No matter what part of the country you’re in, or whether you voted to leave or remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum, it’s inarguably been a confusing time since then. One of the biggest debates surrounding Brexit has been whether leaving the EU will mean a change in the guidelines for the passport photos you have to submit.
So, will UK passport picture guidelines change after Brexit?
As far as we know, no! The regulations on what makes an acceptable passport photo, whether it be for adults, children or babies, will stay the same. In a nutshell, here’s a quick recap:
– Your photo background must be plain and free of objects, shadows and other people.
– The photo must have been taken in the last month.
– You must be facing straight at the camera with your mouth closed, eyes wide open, have no hair covering your face, and be free of head accessories (with the exception of headwear on religious or medical grounds).
– You may wear glasses, but they may not be sunglasses or tinted glasses. The lenses also need to be free of glare or any reflections.
Now that we’ve confirmed that the UK regulations for passport photos will stay the same, the same can’t be said for passport regulations in general. Although the finer details have not yet been finalised, here’s what we can tell you about the new rules:
– If your passport was issued before we leave the EU, then it will retain the current burgundy design.
– Any passports issued after the 31st October 2019 will retain the same design, but remove references to the EU.
– Following this date, passports will have a completely new design.
– This will include a stronger polycarbonate photo page to prevent tampering; so it’s essential that you get your photo right and follow all guidelines.
Of course, there are more rules being finalised all the time, so to be sure that you’re complying with all regulations, check out the Government’s website for full details.
Are you getting a new passport and need your photos printing? Upload your photos to Paspic today and we’ll validate them, print them and send them to you! Try out our new BETA digital passport photo service too.
