Our photos are compliant and accepted for every type of document, worldwide. ICAO 9303 compliant.
Passport photo rules · Expression
Can I smile in a passport photo?
No. ICAO 9303 and every major passport authority — US, UK, EU/Schengen, Canada, Australia, India, Japan — require a neutral expression with the mouth closed and both eyes open. A relaxed, slight closed-mouth smile is the maximum tolerated in some countries; open-mouth or teeth-showing smiles are always rejected.
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Free preview · ICAO 9303 · digital file + printable sheet with 6 photos
Country-by-country rules
United States
Neutral expression or natural closed-mouth smile. No teeth. Both eyes open, looking at the camera.
United Kingdom
Strict: mouth closed, no smile at all. HM Passport Office rejects any smile.
EU / Schengen
ICAO 9303 neutral expression. Mouth closed, no raised cheeks, no frown.
Canada, Australia, India
All follow ICAO 9303 — neutral expression, closed mouth, eyes open and clearly visible.
The neutral-expression checklist
MouthClosed, relaxed
TeethNot visible
CheeksRelaxed, not raised
EyesBoth open, looking at camera
EyebrowsNatural, not raised
Head tiltStraight, no tilt
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Frequently asked questions
Can I smile in a US passport photo?+
No. The US Department of State requires a neutral facial expression or a natural smile with both eyes open. Open-mouth smiles showing teeth are rejected.
Can I smile in a UK passport photo?+
No. HM Passport Office requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed and no smile, following ICAO 9303 rules.
Can I smile in an EU / Schengen passport photo?+
No. All 27 Schengen countries follow ICAO 9303: neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
Can I smile in a Canadian passport photo?+
No. IRCC / Passport Canada explicitly requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed.
Why can't you smile in a passport photo?+
Biometric facial-recognition systems used at borders map fixed landmarks (eyes, nose, mouth corners). A smile distorts those landmarks and lowers matching accuracy, which is why ICAO 9303 mandates a neutral expression.
What if I accidentally smiled — will the photo be rejected?+
Yes, most likely. Even a small open-mouth smile or raised cheeks can trigger rejection. Retake the photo with a relaxed neutral expression. IDReady.ai's AI checks expression automatically before delivery.
