Photograph Rules:
You must provide a recent identical colour photograph of yourself with your completed application. Photographs must be no more than six months old.
Warning: Unacceptable photos will delay the processing of your application.
The following guidelines will help you provide suitable photographs, so that your application is not delayed by having to submit new photographs in the required format.
The basics
good quality colour
plain, light-coloured background (e.g. cream, pale blue or white)
appropriate brightness and contrast and show your skin tones naturally
uniform lighting (no shadows across or behind the face), sharp focus and clear.
The photograph must:
show head and top of shoulders close up.
show your shoulders square on (not looking over shoulder)
show your face square on (edges of face visible)
show you looking straight at the camera (not tilted head)
be taken with a neutral expression and your mouth closed (not laughing or frowning
show your eyes open and clearly visible, (no hair in eyes).
Head coverings
The photograph must show you without any hat or other head covering.
However, if you wear a head covering for religious reasons we will accept a photograph of you wearing it, but your facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown.
Glasses
If you usually wear glasses, you do not have to wear them for your passport photograph, but if you do:
they must show your eyes clearly
no flash reflection off the glasses
no tinted lenses
if possible avoid heavy framed glasses
frames should not cover any part of your eyes
lighter framed glasses are preferable (if possible).