There’s no doubt that one of the trickiest parts of the passport application process is actually getting a passport photo. Whether you use the dreaded photo booth or visit a local high street photographer, the whole business can send your stress levels off the charts.

There is a better way. If you follow a checklist for taking passport photographs then you can take a much more relaxed passport photo at home.

Why size matters

One of the main reasons passport applications are denied is that the passport picture doesn’t conform to the guidelines. We all know that it can be a nightmare to produce a neutral expression or keep the hair off your face, but if you’re taking your photos at home then you’ll have endless chances to get that right.

But when it comes to printing out and cutting passport photos for your application, size definitely matters. The rules are clear – your passport photo itself must measure 45mm x 35mm. You can also add a 5mm border around the image, so if you’re printing at home you can also specify an image size of 55mm x 45mm if you’re printing a border.

So far so good. But then you also need to make sure that the distance between your chin and the top of your head in the image is between 29mm – 34mm so your face is centrally positioned in the picture. And you can’t manipulate the image in any way or submit a cropped or cut down version of a bigger photo because that’s an instant fail.

Cut to size

Once you’ve selected a photo that looks like you and meets the guidelines, you’re going to need to print and cut out your passport photos. You must use glossy white photo paper and your printer’s highest resolution. Choose 4cm x 6cm paper and then manually cut out your pictures.

If you have a sharp craft knife and a cutting mat then you’ll get the best results. Otherwise, scissors and a steady hand should do the job. Just remember your photo needs to measure 45mm x 35mm and that you’re allowed a 5mm border all around and you’ll be good to go.

Trust the professionals

If that all sounds like too much hassle, why not let Paspic take care of your photos for you? We can ship to anywhere in the world and we have a 99.5% approval rate. Upload today and make your passport photos truly fuss-free!

Have you lost or damaged your passport? Don’t worry, you can get a new one and the process is reasonably easy to understand and to follow. It’s important to remember that you’re basically re-applying for your passport, so it’s important to get the application process underway as soon as possible to prevent any delays and ensure you get your passport back quickly.

Here’s what you need to do:

Re-application for your passport

You can apply for your passport either online or by visiting your local Post Office and filling in the relevant form. It’s important to note, however, that it’s not a free service to re-issue a lost or damaged passport.

It costs £75.50 if you’re applying online, and £85 if you’re applying via a paper form.

It’s important that you fill in the form as accurately and as clearly as possible. Remember the same rules apply as when you applied for your passport originally. Write legibly and provide all of the personal information necessary to ensure that your application can be dealt with in as swift a manner as possible.

If your form is badly or incorrectly filled in, the Passport Office may have to contact you for clarification, send the application form back to you, or, in isolated cases, possibly even reject the application. So invest the extra time and fill out the form properly.

Re-sending your photographs

You will have to take another passport photo if you’re going re-apply for your lost passport. There are many ways you can do this, whether it’s using an online service such as Paspic, a photo booth, or by visiting any high street photography store.

You will need to send two identical photos of yourself with the new application, both of which will have been signed by an appropriate counter-signatory who conforms to the proper conditions.

Remember that though you only need to have one photograph signed, you need to send two photographs with your application, and both must be of acceptable standard and identical.

Most people are aware that their passport photos need to be signed as part of the passport application process. But, what many people do not realize is that the requirements for signing passport pictures are incredibly specific. Below we share some advice on who can sign your passport photos.

When do you need a passport photo to be signed?

When you apply for your first passport as an adult or a child, you need to have both the application form and passport photo signed. You’ll also need a passport photo signed if you are renewing a passport, replacing a passport, or if your physical appearance has changed dramatically.

The person signing the passport photo

So, you have your passport photos ready and your application form filled in, but how do you choose who signs your passport photo? There are a few rules you need to follow. It’s important that the person signing your photo has known you for a minimum of two years. If signing for a child, then they need to know the adult. They also need to live in the UK, and they need to have a valid and non-expired passport.

Who cannot sign your passport

It’s important that the person signing your passport photos knows you, and not just in a professional way. However, there are restrictions on the type of relationship that you can have with this individual. The person signing your passport photos cannot be related to you by marriage or by birth. They must also not live at the same address. It’s also important to note that you can no longer ask your GP to sign your passport photo. However, if your GP is a close friend, then they are fine to sign.

The occupation of those who sign

One final point is that there are named occupations that the person who signs must hold. A full list is available on the GOV.UK website. However, generally, the list includes those occupations of good standing, such as a teacher, nurse, accountant, banker, dentist, journalist and police officer.

If you require passport photos, then you can easily and quickly take your passport photos, including baby passport photos, at home. To learn more, please do visit our website today.

Getting someone to countersign a passport photo is an easy process. Someone simply signs their name on the back of your passport photograph to confirm that it is indeed an accurate likeness of you. Not just anyone can sign a passport photo, however, and there are conditions the counter-signatory must meet.

Who can sign?

The first piece of criteria your counter-signatory must meet is that they have to have known you for a period of two years. However, they cannot be someone you’re in a relationship with or who lives in your household. Nor can they be someone you’re related to, either by marriage or by birth. Know Who can sign your passport forms and photos?

