# Passport photo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892 "2017-11-06T16:17:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/41 "2017-11-07T13:34:35Z")
How do they get your biometrics? How do you apply for, and more importantly, pick up, your passport? Are they just mailing them around? That doesn’t sound very secure. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/42 "2017-11-07T13:41:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > How do they get your biometrics? If you’re talking about stuff like a fingerprint, they don’t. Our “biometric” passports don’t have anything on the chip except for, I believe, the photograph and the information on the ID page. > [@MrDibble](#): > > How do you apply for, and more importantly, pick up, your passport? Children’s passports and the first adult passport have to be applied for in person, at a passport agent. The most common passport agents are post offices and local government offices. They check that the papers are in order, make sure the ID you’re sending copies of is legitimate, etc., and bundle the application and supporting documents up to be mailed to the State Department. And yes, it comes in the mail. And adult passports can be renewed by mail too. Staple your picture onto the form, write a check, pop your old passport in the envelope, and send it off. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/43 "2017-11-07T13:59:13Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > We have some fairly strict regulations in the UK regarding[passport photos](https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports) but as we have a decent printer and camera we just got some photo paper and did them ourselves following the guidelines. We didn’t have any problems when we sent them in. I’ve had no end of problems with photos I took myself, or in a booth, for UK passports. There’s a place inside the local Sainsbury’s that does key cutting, shoe repair, etc - and they have a guaranteed photo service (guaranteed in the sense that they check the compliance measurements etc before handing it to you, and will reshoot for free if the photo is rejected) It seems like one of the photo requirements for UK passports is 'image must make you look like the husband of the bride of Frankenstein" ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/44 "2017-11-07T14:50:16Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > If you’re talking about stuff like a fingerprint, they don’t. Our “biometric” passports don’t have anything on the chip except for, I believe, the photograph and the information on the ID page.[…]And yes, it comes in the mail. And adult passports can be renewed by mail too. Staple your picture onto the form, write a check, pop your old passport in the envelope, and send it off. I’m not a security expert, but that sounds like a recipe for security nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/45 "2017-11-07T15:34:32Z")
I don’t see why, unless your evil twin has the same mailman. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/46 "2017-11-07T16:40:35Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I don’t see why, unless your evil twin has the same mailman. It’s just a tiny photo, a person doesn’t have to be your twin to look enough like you. And they don’t have to be the one who nicks your passport themselves. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/47 "2017-11-07T16:42:18Z")
Post office. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/48 "2017-11-07T22:59:00Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Stand against a white wall with good lighting in front of you. My children are wearing pajamas in their passport photos which never ceases to amuse me. Best not to stand up against the wall. That way you get hard shadows which are definitely not wanted. In NZ, an initial application requires a printed photo sent with the application to the Department of Internal Affairs, but renewals are done on line with a photo uploaded to the website. I’ve had a colleague at work take the photo for me and it’s worked fine. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/49 "2017-11-07T23:24:02Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > Best not to stand up against the wall. That way you get hard shadows which are definitely not wanted. The Costco check guy made some comments at how I should never change my card and that it was party in the back or something. I was 😕 until I realized that low-res black and white photo had a shadow that he thought was a mullet. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/50 "2017-11-07T23:46:02Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The Costco check guy made some comments at how I should never change my card and that it was party in the back or something. I was 😕 until I realized that low-res black and white photo had a shadow that he thought was a mullet. :smack: Great! I also meant to write to stand about a metre away from the wall. That way, the shadows blur behind you and don’t get seen. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/51 "2017-11-08T00:56:55Z")
The local county office where they process applications. They’ll take your photo right there. It’s very convenient. > [@TroutMan](#): > > Quality isn’t really important as long as it is within the size tolerance. Terrible advice. The passport office may issue you the passport with the bad quality photo, but a passport is something to use, not just own. Somebody may be closely scrutinizing that photo one day, and if they’re not satisfied that your crappy photo is legit, you may end up badly inconvenienced or worse. ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/52 "2017-11-08T12:59:20Z")
Across the street from, or next door to, the U.S. Embassy. Most of these places also have a place where I can check my bag, since bringing in many things (including a cell phone and a bag) is prohibited. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/53 "2017-11-08T14:43:10Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > FedEx, and it worked fine. The lines at the Post Office are too long for me to even want to see if they do it. Last time we did ours at the post office. We made an appointment online so no wait at all. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/54 "2017-11-08T16:16:27Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Terrible advice. The passport office may issue you the passport with the bad quality photo, but a passport is something to use, not just own. Somebody may be closely scrutinizing that photo one day, and if they’re not satisfied that your crappy photo is legit, you may end up badly inconvenienced or worse. Within reason, the passport office and anyone looking at your passport is not going to care if the picture was printed on the highest quality paper versus standard photo stock. They aren’t going to care if the flash had a professional diffuser to soften the shadows. As long as you are recognizable in the picture and your head is within the size tolerance, it’s good enough. ---
**Author:** ![Maurie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Maurie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maurie)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/55 "2017-11-08T16:48:42Z")
I wish we could take our own at home and control the cost, quality, and accuracy! In Canada it must be taken by a commercial photographer. I’ve found Shoppers to be the most consistently reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Maurie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Maurie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maurie)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/56 "2017-11-08T16:54:07Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Within reason, the passport office and anyone looking at your passport is not going to care if the picture was printed on the highest quality paper versus standard photo stock. They aren’t going to care if the flash had a professional diffuser to soften the shadows. As long as you are recognizable in the picture and your head is within the size tolerance, it’s good enough. I’m with **Green Bean**. Some countries are incredibly strict, actually. I know of at least one person who had no problems with her photo for a couple of years, then suddenly ran into a pretty big hassle because one of her ears was slightly obscured by shadow. “Good enough” has a bigger spectrum than you might think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892.md?page=2)