Backgrounds must now be 5%-10% grey – not white!

This “new rule” has actually been in place since the guidelines were laid down by the Identity and Passport Service three years ago. 

This year, however, they are applying the ‘new’ standards for passport photos more rigorously. The regulations have always stated that the background for passport photos should be off-white, or 5% – 10% grey.  During 2008 they will begin rejecting photos taken against a white background.

Employing a professional to produce your passport photographs may cost a few pounds more (we charge £10) but it can actually work out cheaper than having two or three attempts at getting it right in a photo booth. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to go through all the rigmarole again should the passport office reject them.

Details about our passport and I.D. photograph service

Tens of thousands of passport photos have been rejected for failing to meet strict new rules which were introduced to combat fraud.

UK Passport Service figures showed that out of 597,863 applications in the first eight weeks of the new rules some 81,927 photos – 13.7% – were rejected.   Source BBC Jan 2006

In particular, the “Photo Booth” and DIY photos are most likely to fall foul of the strict regulations.  The face has to be the correct size in the picture, not too light or too dark, no teeth showing, no shadow on the face…  The list goes on.

Jayne and Chris Birchall’s advice is to have these photographs professionally produced at a studio which adheres to the new guidelines and to do so well in advance of your deadline.

Details of the ID/Passport Photo service at BeautyPhoto.co.uk’s Ruthin studio.

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We can now produce photographs for American, Canadian, Australian, French passports and others.