They must be able to identify you properly, and not be someone you just have a passing familiarity with. They must also be someone of good standing in the community. To qualify for that they must either be retired from or currently work in, one of several recognized professions. Read more about accepted professions here.

The counter-signatory must also be a UK resident and hold a current British passport.

What the counter-signatory must do

Once you have decided who you’d like to countersign your photo – and they have agreed, and they meet all of the relevant criteria to be an officially recognized counter-signatory – you must have them sign the back of your passport photograph.

To do that, they must write the following phrase on the back of the photo:

“I certify that this is a true likeness of (Title, Forename, Surname)”

They must then provide their signature underneath their declaration and provide the date they signed the photograph on, at which point you’re free to post off your application to the passport office.

It’s important to make sure you thoroughly understand the rules relating to who can and cannot countersign your passport photo. Failure to do so will mean your application will be sent back to you, which will only serve to delay the process.

Please make sure you inform the person counter-signing the photograph that the passport office may contact them to confirm their details and your identity.

You’ve booked the perfect holiday and now it’s time to make sure your passports are in order. A common question that glasses wearers ask is: am I allowed to wear my glasses in my passport photo? After all, a mistake in your passport photo can lead to a delay in receiving your passport, as well as extra costs that can be incurred, so it is essential to make sure you get your photo just right.

Your passport photo must be taken in front of a light coloured background, with no shadows falling either on your face or on the screen behind you. The photo should only feature you; no other people or objects should be included in the photograph. It is also essential that your passport photograph was taken within the past month so that it accurately represents a true current likeness of you.

It can be tricky to know the rules and regulations for passport photos, but the general rule to abide by for passport photos is that nothing should be obstructing your face or eyes. This means that there should be no hair covering your eyes, you should not be wearing a head covering — unless for religious or medical reasons — and there should be nothing else covering your face.

The rules on the government website aren’t particularly clear when it comes to prescription glasses. The official guidance states that if you wear glasses that you are unable to take off, then your eyes must be fully visible behind the lenses without any reflection or glare obscuring the view of your eyes. However, as passport photographs are often taken in a booth, or — in the case of online passport pictures — are taken at home using a camera with a flash, it can be difficult to reduce the reflection or glare caused by the lenses in prescription glasses. Therefore, where possible, it is advisable to remove your glasses in order to have your passport photo taken.

Although the government guidance does not state that prescription glasses should be removed for passport photographs, due to the hassle and stress that can be caused if the photographs are not accepted, it is advisable to remove prescription glasses — where possible — in order to have your passport photographs taken.

An essential step in the passport application process is to find a counter-signatory to sign your passport photo. The idea behind this is simple, the counter-signatory is a person of trustworthy status who has known you for a certain period of time who signs to confirm that you are who you say you are.

The process is simple, but problems can delay your passport application, so it’s best to know exactly who can countersign your passport photo and what they need to write.

For further information, refer to the Gov.uk website.

[h2]Who can countersign[/h2]

The first step is to find someone who is willing, able, and eligible to countersign your passport photograph. There aren’t many rules to this, but there are certain requirements. The person, for example, must not be related to you by birth or marriage, be in a relationship with you or live at the same address as you.

The person must be someone of good standing, be they working or retired, ideally from a recognised profession such as a doctor or school teacher. They must have known the applicant for a period of at least two years, and be able to easily identify the applicant.

[h2]Getting the photo counter-signed[/h2]

Once the person has agreed to countersign your passport photo, it’s simple. All they have to do is write on the back of the photo the following:

“I certify that this is a true likeness of [the applicant’s title and full name].”

With that done all they need to do is provide their signature and the date, and it’s done. The counter-signatory will also have to check through your application and provide their signature, and passport number, to confirm that to the best of their knowledge the information you have given is accurate.

Please also be aware that the passport office may need to contact your counter-signatory in the event they require any more information, so please make sure they’re aware of this. If they go on holiday for example and can’t be reached it will delay your passport application, so ensure they’re available if needs be.

You’ve booked that dream family holiday and now it’s time to apply for your baby’s first passport. You can either pick up a form from the post office or apply online, but do it in plenty of time as a passport can take 3 weeks to arrive. If you need it in a hurry, use the special fast track service to get a passport in a week.

Who can apply?

Anyone who has parental responsibility can apply for a baby’s passport. You’ll need to give the details for both parents or provide an explanation why you’re applying on your own.

How do I apply?

It’s quite easy to apply for a passport for a baby. Just fill out the form and return it to the passport office with the following documents:

• 2 identical passport sized photos of your baby (45mm x 35mm)
• Your baby’s birth certificate or adoption certificate showing the parent’s details
• Proof that your baby is British – a registration document, or parent’s passports/birth certificates

You’ll also need to send any foreign passports if your baby has them, and any court orders that might apply.

Help, how do I get a passport photo of my baby?

Don’t panic – the rules have changed to make it easier than ever before to take a passport picture of your baby. And with our Paspic passport photo service it’s even easier because your photos are approved 99.5% of the time.

