The passport application process can be a tricky one if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. As well as having to fill out forms and find a countersignature, you also have to supply two images that accurately show your likeness. This can sometimes lead to confusion – especially for those who wear glasses. After all, people wear spectacles for years and would consider a picture with them to be a true reflection of their appearance. However, there are specific guidelines in place for people who wear glasses. Here’s what you need to know.
Can you wear glasses?
It all really depends on the type of glasses. In terms of reading glasses, you’re perfectly fine wearing them on your passport photo.
Should you take precautions?
The only real thing that you need to do is make sure that the glass in the lenses doesn’t show a reflection or cause a glare. If this were to happen, it could be cause for your application to be rejected until you provide a picture that more closely fits the guideline.
What about other glasses?
Under no circumstances should you wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. These would hide key features around your eyes, therefore causing your true likeness to be obscured on the picture.
Are the rules changing?
The USA most recently brought in stricter new guidelines warning people against wearing glasses in their passport photo. This is because they deemed that the eyewear could cause issues with the biometric systems now used at airports. In fact, last year the country revealed that the main reason they rejected submitted passport applications was because wannabe travelers wore glasses in their photos.
What’s the best plan for taking a picture?
Really, you just need to take extra care when taking a picture while wearing your reading glasses. It’s worth snapping another image if you think there might be the slightest hint of a glare. If your eyesight is extremely poor without your glasses, it would probably be wise to have a friend assist you with the picture.
Happy snapping!
The main thing to remember is that you should be extra careful when taking a passport picture while wearing glasses. For more information, be sure to familiarize yourself with the official government guidelines.
