LEFT: The reporter smiles on his driver’s license. RIGHT: When this passport photo was taken, it was OK to wear eyeglasses and smile. When this passport expires in September 2024, the author will not be allowed to smile or wear eyeglasses. (P.S. – He’ll also need to get rid of the facial hair.)
When this passport photo was taken, it was OK to wear eyeglasses and smile. When this passport expires in September 2024, the author will not be allowed to smile or wear eyeglasses. (P.S. — He'll also need to get rid of the facial hair.)
When this passport photo was taken, it was OK to wear eyeglasses and smile. When this passport expires in September 2024, the author will not be allowed to smile or wear eyeglasses. (P.S. — He'll also need to get rid of the facial hair.)
Steve Steiner/Chronicle
This may come as a surprise when having your photo taken for a driver’s license or a passport, but don’t smile. Well, let’s clarify that. It’s OK to have a slight smile, but you need to avoid having a broad smile, especially a smile in which your teeth are prominent; at least for driver’s license photos. When it involves passports, the rules are more stringent. So don’t be surprised or upset if you are asked to pose again.
Why is that? Authorities say it is necessary, and it is based upon facial recognition software. A huge smile, it is claimed, will distort a person’s facial features making it difficult if not almost impossible to match you to your document. By the way, for passport photos you cannot wear eyeglasses, sunglasses or hats, the exception being regarding hats is if you wear it for religious purposes.
LEFT: The reporter smiles on his driver’s license. RIGHT: When this passport photo was taken, it was OK to wear eyeglasses and smile. When this passport expires in September 2024, the author will not be allowed to smile or wear eyeglasses. (P.S. – He’ll also need to get rid of the facial hair.)