If your child is under 6 they don’t have to be looking directly at the camera or have a neutral expression – if they’re under the age of 1 they don’t even have to have their eyes open so you can snap them while they’re peacefully asleep!

And though they must be on their own in the photo with no toys or dummies, you can support them with your hand as long as it doesn’t show – a baby muslin makes an ideal neutral backdrop.

Then simply send them to us and we’ll do the rest!

Does my baby’s passport photo need verifying?

Just like applying for an adult passport, you’ll need to get a friend or colleague to verify your baby’s photos.

Is that it?

That’s it! Use the Post Office check and send service for additional peace of mind and then wait for your baby’s first passport to land on the mat and enjoy your first family holiday!

If you thought having your passport photos taken was daunting, think again. Finding someone to verify your passport photos can be a difficult task but with all the facts at your fingertips you shouldn’t have too many problems.

Does my passport photo need verifying?

If you’re applying for a first adult or child passport or a renewal for a child under the age of 11 you’ll need to have your passport photo signed and verified. This also applies if you need a replacement passport or your photo has changed beyond all recognition.

If this is the case you need your photo countersigned by a professional person who should write ‘I certify that this is a true likeness of [title and full name of adult or child who is getting the passport]’ on the back along with their signature.

Who can verify my passport photo?

The person who verifies your photo must:

• Have known you for 2 years – this also applies to a children’s passport
• Be a colleague, neighbour or friend
• Be someone who has worked in or retired from one of the professions recognised by the passport office

Can I ask my doctor?

No you can’t, unless your doctor is also a personal friend. There are restrictions on who can verify your passport photos – for example, they can’t verify your photo if they work for the Passport Office.

You can’t ask your husband or wife, or any relative by birth or marriage. And you can’t have your photo verified by your live-in partner or anyone who lives at the same address as you.

What if I’m outside the UK?

If you live in the UK then your passport picture can be verified by another UK citizen who holds a British or an Irish passport. However, if you’re not in the UK then they can also hold an EU, Commonwealth or US passport. However, if they’re a British passport holder then your application will get processed more quickly.

How can I get my passport pictures approved?

At Paspic we have a 99.5% approval rate for our passport photos. So if you can find a professional person to verify your photos, we can help you get your passport photos approved first time.

Once upon a time the only way to get a passport photo was to use a photo booth. You would queue up outside one, find yourself in a rush to take the photo, and pretty much have to make do with the outcome. It’s a whole different matter now though and there’s no need to visit a photo booth anymore. The question is: how can you print your own passport photo? This guide will tell you everything you need to know.

What do you need?

Don’t worry, you don’t actually need a fancy camera or even hi-tech equipment. Instead, you simply need anything that’s capable of taking a picture (including your mobile phone) and an internet connection. You don’t even need paper nowadays, nor do you need to leave the comfort of your own home.

What do you do?

Once you’ve taken a picture that you’re happy with, you can rely on an online passport printing service. Your job is pretty much complete once it’s uploaded and out of your hands. The image will be assessed to ensure it meets the strict government guidelines before the hard copies will be returned to you in the post within two working days.

What can you do to speed things along?

It’s only natural that you might want your passport photo returned to you in the quickest possible time so that you can complete your passport application ahead of your holiday. Due to this, you should read the government guidelines closely to make sure that you snap a suitable image before starting the process.

Is it safe?

Yes! Paspic has an incredible 99.5% success rate when it comes to approving pictures in line with what the passport office requires. Therefore, printing your own photos in this way is certainly safer than it ever was queuing up to use a photo booth.

Start the process today!

If you fancy printing your own passport photo but don’t fancy the hassle of leaving your home, be sure to use the superb service provided by Paspic. You’ll soon discover why so many people are now choosing to print their passport pictures at home.

A passport photo is something that a lot of people get wrong because they don’t understand the specific requirements.

This can drag out the passport application/renewal process, as passport offices will return your application if it does not meet the necessary standards. So, it’s in your interest to make sure that the passport photo is right.

Even if the application goes through, there’s the risk that when you’re rushing through an airport somewhere or trying to cross a border, the process can take longer with a bad passport photo.

Follow these key tips, and your photo should be accepted.

The right background

The passport photo should have a background which is ideally cream or light grey. It’s important that it’s not textured too, so if possible it’s better to use a wall for your background than a sheet.

Remember that natural lighting is essential, as if there is too much glare on your face or visible shadows, you run the risk of having the photograph refused. Your face needs to be clear.

The right position

A quick way of getting your passport photo refused is to have it cropped too close to your head. Remember, the passport office will crop the photo to fit into your passport, you don’t have to.

Ideally, you want to make sure that you have some free space around your head and shoulders, and that a decent proportion of your upper body can also be seen in the photo to help with identification.

The right look

Smiling is not something you want to do in a passport photograph, indeed any expression at all is undesirable. Try and rest your face in as neutral a pose as possible, remember that it’s not a fashion shoot.

Also make sure you remove any hats, scarves, or other items which might otherwise obscure your face. If you wear glasses it’s best to take them off, but if you need to leave them on then make sure they don’t pick up any glare in the lenses from the light.