Official biometric photo requirements for the US, UK, EU, Canada and 150+ countries — updated for 2026.
Plain white or off-white background
No patterns, shadows, or objects behind you
Neutral facial expression
Mouth closed, relaxed — not smiling
Eyes open and clearly visible
Looking directly at the camera lens
Photo taken within the last 6 months
Must reflect your current appearance
High quality and in focus
No blurring, pixelation, or distortion
Color photograph
Black and white is not accepted anywhere
No glasses of any kind
Banned by most countries since 2016–2017
No hat or head covering
Unless required for religious or medical reasons
No shadows on face or background
Even, flat lighting required throughout
Most countries follow the ICAO Doc 9303 biometric passport standard, which is why rules like "no glasses", "neutral expression", and "white background" appear everywhere. The standard enables automated face recognition at border control worldwide. When our tool processes your photo, it automatically applies these standards for your chosen country.
Select your country — our tool applies every official requirement
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