If you’re a Europe-U.S. dual citizen living in the United States, or you’re a U.S. permanent resident with citizenship in a European country, you may one day face having to renew your European passport from the United States. European countries know that sometimes people have to apply from outside Europe and make forms available online and at consulates. However, you’ll also need to provide a photo that meets the standards of the country you’re dealing with. Thankfully, that’s easy to do even in the U.S.
Varied Requirements
A few countries accept U.S.-formatted passport photos for their own passports. For example, the Austrian Embassy in Washington notes that a U.S.-format photo is acceptable for Austrians renewing an Austrian passport in the U.S. (Be aware that regulations can change at any time, so always double-check this with a nearby consulate.)
Other countries, though, have specific requirements. The U.K. has a specific photo format, so you’d need to provide a photo that meets that standard even though it is different from what the U.S. requires, and thus it’s different from what you could get at a typical U.S. passport photo storefront.
You need to seek out photo companies that provide different formats of photos. These could be storefronts with the option to have different sizes of photos issued, or they could be online companies where you upload a photo and have the company format it for you before shipping it back to you.
Note that simply cutting down an existing photo may not work. You are much better off getting a new photo made, rather than risking having your passport renewal denied. A delay like that is unwelcome.
Paspic is one such company. It has locations in both the U.S. and the U.K., and if you’re unsure of how to get a U.K.-style photo made, you can contact a U.K. branch and see about getting a U.K.-formatted photo. Your passport is a crucial document and shouldn’t have anything that violates standards even by a little bit. Paspic can help you create the best renewal experience possible with a picture that meets all standards.
