My wife and I are going to Europe in May. Since she got her passport 2 years ago, she has lost a lot of weight and changed hairstyles. She really doesn’t look like her passport photo now. Do you think we will have any problems traveling between countries?

It shouldn't be any problem, things like that happen all the time.

Two thoughts -
1- Go to a passport dept in your post office and ask.
2- When travelling, bring pictures showing the change.

It is interesting that i cannot find anything on the State Department passport page requiring a change due to weight loss or change in hairstyle...just that the current picture should have been taken within 6 months of the application.

Hi B,

> she has lost a lot of weight and changed hairstyles.

Lucky you.

You'd better be nice to her, or someone will steal her away.

Enjoy your trip.

Most important is that the photo exactly meets the agency requirement. Size and pose!

I got really lucky. After taking photos in a booth that turned out to be too small, I had to have the agent at the Post Office take my pic there. I'm turned a bit to the side, smiling, with my chin a bit down (I'd practiced to pose and dressed to advantage). Photo was accepted!

It was funny b/c I applied alongside a stately woman who was done up like a million bucks. But her photo was flooded white with no makeup. She looked horrible. Nothin' like that is gonna follow me for 10 years.

I guess we should not worry then.

Traveling between countries in the European Union there is no passport control. You'll only show your passport on landing at your first EU airport and on return to the US.

If she really wants a passport with a current photo, she can get new one, for the usual fees.

My daughter had to use her passport a few years ago, the photo being taken like 8 years before (the passport was good for 10 years) and the agent did do a few quick looks as daughter's hair style, no longer braces, no longer glasses, etc, but it made no difference. We can ALL change in certain 10 year periods. Enjoy your trip. Halfpint

Nobody looks like their passport photo especially when you consider that your passport has a 10 year life.

Larry J

I do. It's a really good photo.

A lot of women change their hairstyles all the time -- I do it several times a week, that doesn't mean anything. I mean because my hair is long, I have several different ways of wearing it, but I sure wouldn't get a new passport because of that, nor losing a lot of weight, which isn't that big a deal either. Maybe if she lost 200 pounds or more, she might look really different.

I recall once as a teenager going through passport control leaving Nice with my family. My sister and parents went ahead of me while I stayed behind with friends. When I went through control a bit later and gave what I thought was my passport I looked down and realized I had my sister's passport who was already through (with my passport) and waiting for the plane. No one noticed and I'm a blonde, she a brunette and we didn't look alike.

I think most of us would like not looking like our passport photos! LOL I agree with the suggestion that you check with a passport office near you--post office, etc.