With more than four million Brits set to renew their passports this year, people are urged to avoid the ‘glam passport photo’ trend
Travellers are being warned to steer clear of the social media trend for ‘passport makeup’, as they could face being denied entry at the airport if they ‘don’t match’ their passport photo. With four million Brits expected to renew their passports this year, and the resurgence of the ‘glam passport photo’ trend, travellers are being cautioned that these ‘picture-perfect’ photos might lead to trouble at airport security.
A TikTok video by content creator Georgia Barratt went viral, racking up millions of views for her tutorial on crafting the ‘perfect’ makeup look for her passport photo. In the footage, she dishes out advice on how to put together an ‘aesthetic’ passport picture, including heavy contouring and ‘overlining’ lips.
Yet, there’s growing concern over the trend’s surge in popularity and the potential problems it could cause with ePassport gates and border checks. Rhysa Phommachanh, a hair and skincare specialist at Landys Chemist, is advising travellers to think twice before repeating such makeup looks, reports Bristol Live.
“While a flattering passport photo can be a great confidence booster, it’s important to remember that your passport photo is supposed to truly represent you,” she said. “Travellers may already look different before boarding a plane (due to clothing and makeup choices), so it is important to ensure that you are not skewing your likeness further.”
Minor tweaks to your appearance, like changing your hair colour, sporting a beard, or wearing a pair of glasses, might not be much of an issue. However, if you’ve undergone significant alterations such as facial surgery, noticeable weight change, or substantial facial feature adjustments, your passport photo may no longer be a reliable identifier.
Border staff are trained to look out for discrepancies between your passport photo and your current look. A mismatch could lead them to question your identity, which could stop you from boarding your flight on time.
The UK government’s official website says: “You need a digital photo to apply for a passport online. You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed. Your photo must have been taken in the last month. Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.”
There’s no specific guidance about makeup on the government website, suggesting that it’s generally allowed in passport photos within the UK, provided makeup doesn’t conceal your features. Keep in mind that heavy contouring or cosmetic surgery, like lip fillers, might alter facial recognition. The government’s website sets out certain criteria your photo must meet, which you can read below.
Your photo must be:
- clear and in focus
- in colour
- unaltered by computer software
- at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
- at least 50KB and no more than 10MB
The digital photo must:
- contain no other objects or people
- be taken against a plain light-coloured background
- be in clear contrast to the background
- not have ‘red eye’
For pictures taken on personal devices, they must include your head, shoulders, and upper body without cropping — leave that part to the experts. Make sure that in your photo, you:
- are facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
- have a plain expression and your mouth closed
- have your eyes open and visible
- do not have hair in front of your eyes
- do not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
- do not have anything covering your face
- do not have any shadows on your face or behind you
If you notice that your passport photo no longer resembles you, it’s time to take a new picture and request a replacement passport. Rhysa says that the passport makeup trend could present some risky challenges.
She said: “There are a lot of steps in the viral tutorial, and the creator of the trend has also admitted that certain elements are intentionally over the top, specifically contour, concealer and overlined lips. With the recent adoption of ePassport gates, an exaggerated profile photo can cause issues at security.”
When it comes to applying makeup for a passport picture, Rhysa advises opting for more understated enhancements, saying: “Subtle makeup is a great compromise – before taking your passport photo, try a light foundation or BB cream to even out your complexion and a light dab of concealer to tackle any under-eye bags or blemishes. Defining your brows can help to frame your face, along with some neutral eyeshadow and a light coat of mascara.”