Maintaining Recognizability in Passport Photos

Being recognizable on the passport photo is crucial to its purpose. In the passport photo requirements, the term "good resemblance" is used, meaning that the photo should provide an accurate image of the person's appearance.

"Good resemblance" means that the person in the photo should look like themselves. However, this can be subjective and is up to the discretion of the officer reviewing the photo.

This also means that a passport photo that is five years old can still be used if the person in the photo is still recognizable and looks similar.

Factors That Affect Recognizability

There are several factors in the face that are subject to change, and applicants should take these into account when taking their passport photos:

• Facial hair: If you have grown a beard or mustache since taking the passport photo, the official may not consider you a good likeness if you are clean-shaven in the photo.
• Glasses: Wearing glasses in the passport photo is acceptable, but wearing them can change your appearance significantly. If you normally wear glasses, it is advisable to wear them in your passport photo as well.
• Wrinkles: We all get older, and wrinkles will eventually appear. This is not a problem, but if you have no wrinkles in your passport photo and have visible wrinkles in your application, it may cause problems.
• Makeup: Make-up can change a person's appearance dramatically. It is therefore important to keep your make-up consistent with your normal style in your passport photo.
• Hairstyle: Changing your hairstyle can also affect your likeness. Be aware that changing your hairstyle may have an impact on the resemblance in your passport photo.