How strict are the UK passport office about passport photos for toddlers?

Question

I've been trying to take an appropriate picture of my little girl (2 yo) for a passport photo, but so far the best has a door in the background - will that be accepted? Anyone got any experience with this?

Answer 1

no matter what the age of the person applying for a passport, the rules remain the same.

Answer 2

Very very fussy

   Go to a photo booth.  Make sure that the photo that you submit is of the required size and shape.

Answer 3

Ive always gone to the photo booths but when I just updated there it cost me £20!!!  Four goes at getting the picture right.  The eyes have to be see no glasses covering the iris, cant be too close or too far away!  Hmmmm was a nightmare and I ended up with this horrible pic after all of that!!!

Answer 4

They are very very fussy about the photographs. The easiest thing is to go to a photo shop that offers instant passport photos will cost no more than £10 and they know exactly what is required.

Answer 5

I recently picked up a passport application - here's some of the advice they give in their leaflet...

"Photographs of children five years and under must show a clear image that is a true likeness of the child. Because young children can be difficult to photograph, children aged five and under do not need to have a neutral expression. We will also accept glare on glasses or pictures with their head at an angle. Also children aged five and under do not need to look directly at the camera." All other standards must be met.

If you have real difficulty in meeting these conditions, you should visit a photographic studio rather than a photo booth. If you need more advice contact the Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410

Answer 6

Take her to a photographer - they are about the same price (or very little more) that a booth.  It takes about 2 minutes and they know exactly what they're doing.  I learned this the hard way after spending £16 dangling my daughter at funny angles in a photo booth!  With my little one they laid her on a huge white bean bag and snapped away - and the pic came out so well I still keep a copy in my wallet.

Answer 7

"The standards for passport photos apply to photos of babies and young children too. The key ones are:

The baby or child should be against an off-white, cream or light grey plain background so that their features are clearly distinguishable against the background.

The baby or child should be on its own (no toys, dummies or other people visible).

The full face should be seen.

Both eyes should be open (for children over 6 months).

We will accept photographs of under 5’s with their mouths open or eyes looking away from the camera. If you are having problems with getting photographs that meet all of our requirements do the best you can – as long as the photo is of a good quality it should meet our simplified procedures for children."

Answer 8

they are very strict, i don't think they would accept the picture with a door in the background. Why don't you take her somewhere where they do passport photo's proffessionally

Answer 9

They are ridiculously strict.  

I had to have my daughter's done in a studio in the end - it only cost a few quid (special passport photos).

They are fussy about background, size and placing of head within the photo.  If you take your picture into the post office they will be able to give you an idea if it's OK or not - they have to measure the image against a template thingy.

Answer 10

Apparently they are very picky and will insist that it is in accordance with their requirements. If she won't pose appropriately for you a trip to a professional might be needed. Make sure however that you negotiate a price for an acceptable photo - no fee if he/she can't perform

Answer 11

i went to my local max spilmans and they just kept on clicking away till they got one that was right and they only charged for the one picture. they were great actually.

Answer 12

I went to Max Speilman to get my sons done. They did it in his pram but put a white towel behind him for a white background.

The lady in the shop was great, she took a few of him with a digital camera and loaded it onto one of the machines and chose a suitable pic. If you go to Max Speilman - they Guarantee the pictures are suitable for passports, I sent mine off and got his passport back with no problems.

Answer 13

As far as I know they even accept smiling pictures, which they don't for grownups. It's pretty much the same all over the world.

Answer 14

UK Passport Office have some very strict rules about passport photos.  I'll be honest about this, most DIY snaps will get rejected. The best thing you can do is take your toddler to a photo studio - they usually charge aboujt £5.  They know exactly what they're doing once give give them the words "passport" and "photograph".

If you go to the site below, you will be able to find the guide-lines concerening PP photos : -

UK Identity and Passport Service

The executive agency of the Home Office which is chiefly concerned with issuing

and servicing UK passports to British nationals who are resident in the UK.

http://www.ips.gov.uk/

Visit the sites below for more info : -

BTS Biometric Passports

UK Passport Offices Rules that No More Smiling Permitted 05/08/2004 ... the UK

Passport office announces new standards for photographs for passports, ...

http://www.privacyinternational.org/inde... - Cached

Is it too hard - or too easy - to get a UK passport? - Telegraph

Mar 21, 2007 ... How have you found the new - and strictly enforced - rules on what passport

photographs should look like? If you hold dual nationality or ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jht...