Passport photo guideline wipes smile off Kiwi faces

Strict new guidelines for passport photos are creating headaches for retailers who snap them - and customers whose mugshots are rejected for failing to comply with rules such as no smiling.

Pharmacies and photo stores say people are returning with photographs rejected by Internal Affairs because they do not meet standards which came into force on June 1.

Precise measurements, lighting and facial expressions have been introduced so passports can be read by facial recognition technology at border controls.

Passport regimes around the world are being overhauled to combat identity fraud and meet higher standards in aviation security following terrorist attacks in America.

"We're finding it a bit of a pain," said Daymon Lambert of Photo Warehouse in central Auckland. "I've noticed they've been sending them back when they're just a millimetre out or whatever, it's unbelievable.

"We didn't know about it until people started coming back saying the photo hasn't been accepted," said Mr Lambert, who has been taking passport photos for 10 years.

He said passport cameras were set up to meet old standards.

"That's out now because you have to go closer.

"Smiling? Yes, we've had one person come back for smiling."

An east Auckland pharmacy worker said the guidelines had created problems, mainly with people who were unable to pose without smiling.

Baby photos were also difficult so shots were taken from above infants, as they lay on the floor, she said.

The new rules do not allow a baby to be photographed crying, or with its eyes closed or looking away from the camera. The child cannot have its mouth open, have its hands obscuring the mouth or be sucking on a dummy.

Julia Winther of Faces Studio in central Auckland said a baby photo was rejected because the child's mouth was open.

"It can be gruelling to make children fit those requirements."

Another customer had her photo returned because she was smiling.

Mrs Winther said she was not alerted to the new requirements by Internal Affairs and had to seek out the information.

"I think I've got a measure of it now but it's pretty rigorous."

Internal Affairs processes a new passport every 45 seconds and spokesman Tony Wallace said the department realised there would be a high rate of rejection in the early stages.

"We are encouraging customers to go back to whoever took the photos and ask them to provide a new set according to the requirements.

"If the photographer isn't aware of the new requirements we encourage them to contact us and we will work through it with them."

One woman who spoke to the Herald said her passport photo was returned 11 days before she was due to leave the country.

She was told the photo was unacceptable because it was printed on the wrong type of paper.

Among the requirements for a photograph:

* A full front close-up view of the head and shoulders with the head covering 70 to 80 per cent of the photo.

* The person must be captured from slightly above top of head and include shoulders, the head shown centred/square on, looking directly at the camera, not looking over one shoulder (portrait style) or tilted, and both edges of the face shown clearly.

* A neutral expression (not grinning, laughing or frowning) with the mouth closed.

* The eyes must be open and clearly visible.

Source: Department of Internal Affairs