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Passport photo problems

(34 Posts)
OurKid1 Tue 14-May-19 14:44:13

I've just applied online for a new passport (not having noticed that my old one expired 6 months ago - oops!). All seemed straightforward until I checked on its progress to be told that I can't wear my specs for a photo - nothing to do with reflections etc., but that specs were banned without a medical certificate to say they should not be removed. Ok ... deep breath and got the OH to take a sans specs photo ... and another ... and another ... Despite adhering to the plain background, no reflections, no shadows, no facial expression etc..., each one has been rejected on the grounds that "the shape of your head is not clear." What! How can that be! It's clear to me. I've just opted to resubmit it anyway with an explanation that it's the umpteenth attempt. Fingers crossed it will be ok, but I was wondering has anyone else had the same experience? I phoned a professional photographer who said he has had the same experience and cannot understand what they mean. I know you can do a Post Office approved thingy, but apparently even then they can refuse a photo - often on the "no clear head" ground. ???? Meanwhile, I am hoping mine will be accepted, even though it looks nothing like me because of the lack of specs and I wouldn't let me in anywhere looking like that!

BlueBelle Mon 14-Oct-19 20:30:28

Always one got to mess a thread up
Go away johnhulters

MissAdventure Mon 14-Oct-19 20:01:25

Reported

johnhulters Mon 14-Oct-19 19:44:47

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

tanith Wed 12-Jun-19 08:28:24

Why not just do it online it’s simple once the photo is sorted

johancruyff Wed 12-Jun-19 08:21:24

I am also facing similar challenge. I tweeted to ministry of external affairs and they responded with the answer that it needs to be renewed. Now the good part is the renewal is very easy these days. So I would suggest you go to your regional passport office and file for renewal. The process take a week to 10 days and you will have your new passport

BlueSapphire Mon 20-May-19 21:10:09

Timpsons were brilliant! Did my photo, submitted instantly to Passport office, accepted. Went home, went online, put Timpsons code in, photo popped up. Got my new passport within a week.

GrannyIris5 Thu 16-May-19 09:43:09

Yes NZ needs a ‘1949’

GrandmaKT Thu 16-May-19 09:31:17

Hi GrannyIris I have never heard of an IDP. I correctly assumed it stands for International Driving Permit. I've just visited the POst Ofdfice website www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit and it seems that you 'need' one for every country I put in!
We visit New Zealand regularly and often hire cars there, and I have never been asked for an IDP, yet the site says I need one.
It sounds from your post that it is a new requirement to need them in Europe. I think it might be a good idea for you to start a new thread on this, as I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't know about them!

GrannyIris5 Thu 16-May-19 07:31:56

I work in a local post office, if you’re going to need the IDP for driving abroad after Brexit you’ll need a ‘hard copy’ photo, if you have any spare keep them for this occasion. Need to renew some of them every year and others every 3 years. Not looking forward to issuing them from next week as they will take quite a while to process and people will be sighing and tutting in the queue. Another thing to learn at my age ?

Jane10 Thu 16-May-19 06:44:42

I wish I looked like Shreks mother. I look like Shreks granny after a hard night and an unexpected boat trip!

Moocow Wed 15-May-19 19:41:40

"Shrek's mother" grin

HootyMcOwlface Wed 15-May-19 18:53:34

My new licence has come! I look like Shrek’s mother! shock grin

etheltbags1 Wed 15-May-19 10:11:14

Renewed mine last year i had to send 4 lots of photos because of the signatures. They were either too near the edge or not clear. I got sick of going to the little booths so i went to a photrapher and they too wete sent back . Finally they were accepted. It took 9 months of to and fro. I will not be remewing it again.

sodapop Wed 15-May-19 08:55:11

How I agree Humbertbear I look hideous in my passport pic. I had a real problem in the French photo booth trying to read the instructions whilst whipping my glasses on and off.

Humbertbear Wed 15-May-19 06:55:38

I had my photos taken at a local store who do quick developing etc. The photographer was very careful about positioning my head but no glasses and hair behind the ears is not a good look!

Bopeep14 Tue 14-May-19 22:06:25

My son has just got his first passport, i was surprised to see your comment about no glasses to be worn, my son has his on in his photo and no letter needed. He had it all done at the post office.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 14-May-19 21:30:28

Well, you know what they say - if you look like your passport photo you're not well enough to travel.

Can't understand the thing about not wearing glasses, particularly if you're so short-sighted that you wouldn't see to get through security in a straight line and you never wear lenses.

Tangerine Tue 14-May-19 21:20:52

I think you might find going to a professional photographer is your best option. I get my photos for passports from photo-me booths and never have problems. Perhaps they are getting stricter.

Maggiemaybe Tue 14-May-19 19:13:01

I renewed my passport when the option to submit your own photo online had just become available. I must have had 20 practically identical photos rejected on every possible ground, including "it appears that your head is too small" grin. By then it had become a mission and when DH got completely fed up and refused to take any more photos of me looking solemn against every pale coloured wall in the house, I snapped a quick selfie and submitted it. Success, hurrah (!), despite the fact that the guidance clearly stated that selfies were not acceptable. The odd thing was that when the passport arrived I found that the photo background had changed from the off-white of my landing wall to a bright blue. So far two passport officials have commented that it shouldn't have been accepted.....

HootyMcOwlface Tue 14-May-19 18:59:07

Well I had to renew my driving licence and went to the Post Office to do it. It was last week, rainy windy day - no mirror in the photo booth, not even a vague reflection in the glass, so had no idea what my hair looked like. They took a photo and said they weren’t allowed to show it me, they just check your eyes are open and you’re not smiling. Then I had to sign on a pad, a bit like when a courier comes to deliver a parcel and you sign on a screen - well, the nib of the stylus kept bobbing in and out and my signature was a complete mess, nothing like my ‘real’ one! I was crying coming out, I’ve hidden my last licence for the last 10 years, the photo was so horrible, I was hoping this one would be less embarrassing! Don’t think so!

tanith Tue 14-May-19 18:51:45

I did mine in Tesco’s they give you printed pics and a digital code it was so quick and easy and was accepted first time.

OurKid1 Tue 14-May-19 18:22:33

Update - I resubmitted the original one (which apparently you can do), giving the reason as being that I had taken many which had been rejected on the same grounds. This one was accepted and my passport should be in the post in a few days!! So ... passport office - what on earth was all that about?
Should it not arrive, I shall definitely take myself and my unclear head off to Timpsons and try again.

BlueBelle Tue 14-May-19 18:12:09

Mine was also rejected when we took it at home although it was accepted at first but after I sent the passport off it was then rejected as the head wasn’t clear enough ( looked as clear as a bell to me) I went to Timpsons and it was so painless as they ping it over for you and it was accepted straight away as others have said arrived back very quickly with a number of emails along the way to tell me of the progress

Jane10 Tue 14-May-19 17:57:01

We had ours done at Timsons. They kept being rejected. Apparently DH's head wasn't clear enough and my mouth was open! However, when we fed the code into the online application site all was well and the new passports arrived very quickly. Lots of emails from the office to keep us fully informed of their progress.

GrandmaKT Tue 14-May-19 17:15:51

My sister (who has light pink hair) had the same problem, despite her DH being an experienced photographer. I think they eventually took one that was acceptable.
I had mine taken in Max Speilmans - they gave me a printed copy and also a code which I just pasted into the passport application.