When it comes to your passport, you have to be careful. A big consideration with most passports is making sure that the ID photo you use matches the requirements set by your country of origin. Too many people don't bother to double check their passport requirements before taking a photo, which means that they might not be using appropriate photos. This can cause major problems when you travel, as your passport is not considered valid without meeting all the requirements set out by the government that issued it.
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Different countries all have different passport ID requirements, too, so what works for an American passport may not be correct for a Canadian, Australian or Chinese one. Here are the standard requirements for a US passport, to show you just how specific the rules pertaining to your passport can be:
WHat are the US Passport ID Picture rules?
The Id picture must have been taken within the last six months to reflect the subject's current appearance. Glasses are not permitted. Additionally, the head of the person in the photograph must be facing the camera straight on, and the face may not be
obscured. Neutral expressions or natural smiles are permitted. The photo itself must be in color, but the background needs to be white or off-white. Clothing should reflect what the subject wears on a daily basis, and head coverings are prohibited unless they are worn daily for religious reasons. Even in these cases, the full face must be visible, and the head cover cannot cast a shadow over it. Headphones and wireless hands-free devices are strictly disallowed.
What is the Photo size for the ID Card?
The Photo size for an ID card must be 2 x 2 inches (or 51 x 51 mm) in size. The size of the head in the photograph must be between 1 and 1 ⅜ inches from the chin's bottom to the tip of the person's head.
A Lot to Keep Track Of
As you can see, passport photos aren’t exactly the most casual things in the world to take. Break any of these rules, and you may find yourself without a passport you can legally use—and that's just for the United States. As we pointed out earlier, each country comes with its own set of strict passport photo requirements, which need to be followed to the letter for the passport to be considered valid. Additionally, other forms of official ID require different photos, and you'll need to use the correct picture for each one. It can seem confusing, but there’s an easy way to sort it all out.
The best way to make sure that your passport photo meets the requirements of the country that issued it is to take your passport photo with iVisa Photos. iVisa Photos is a convenient service that lets you take your own photos for ID cards using a handy index of
different ID photo requirements from around the world. When you use iVisa Photos, you’ll always know exactly what kind of picture your ID card requires.
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