4 ms·

The criteria for UK stuff is normally really clear? https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports Can see how it would be ann

The criteria for UK stuff is normally really clear? https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports Can see how it would be annoying if they don't explain which criteria is being violated though

rconti 2y ago
Yeah, the criteria is clear, but do everything you can to meet it, and the online submission will just say the photo quality is "poor" (unlikely to be approved) and not explain what's poor about it. I spent a lot of time juggling aspects of the photo itself as well as of the scan (DPI, compression, etc) and nothing seemed to make a difference.
- IanCal 2y ago
  Anecdata from the other side, I've done a few passports for family now and it gives immediate ratings and we've not had any issue at all.
  - rjh29 2y ago
    I took a phone selfie against a white wall and it was accepted fine.
- Macha 2y ago
  My prior passport photo was taken with the Irish Passport office's manual "send in photos and someone decides if it's good enough" process they had at the time. As I always wore glasses, I wore them in my photo too, which given they didn't obscure the face, the manual check indicated they were fine. For my latest renewal, they've moved to an app based process which just flat out rejects any with my glasses on because the prescription is so strong it distorts the outline of my face (at least that's my best guess, as the app claims compatibility with glasses. Anyway, since renewing the passport to one without glasses in my passport photo, I've found I much more frequently get rejected at automated passport gates, often needing to take my glasses off so I match the passport photo better.
  - pbhjpbhj 2y ago
    Really they should probably do three photos minimum, looking 45 deg right, then left, then straight on, they could add a with/without glasses (or anything else you'd normally wear, facial jewelry perhaps).

rconti 2y ago

Yeah, the criteria is clear, but do everything you can to meet it, and the online submission will just say the photo quality is "poor" (unlikely to be approved) and not explain what's poor about it. I spent a lot of time juggling aspects of the photo itself as well as of the scan (DPI, compression, etc) and nothing seemed to make a difference.

IanCal 2y ago
Anecdata from the other side, I've done a few passports for family now and it gives immediate ratings and we've not had any issue at all.
- rjh29 2y ago
  I took a phone selfie against a white wall and it was accepted fine.
Macha 2y ago
My prior passport photo was taken with the Irish Passport office's manual "send in photos and someone decides if it's good enough" process they had at the time. As I always wore glasses, I wore them in my photo too, which given they didn't obscure the face, the manual check indicated they were fine. For my latest renewal, they've moved to an app based process which just flat out rejects any with my glasses on because the prescription is so strong it distorts the outline of my face (at least that's my best guess, as the app claims compatibility with glasses. Anyway, since renewing the passport to one without glasses in my passport photo, I've found I much more frequently get rejected at automated passport gates, often needing to take my glasses off so I match the passport photo better.
- pbhjpbhj 2y ago
  Really they should probably do three photos minimum, looking 45 deg right, then left, then straight on, they could add a with/without glasses (or anything else you'd normally wear, facial jewelry perhaps).