Why not smile on a passport photo?

Answer 1

There are now biometric scanners in airports that are meant to prevent fraud and terrorism by providing additional identity verification. Smiling is actually considered an unnatural expression, which makes it more difficult for this facial recognition software to work effectively.

According to Angela Aggeler, spokeswoman for the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, smiling "distorts other facial features, for example your eyes, so you're supposed to have a neutral expression. … The most neutral face is the most desirable standard for any type of identification.”

Answer 2

I think in most countries you are not allowed to smile neither in your passport picture or your driver licence picture because they use some sort of facial recognition software to scan it for the governments database in case you do something bad in the future But they can't prevent you from having a happy face in a picture, can they? ;)

Answer 3

Smiling in US Passports is no longer a problem. As long as your smile is natural, and you do not scrunch up your eyes or exaggerate the expression, the photo should be accepted. However, many passport photographers are unaware of this, and will instruct the applicant not to smile.

The reason smiling in passport photos had previously been strongly discouraged or banned has to do with international security measures. Many modernized airports now use advanced biometric scanning devices which contain facial recognition software. Ideally, a targeted passenger's face can be scanned electronically and compared against a database of legally obtained passport photos. Distinctive biometric patterns, such as the distance between one's eyes or the shape of one's mouth, can rarely be sufficiently altered to prevent a match.

Some people prefer not to smile in their photos, as a blank faced photo is always accepted without problem. However, I personally smiled in mine, and showed teeth, and there was no problem. I received my passport in the mail within a few weeks, and the smiling picture was used.

I will post a link to my passport photo in the Discussion section.

Answer 4

Typically, it's harder for the TSA agents to look at you to check if it's really you on the passport. As the user below said, it does distort your facial features, like your cheeks and lips.

Answer 5

Hi, @aniyah blanda - Thanks for the apt explanation. It's really useful!

Answer 6

You cannot show teeth but you can smile

Answer 7

they are buttholes

Answer 8

@Mr. Videogame is correct

Answer 9

So the dr.pepper company can't sue you.

Answer 10

They want you to look seriuos.