Smiling is banned in passport photos in some countries due to security measures. A closed-mouth smile may be acceptable, but a teeth-exposing smile is not. Biometric scanning devices require consistent and accurate photos for comparison.
Smiling in passport photos has indeed been banned in a number of countries. In the United States, State Department guidelines state that the photo subject must have a “neutral” expression and eyes must be fully open. Passport applicants may be asked to pose for a new photo if the first is deemed too distorted by the act of smiling.
However, the rules against smiling have some exceptions and clarifications. A closed-mouth smile may be acceptable, but a teeth-exposing smile is not. A grimacing “smile” formed with a closed jaw may be tolerated as long as other facial features, such as the eyes and nose, are not unnaturally distorted. It is especially the open mouth, the toothy smile that has become problematic.
The reason smiling in passport photos has been strongly discouraged or banned has to do with international security measures. Many modernized airports now use advanced biometric scanning devices that contain facial recognition software. Ideally, the face of a targeted passenger can be scanned electronically and matched against a database of legally obtained passport photos. Distinctive biometric patterns, such as the distance between a person’s eyes or the shape of their mouth, can rarely be altered enough to prevent a match.
Passport photographs used for comparison should ideally be consistent and accurate, with no shadows or reflections that distort facial measurements. Passport applicants may also be required to brush hair from their faces, tilt their glasses to eliminate any glare, and look fully forward with a neutral expression. Smiling can distort the subject’s eyes and change the relationship between the biometric points.
While the temptation to smile for a more flattering photograph may always be present, the photographer will likely be intentionally asking the subject not to. A passport photo may not be very flattering, but a smile may be a small sacrifice to make in exchange for greater personal safety.
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