tan colour.
It is very important that your face, neck, and chest match in colour if you wear foundation as your photo needs to look like you with your natural skin colour.
6. Long fringes
Long hair, especially long fringes, is one of the main causes of photo rejections.
The golden rules are to make sure your fringe doesn't cover your eyebrows and none of your hair covers falls across your face, with it advised to tie it back.
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7. Glasses
Even if you wear glasses on a daily basis, it is advised to take them off as they can obscure your face.
This is also likely to lead to your passport application being rejected.
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