12 Most Common Passport Photo Rejections
A rejected photo costs time, and sometimes a second visit to an office or a new application. Most rejections come from the same dozen problems. Below, each one is explained in the same way: what it looks like, why it is rejected and how to fix it. Always check the page of your document for the exact numbers, because sizes and rules differ between countries.
1. Wrong photo or head size
What it looks like
The picture is not the required size, or the head looks too small or too large inside the frame.
Why it is rejected
Officers and automatic checks compare the face against a fixed template. A face outside the permitted range cannot be compared reliably.
How to fix it
Use the size and head height listed on your document page, and crop with those proportions rather than by eye.
2. Head too close or too far
A close-up selfie stretches the nose and forehead, while a very distant shot leaves too little detail. Both change how the face looks. Stand about an arm's length or more from the lens, ideally with a helper holding the phone at eye level, and crop afterwards.
3. Head tilted or turned
If your head is turned to the side or tilted, the two halves of the face no longer line up, and the eyes are not level. Face the camera squarely, keep your chin parallel to the floor and level your shoulders.
4. Shadows on the face or background
Shadows under the nose, around the chin or on the wall behind you hide features and make the background look uneven. Stand away from the wall, use soft light from the front and avoid overhead lamps and direct sun.
5. Uneven or too dark lighting
When one side of the face is darker than the other, or the whole picture is underexposed, details are lost. Face a window in daylight and avoid mixed light sources of different colours.
6. Background not plain or wrong colour
Patterns, objects, creases or the wrong colour all fail. Many documents want white, some a light grey or another light colour. Check the colour on the document page, and use a smooth, evenly lit surface or let the tool replace the background.
7. Glasses glare or tinted lenses
Reflections on the lenses cover the eyes, and tinted lenses hide them. Several countries ban glasses altogether, while others allow them if the eyes are clearly visible. Remove them where you can, or tilt the light source away.
8. Smile or open mouth
A wide smile changes the shape of the face. Many authorities ask for a neutral expression with a closed mouth. Relax your face and look at the lens.
9. Hair covering eyes or eyebrows
Hair across the eyes or eyebrows stops the face from being read. Push it back or pin it so your eyes, eyebrows and the edges of your face are visible.
10. Blurry or pixelated photo
Blur comes from movement or focus errors, and pixelation from heavy cropping, zooming or compressing a small image. Use the main camera, hold still, and do not enlarge a small picture. A sharp original at the right resolution is the fix.
11. Edited or filtered photo
Beauty filters, smoothing and retouching change the real face, and many authorities explicitly refuse them. Take the photo without any filter or beauty mode.
12. Photo not recent
Most documents want a photo taken within a fixed recent period, often 6 months, and some are stricter. A picture of how you looked years ago will not match you at the counter. Take a fresh photo whenever your appearance changes.
How IDPhotoly checks these automatically
IDPhotoly processes your photo in your browser. It crops to the official size, replaces the background and checks the result against the rules for your document, including head position, background and file requirements. The photo is not uploaded, and an optional backup copy is encrypted in your browser with a key only you have and deleted after 7 days.
The refund guarantee
Payment is a single one-time charge, with prices starting at $6.99. If an official authority rejects your photo, you can request a full refund within 30 days by email at [email protected]. IDPhotoly is not affiliated with any government.
Last updated October 5, 2026.