A woman with a neutral expression having her passport photo taken at a post office, emphasizing the common advice against smiling for official identification photos.
Grace Cary via Getty Images
Passport photos are seldom flattering. The harsh lighting of drugstores or post offices doesn’t help, nor does the restriction on expressing our usual happy smiles.
During my passport renewal last year, the postal worker taking my photo strictly instructed me to avoid smiling. The resulting image was, to put it mildly, devoid of joy.
But why are smiles discouraged in passport photos, unlike in most other pictures? The answer lies in technology and international security protocols.
The Case Against Smiling
The United States, while not explicitly prohibiting smiles, mandates passport photos to display “a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and mouth closed.” Subjects must also look directly at the camera, facing forward.
According to a State Department spokesperson, “An applicant actually can smile in their passport photo, as long as both of their eyes are open and their mouth is closed in the photo.”
So, if you wish to appear slightly more cheerful in your passport photo, a subtle “smize,” reminiscent of Tyra Banks, might be acceptable. However, showing your teeth is definitely not permissible, and this regulation is closely tied to border security measures.
Karolina Turowska, a biometric photography and travel expert at Passport-Photo.Online, explains, “The primary reason for banning smiling is the widespread adoption of facial recognition software at airports and border control checkpoints.”
Many entry points now utilize automated systems, rather than human officers, to scan passports and photograph travelers. While humans can easily recognize faces despite varying expressions, machines require more consistency.
“Algorithms operate differently from human perception,” Turowska elaborated. “To effectively compare a 3D face to a 2D passport photo, these systems need to precisely identify and measure facial features. This includes distances between pupils, ears, nose, and mouth, as well as the widths of the mouth and eyes, among other metrics. Smiling can complicate this process by altering facial proportions.”
Katy Nastro, a travel expert and spokesperson for the flight alert service Going, clarifies that the State Department’s guidelines aren’t a complete smile ban.
“It really means you shouldn’t smile as if it’s picture day at school, with a wide, toothy grin,” she stated. “Broad smiles with teeth visible make it harder for passport officials—and more importantly, biometric technology—to accurately verify eye color and overall face shape for identity confirmation. With facial recognition technology being prevalent at border controls, accuracy is paramount, and current biometric systems often struggle if facial landmarks are distorted by expressions.”
A Globally Recognized Rule
“The restriction against smiling in passport photos is almost universal across countries,” notes Turowska. “However, the definition of a ‘neutral facial expression’ can differ slightly between nations, depending on the specific facial recognition software they employ. For example, French regulations are so strict they disallow even neutral expressions where the corners of the mouth are slightly turned up.”
The State Department spokesperson pointed out that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) “establishes global standards and recommended practices for travel documents,” including guidelines for facial expressions in passport photos.
“Photos with exaggerated expressions can hinder the quick identification of the passport holder,” he explained, adding that the agency’s photo requirements for U.S. passports “have been in place for decades.”
Indeed, in 2004, both the U.S. and other countries updated their facial expression rules as technology advanced.
“The face has long been the biometric identification standard set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. However, due to the limitations of computer facial recognition capabilities, a neutral expression became the accepted standard,” Nastro said.
Yet, these regulations are relatively recent in a broader historical context. The concept of the standardized international passport system we use today only dates back to 1920, following World War I.
“Passport photos weren’t always as stringent as they are now,” said Madison Blancaflor, senior editor at The Points Guy. “Initially, passport photo regulations were minimal, if any. Historical examples online reveal old passports featuring people playing instruments or wearing conspicuous hats. Over time, security concerns have led to increasingly strict regulations.”
Consequences of a Smiling Photo Submission
“The most frequent cause of passport processing delays is unsuitable photos,” Nastro emphasized. “Even a slight smile might be rejected if it doesn’t meet the requirements outlined on the State Department website. To avoid delays, especially if you need your passport quickly, it’s best to adopt a neutral expression.”
If you choose to smile broadly and display your teeth in your photo, the passport agency will postpone your application and request a new, compliant photo, according to the State Department spokesperson.
Should this occur, you will receive a notification, either by letter or email, with instructions on how to resubmit an acceptable photo.
“Failure to provide a photo that meets their standards by the given deadline could result in your passport application being indefinitely ‘on hold’ or ultimately rejected,” Blancaflor cautioned.
The State Department’s guidelines also prohibit eyeglasses, unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons. In such cases, a signed statement from your doctor must be submitted with your application. Similarly, hats or head coverings are not allowed unless they are “part of traditional religious attire worn continuously in public,” which also requires a signed attestation.
“Beyond smiling, applicants must also avoid tightening their mouths, frowning, or squinting,” added Turowska.
Consult the State Department website for comprehensive rules concerning lighting, retouching, background, and other photo specifications.
“The strict rule about smiling is somewhat relaxed for children, as maintaining a neutral expression can be challenging for them,” Turowska noted. “While the smile shouldn’t impede facial feature recognition, passport authorities are generally more lenient and likely to accept a smiling photo of a child, provided they are facing the camera with eyes open.”
