Passport photo: no spectacles?

mgdavid

katejo wrote: »

No glasses was already the rule in 2009 when I previously renewed. I have just done it again now and the instructions were the same.

Agree; it was no glasses when I renewed a couple of years ago, and I have to remove them to get through the automated gates wherever I travel. I went for some passport-style pics today (for an IDP) and the first thing the photographer said was 'remove glasses please'.

Gloomendoom

Weird. You would think there would be some consistency.

I've just rechecked my passport to make sure I wasn't imagining the specs on my picture. I wasn't mistaken, my ugly mug is there in glorious Technicolour, complete with spectacles on my face.

eDicky

katejo wrote: »

No glasses was already the rule in 2009 when I previously renewed. I have just done it again now and the instructions were the same.

Where do you see these instructions?

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I've just rechecked my passport to make sure I wasn't imagining the specs on my picture. I wasn't mistaken, my ugly mug is there in glorious Technicolour, complete with spectacles on my face.

Likewise, renewed a year ago.

If a photographer asks me to remove spectacles I just say no, I wear them all the time.

Think about it, facial recognition systems would not be much use if you could disguise yourself by wearing glasses.

elsien

Gov.uk

Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. If you wear glasses that you cannot take off, your eyes must be visible without any glare or reflections.

I think some places recommend you take them off for the photo to play safe and prevent the image from being rejected if the flash bounces off the glass. It's the reflections you can get that are the issue, not the size of the frames.

photome

eDicky wrote: »

Where do you see these instructions?
Likewise, renewed a year ago.

If a photographer asks me to remove spectacles I just say no, I wear them all the time.

Think about it, facial recognition systems would not be much use if you could disguise yourself by wearing glasses.

glasses are not part of your identity though.


I believe the rules say that the rims or any part of the glasses must not obscure any part of your eye and no glare

mike004

I do wear those thicker/bigger glasses nowadays. Maybe that is the problem.

But the advice on the UK Passport web site is vague. It just mentions that there should be no glare/reflection from the specs. And in my original photo there was no reflection.

Lorian

Ganga wrote: »

I am sure that i have to take my glasses off everytime i use the new passport readers at Newcastle airport.

I go through a lot of airports with passport booths and I always have to take my glasses off.

I look like a stereotypical bank robber in my picture, they still let me in.

Gloomendoom

I can see that there might be a problem if the specs have changed since the passport photo was taken. Presumably, the system will be looking to match your face to the original photo.

Could explain why I sometimes get rejected as my specs have changed.

jackomdj

They made my 11 year old take her glasses off for her passport photo, then we had a great fun trying to get both eyes to look at the camera (her glasses correct a major squint). We went back and forth between the photograph shop and post office several times before they were happy with the results.

Hobsons_Choice

I am renewing my passport and the photo on the original one still looks like me (honest)! Having read the instructions for renewing passports, it doesn't seem to make it clear whether or not I need to submit two new photos or just present my existing passport and they can use the photograph on that. Can anyone clarify please?