My most recent passport photo is the worst ever. I'm not smiling, my hair's a mess and the look on my face says, "Just take the damn picture!!" But that's OK, because that's exactly the way I always look at customs after a long plane ride. :-s

Thanks for asking this Q. I just checked my passport. It expies in June! OMG.

On it my mug shot has me in a semi smile with all upper teeth blazing away. Only the right dimple shows. That was ten years ago. I used a professional photographer because I had had a bad experience with AAA previously. Professional photographers really do know their business.

Looks like I won't be going anywhere until I get a photo and and new passport. I MUST get back to Europe this year, if I can take a break from work.

Again, thanks for this question on Fodors. I recommend that you go to a professional photographer. The extra cost vaporizes over the kilometers as you travel.

Just got a new passport in Dec. 2006 cause mine was over 10 yrs old...plus my daughter got her first one.

We are in the US and I remember no rules regarding smiling. It was a busy time and just had my picture taken at the post office where I put in my application.

As a Canadian, I'm a bit shocked by what I'm learning on this thread. Like batraveler said, here in Canada the passport regulations are now very strict. I had assumed it would be the same in the US, especially given all the slack Canada gets regarding security issues.

I went to get my photo done recently. Here's the lowdown in Canada:

no smiling;
no open mouth/teeth;
no lipstick or lip gloss;
no eye make-up;
no visable jewelry (very small earrings are ok);
Hair must be tied back (I also had to brush my bangs off my forehead away from my face);
Shirt must be a dark, solid colour

On top of that, they are *very* strict about the lighting and the accuracy of your skin tone in the photo.

I recently had my passport photo taken.
I smiled like an idiot for what seemed like 10 minutes( showing no teeth as I was told you are not allowed to show teeth), then when my face went numb and my shoulders slouched from holding the fake smile so long, she took the photo.

Now, like P_M , my passport photo will match my jet lagged appearance after 24hrs in the air.

I'd like to think I might make the airport officials' day by giving them a big belly laugh, and they may relax and be nicer to everyone who comes through after me.

Ever notice how each passport photo you have taken, looks worse than the one taken 10 years before?

Thanks for the replies!

I must say, I'm surprised more people haven't encountered the "no smiling" rule. I believe it was in response to terrorist concerns, and biometric scanning software. Presumably, a smiling face would be more difficult to match.

Google "smiling passport photo", and you'll see a slew of articles about it from 2004.

Why do I care? Well, I guess it's similar to people looking in the mirror before work or fixing their hair before a driver's license photo. Vanity, I suppose. I'm also just equally curious whether anyone knows the answer to a vague question.

So the concensus appears that smiling with no teeth is acceptable, but pearly whites are a no-no?

Cheers,
Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.

Canadian restrictions: no lipstick, no eye make-up, hair tied back? I thought they would want you to look in the photo like the person in front of them?
This makes no sense at all.

My son was smiling, sort of, when I took his pix outside at our house. I sorta smiled when he took mine in front of the garage door. Both pix were accepted (his in 2005 mine in 2006)..I just stuck them on the computer, copied them down to the correct size on my copier, and they were both readily accepted! By the way, by son was 12 when he took the pix of me! Wasn't any worse than a "professional" ones I've done in the past! And cheap.

luvtotravel - when they take you to guantanamo bay they see if you are really you - the eye shadow, lipstick all go. (In Canada we take you to Hamilton or Elliott Lake or Scarberia)

LOL, fun thread..sorry carmel.

But I just checked my passport which was renewed in 2003 (way after 911). There I am in my full glory, smiling with upper teeth showing. And the renewal passport was issued.

Now regarding the photo and my hair..it was a dark and stormy day when the photo was taken..you don't want to know. I look better after a flight from the US west coast to Italy than I do in my photo.

luvtotravel: I thought the same thing, but now reading carmel's post about biometric scanning, I wonder if that has something to do with it. These super strict rules in Canada are relatively new.

robjame: LOL

Well, it looks like there's only one way to find out - mail in my toothy grin photo (we're talking uppers and lowers here), and pray the Feds don't come kicking my door down.

I'll come back and post the results so this thread can help finally lay this subject to rest.

Wish me luck!
Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.

European passports now have a no smiling rule. Why? Because the US demands it of them. All to do with biometrics. My d-i-l had to redo her photos for her German passport 4 times before they were deemed acceptable!

No smiling on Dutch passport pictures either; the background has to be grey, no jewellery, and your ears have to be visible. Except when you're a muslim woman and wear a headscarf, in which case ears do not have to be visible.
Does that make any sense???

Here's the link to a (very funny) PDF file from the French Ministry of Interior about the photo regulations for passports. It's in French, but the rule applies all over Europe (and maybe the pictures are the same) ...

http://www.ville-montrouge.fr/sites/...le_version.pdf

That's how Canadian passport photos have to be, except the eyeliner and lipstick the woman at no. 8 is wearing would not be allowed.

Is it just me, or does the baby in those pictures look weirdly like an old man?

My SIL had to redo her picture because of her smile in the photo (Irish passport).

My 14 year old daughter applied for her first passport in December (it arrived yesterday) and she's smiling.

"I used a professional photographer because I had had a bad experience with AAA previously"

AAA uses digital cameras now and will show you the photo. If you don't like it they'll take another.

Carmel, Yes, please let us know if they accept your photos. The worst case is that they'll reject them and you'll need to get another set.