Common Passport Photo Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
A rejected passport photo means delays, extra fees, and frustration. Learn the most common mistakes that cause rejections and how to avoid them—whether you're taking photos at home or using a professional service.
Passport photo rejections are more common than most people realize. Official statistics from various passport agencies suggest that 10-20% of applications face issues with photo compliance. Each rejection can delay your application by weeks and may require additional fees for resubmission.
Understanding what causes rejections helps you avoid them. We've compiled the most frequent mistakes based on official rejection guidelines from major passport agencies worldwide, organized from most common to least common.
1. Size and Dimension Errors
Rejection rate: Very High
Different countries require different photo sizes, and submitting the wrong dimensions is an instant rejection. The two most common sizes are:
- 2x2 inches (51x51mm): Used by the United States, India, and several other countries
- 35x45mm: Used by the UK, EU countries, Australia, and most of Asia
Common Dimension Mistakes
Using EU size for US passport
35x45mm photos will be rejected for US applications even though the size difference seems small.
Incorrect head size ratio
Even with correct overall dimensions, your head must occupy a specific percentage of the frame (typically 70-80%).
Wrong DPI/resolution
Digital submissions often require minimum 300 DPI. Lower resolution photos appear blurry when printed at the required size.
How to Avoid This
Always verify your destination country's exact requirements before taking or cropping your photo. Use our free tool which automatically applies the correct dimensions for your selected country.
2. Background Issues
Rejection rate: Very High
Background problems are among the most common reasons for rejection. Most countries require a plain white or plain light gray background.
Background Rejection Reasons
Shadows on Background
Standing too close to the wall or having light from one side creates shadows. These shadows interfere with automated processing systems.
Wrong Color
Off-white, cream, beige, or any colored backgrounds will be rejected. Even subtle color casts from lighting can cause issues.
Patterns or Textures
Textured walls, visible wallpaper patterns, or any non-uniform background will result in rejection.
Objects Visible
Door frames, furniture edges, other people, or any objects showing in the background cause automatic rejection.
How to Avoid This
Stand 6-12 inches away from a plain white wall. Use front-facing light to minimize shadows. If your wall isn't perfectly white, hang a clean white sheet or use a large white poster board.
3. Expression Problems
Rejection rate: High
Passport photos must show a neutral expression for biometric facial recognition systems to work correctly. Any departure from neutral is likely to cause rejection.
Expression Mistakes
- Smiling: Even a slight smile showing teeth will be rejected in most countries. Some countries reject any visible smile, even with mouth closed.
- Frowning or tense expression: Furrowed brows or tense jaw muscles alter facial proportions that biometric systems measure.
- Mouth open: Your mouth must be closed naturally.
- Eyes closed or partially closed: Both eyes must be fully open and clearly visible.
- Looking away: You must look directly at the camera lens. Eyes looking to the side will be rejected.
How to Avoid This
Practice a relaxed, neutral expression in a mirror first. Keep your face muscles relaxed, mouth gently closed, and look directly ahead. Take multiple photos to ensure you capture the right expression.
4. Glasses and Accessories
Rejection rate: High
Rules about glasses have changed significantly in recent years. Most countries now prohibit glasses entirely in passport photos.
Current Glasses Rules
United States: No glasses allowed since 2016
United Kingdom: No glasses allowed since 2018
European Union: Most member states prohibit glasses
Australia: No glasses allowed
India: No glasses allowed
Other Accessory Issues
- Hats and head coverings: Not allowed unless for documented religious reasons. Even then, your full face must be visible.
- Headphones or earbuds: Must be removed completely.
- Hair accessories: Avoid anything that obscures your face or hairline. Simple clips or bands holding hair back are usually acceptable.
How to Avoid This
Remove all glasses, including prescription glasses, before taking your photo. Remove hats, headphones, and any accessories that might obscure your face. If you wear head coverings for religious reasons, ensure your full face from chin to forehead is visible.
5. Lighting Problems
Rejection rate: High
Poor lighting causes multiple issues that result in rejection, from shadows on your face to unnatural skin tones.
Common Lighting Mistakes
Shadows on face
Light from one side creates shadows under nose, eyes, or on one side of the face. These shadows can alter how your features appear.
Overexposure or underexposure
Too much light washes out features; too little creates a dark, unclear image.
Red eye effect
Camera flash reflecting from your retinas creates red pupils. This is an automatic rejection.
Mixed color temperatures
Combining daylight with indoor lights creates unnatural skin tones and color casts.
How to Avoid This
Use natural daylight from a window in front of you, or use two matched light sources at 45-degree angles. Avoid direct flash—instead, bounce light off walls or ceilings for softer illumination.
6. Image Quality Issues
Rejection rate: Medium
Technical quality problems affect both digital submissions and printed photos.
Quality Problems
- Blurry or out of focus: Your face must be sharply in focus. Motion blur from camera shake or being out of focus range will be rejected.
- Pixelation: Low-resolution images that appear blocky when enlarged to required dimensions.
- Compression artifacts: Heavy JPEG compression creates blocky artifacts that can obscure facial features.
- Poor print quality: Smudges, streaks, or fading on printed photos will be rejected.
- Marks or damage: Creases, fingerprints, or stains on the photo surface cause rejection.
How to Avoid This
Use a stable camera setup (tripod or stable surface). Ensure adequate lighting for a fast shutter speed. Use your phone's main camera, not the selfie camera. For prints, use photo-quality paper and handle with clean, dry hands.
7. Head Position Errors
Rejection rate: Medium
Your head position must be perfectly straight and centered for biometric systems to accurately measure facial features.
Position Mistakes
Head tilted
Any rotation of the head—left, right, up, or down—will cause rejection. Your head must be level and straight.
Face not centered
Your face should be centered in the frame with equal space on both sides.
Too close or too far
Your face must occupy the correct percentage of the frame (typically 70-80% of frame height).
Hair covering face
Hair falling across your forehead, eyes, or cheeks obscures facial features needed for identification.
How to Avoid This
Face the camera directly and keep your chin level. Pull hair back from your face. Use our cropping tool which shows guidelines for correct head positioning within the frame.
8. Country-Specific Gotchas
Rejection rate: Varies
Some countries have unique requirements that catch people off guard.
India: Specific ear visibility
Indian passport photos require both ears to be clearly visible. Hair must not cover the ears.
China: Light blue background
Unlike most countries, China requires a light blue background for passport photos, not white.
Indonesia: Red background
Indonesian passports require a red background, which is unique among major passport systems.
US: Strict file size limits
US digital submissions have strict file size requirements (240KB to 10MB) that can catch people off guard.
How to Avoid This
Always check your specific country's requirements before taking your photo. Use our country-specific pages which detail exact requirements for each nation.
Quick Rejection Prevention Checklist
- □Correct dimensions for your specific country
- □Plain white/light gray background (check country requirements)
- □No shadows on face or background
- □Neutral expression, mouth closed
- □Both eyes open and visible
- □No glasses (unless specifically allowed)
- □Head straight and centered
- □Photo is sharp and in focus
- □Recent photo (within 6 months)
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