Passport photos are rarely anyone’s favorite picture. Between the unflattering lighting of pharmacies and post offices and the demand for a completely neutral expression, it’s almost designed to be a picture you wouldn’t want to show off. When renewing my passport, the postal worker explicitly instructed me: no smiling. The result? Let’s just say “joyless” is an understatement.
Don't say cheese when you take your passport photo
But why this seriousness? Why are we prohibited from flashing a smile in our passport photos, unlike in most other pictures? The answer is rooted in technology and international security.
The Case Against Smiling: It’s More Than Just a Preference
The regulations, particularly in the United States, might seem rigid, but they aren’t exactly a smile ban. The U.S. State Department guidelines specify that passport photos must display a “neutral facial expression with both eyes open and mouth closed.” You’re also required to look directly at the camera, facing straight ahead.
Interestingly, a State Department spokesperson clarified, “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, a slight, closed-mouth smile might technically be acceptable. However, showing your teeth is definitely off-limits, and this is where border security comes into play.
Karolina Turowska, a biometric photography and travel expert at Passport-Photo.Online, explains, “The main reason for banning smiling is the introduction of facial recognition software at airports and other border control checkpoints.”
Many border entry points now rely on automated systems using facial recognition to scan passports and photographs, replacing human immigration officers in many instances. While humans can easily recognize faces with varying expressions, machines need more consistency.
“Algorithms don’t work as we do,” Turowska elaborated. “To compare a 3D face with a 2D passport photo, they need to accurately pinpoint and measure facial features. This includes distances between pupils, ears, nose, and mouth, as well as the width of the mouth and eyes, among other metrics. Smiling distorts these proportions, making accurate measurements significantly harder.”
Katy Nastro, a travel expert and spokesperson for Going, a flight alert service, emphasizes that the rules are less about banning happiness and more about ensuring accurate identification. “It’s not so much a ban on smiling as it is a ‘no toothy grins’ rule. Think less ‘first day of school’ smile and more ‘slightly serious but still human’ face.” She adds, “Smiling widely with teeth makes it difficult for passport officials – and more importantly, biometric technology – to properly verify eye color and overall face shape, which are crucial for identity confirmation. With facial recognition technology becoming standard at border controls, this accuracy is paramount, as current tech struggles when facial landmarks are altered by expressions.”
A Global Standard, Not Just an American Rule
The serious face in passport photos isn’t just a U.S. quirk. “Avoiding smiling in passport photos is a nearly universal rule across most countries,” notes Turowska. However, the interpretation of a “neutral facial expression” can differ slightly depending on the facial recognition software used by each nation. For example, French regulations are notably strict, disallowing even slight upturns at the corners of the mouth that might suggest a neutral smile.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plays a significant role in standardizing these global practices. According to the State Department spokesperson, ICAO “sets global standards and recommended practices for travel documents,” including guidelines for passport photo facial expressions. “Photos with exaggerated expressions can hinder quick and accurate identification of the passport holder,” he explained, pointing out that these photo requirements have been standard for U.S. passports for decades.
Indeed, in 2004, the U.S. and numerous other countries updated their passport photo regulations to include stricter facial expression guidelines, aligning with advancements in biometric technology. “The face has long been the gold standard for biometric identification by the International Civil Aviation Organization,” Nastro explains, “but with computers having limitations in nuanced facial recognition, a neutral expression became the necessary ‘gold standard’ for machine accuracy.”
Interestingly, the stringent passport photo rules we know today are relatively recent in the broader history of travel documentation. The concept of an internationally standardized passport system only dates back to 1920, emerging from the need for greater control and identification after World War I.
Madison Blancaflor, a senior editor at The Points Guy, highlights this evolution: “Passport photos weren’t always as regimented as they are now. Initially, regulations were minimal, if existent at all. Historical passport examples online reveal fascinating photos of people with instruments or wearing hats that would be completely unacceptable today. Over time, security concerns and technological advancements have led to increasingly strict regulations.”
What Happens If Your Passport Photo Shows a Smile?
Submitting a smiling photo, especially one with teeth showing, is likely to cause delays in your passport application process. Nastro states, “Improper photos are a leading cause of passport processing delays. Even a subtle smile might be rejected if it doesn’t meet the precise requirements on the State Department website. To ensure swift processing, it’s best to err on the side of caution and adopt a truly neutral expression.”
If you submit a photo that doesn’t comply with the guidelines, the passport agency will put your application on hold and request a new, compliant photograph. The State Department spokesperson confirmed that you will receive instructions, likely via letter or email, detailing how to resubmit an acceptable photo.
Blancaflor warns of the potential consequences of non-compliance: “If you fail to provide a photo that meets their standards by the given deadline, your passport application could be stuck in ‘on hold’ indefinitely or even be rejected outright.”
Beyond smiling, other photo aspects are strictly regulated. Eyeglasses are generally prohibited unless medically necessary, requiring a doctor’s signed statement. Hats and head coverings are also disallowed unless they are part of regularly worn religious attire, which also necessitates a signed statement verifying this.
Turowska further clarifies, “It’s not just about smiles; applicants must also avoid tight lips, frowns, or any facial crinkling.” For comprehensive details, the State Department website offers extensive guidelines on lighting, photo retouching, background requirements, and other crucial aspects of passport photos.
There is a slight leniency for children. “The stringent rule regarding smiling is somewhat relaxed for children, as maintaining a neutral expression is often unrealistic,” Turowska points out. “While the smile shouldn’t impede facial feature recognition, passport authorities are generally more accepting of a smiling child’s photo, provided they are facing the camera with eyes open.”
In conclusion, while it might seem like a minor inconvenience to suppress a smile for your passport photo, it’s a crucial element in ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of modern biometric identification systems that keep international travel secure. The neutral face is less about personal expression and more about global security and technological necessity.
