Guidelines during passport photo capture:
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has stipulated certain mandatory specifications for passport photos.
DRESS CODE
To ensure entry to countries with strict dress codes, all applicants are required to wear decent clothing for passport photo capture. Plunging necklines, sleeveless clothing, spaghetti strapped tops, see-through tops, sando, tube tops, halters and the like are prohibited.
Passport photos must:
– show natural skin tone with no uneven bright spots on the face and no visible red eyes
– face should be in sharp focus and clear with no ink or artificial marks/creases/lines
YOUR POSE
Your frontal pose looking directly at the camera lens and showing your full face must be used. Rotation or tilting of the head either in an up/down or left/right direction must be avoided. The mid points of the mouth and the bridge of the nose should lie on an imaginary vertical line in the center of the image.
EXPRESSION
Your expression should be neutral with both eyes open and mouth closed. Eyes should be fully visible. (Contrived expressions such as raised eyebrows, squinting or frowning are not acceptable)
SMILING
When having their photos captured, applicant may smile, but without showing their teeth and gums. The ‘Mona Lisa’ smile is recommended.
EYEGLASSES/CONTACT LENSES
Eyeglasses and colored contact lenses should not be worn.
EARS SHOULD BE VISIBLE
As much as possible, both ears of the applicant should be visible.
EARRINGS/HAIR ACCESSORIES
These accessories should be removed prior to photo capturing. Frizzy/afro hairstyles should be neatly arranged showing full frontal facial image. NO EARRINGS ALLOWED.
Note that passports with photos that do not match the ICAO specifications are likely to be rejected by foreign immigration authorities, and could result in extreme inconvenience to the passport holder.
