When providing the photograph

• Make sure to leave some space around the head so that Passport Online can automatically crop the image when it is uploaded.
• Don't go too close around the head or crop the image too tightly.
• Don't go too far back, about mid torso is ok.
• A colour photograph is required.
• The digital photo provided for upload cannot be less than 715 pixels wide and 951 pixels high.
• Provide the digital photo in JPEG file format for the customer to upload when making their online application.
• There must be no compression, loss or compression artefacts in the JPEG.
• Passport Online will not accept upload of a file larger than 9MB.

Pose and Visual Aspects

• Photos must be in sharp focus and correctly exposed.
• Background must be plain and a light colour grey, white or cream.
• Shadows from the head must not appear in the background.
• Good colour balance and natural skin tones are essential.
• Red eye in photographs is not acceptable.
• Must not contain barrel or other distortion.
• A clear contrast is needed between facial features and background
• Forward facing and looking directly at the camera.
• Digital enhancements or changes are not acceptable.
• Subject must have a neutral expression, not smiling and with mouth closed.
• The face must be in full view.
• No headwear unless worn for religious purposes.
• No hats, hood, scarf or hair accessories.
• Hair should not hide any part of the face.
• Sunglasses must not be worn.
• Transparent glasses may be worn so long as the frames don't cover any part of the eye or cause glare or shadows.