The main reason passports are delayed is because of an incorrect passport photo. It seems like every year the government sets stricter requirements for what is considered acceptable for a passport photo. That is why we highly recommend having your passport photo taken at your local camera shop/photo lab. This is especially imperative if you need to expedite your passports and cannot afford the delay.

But if you want to take your passport photo at home, here are some guidelines to follow to create an acceptable photo:

Frame subject with full face, front view, eyes open.

Make sure the photo shows the entire head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin; head height should measure 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm)

Center the head within the frame.

Make sure the height of the eyes is between 1-1/8 inches and 1-3/8 inches (28 mm and 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo

Glasses should be worn if the subject normally wears them.

Photograph your subject against a completely white or off-white background.

Position your subject and lighting so there are no distracting shadows on the face or background

Encourage the subject to have a natural expression.

If you follow these guidelines, you should have no problem getting your passport photo accepted. The main reason most passports are refused is shadows on the face or against the background. When I have shadows in the background, I usually use Photoshop to remove them.

Please note that if you are using a digital camera to take your passport photos, the required detail in the photo requires a high resolution. I suggest at least 3 megapixels. This will ensure that your image maintains the integrity necessary to retain all facial details.

If you intend to print your own photos for passport purposes, make sure you have a high-quality digital photo printer and photo paper on which to print the image. Printed photos must be continuous tone and not pixelated. All facial details must be easily discernible.