Essential Role of a Passport Photo on Travel Documents

Travel documents require a passport photo that meets official standards. It's crucial that the photo accurately represents the individual for identification.

A travel document is a document that allows you to travel to a specific country or region. Not all identity documents are valid travel documents.

Overview of Travel Documents

Documents that serve as valid travel documents include:

Passport: An official document that identifies the holder as a citizen of a particular country. The passport requests the government of that country to allow the holder to enter the authorities of other countries.
ID: An official document that identifies the holder. It can be used to travel across borders to a limited number of countries.
Diplomatic Passport: Intended for personnel of diplomatic missions abroad. This document provides diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.
Laissez-passer: A temporary travel document issued by a representative of a country (embassy or consulate) to allow someone to travel across borders in case of loss, theft or disappearance of the regular travel document.
Visa: An official authorization to enter a country and stay in that country, issued by the country you are traveling to.

The Passport Photo on Travel Documents

All travel documents contain a passport photo where the person should look similar. The passport photo must meet the official requirements so that the person can be identified.

You have an obligation to identify yourself. This means that everyone over 14 years old must be able to show a valid (travel) document when the police ask for it.