Keeping Up With Changes: The Importance of a Recent Passport Photo

"Recent" means "just happened", "recently" or "lately".

In the requirements for passport photos, the term "recent" is no longer used. Instead, you must submit a passport photo that looks like you. If you haven't changed much, you can also use an older photo. The most important thing is that you are still recognizable.

This means that it is up to the government official to judge whether the photo is a good likeness or not.

Changes in the Face

There are a few things in the face that can change and that you need to take into account:

• 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.

It is important to keep these factors in mind when submitting a passport photo, as failing to do so may result in your application being rejected or delayed.