10 Passport Photo Myths Debunked: What's Actually True

There are a surprising number of half-truths and misconceptions floating around about passport photos. Some have persisted for decades, others have emerged through social media. It’s time to put the 10 most common myths under the microscope.

Myth 1: “You Have to Smile for a Passport Photo”

Verdict: False.

The opposite is true. For biometric passport photos in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the rule is: neutral facial expression, mouth closed. Smiling changes facial proportions and makes automated facial recognition at border controls more difficult.

The only exception: In the USA, a slight, natural smile is permitted — but even there, no broad grin with visible teeth.

Remember: Neutral doesn’t mean grumpy. A relaxed, natural expression without a smile is exactly right.

Myth 2: “Only a Professional Photographer Can Take Passport Photos”

Verdict: False.

There is no law dictating who may take a passport photo. What matters isn’t who takes the photo, but whether it meets the biometric requirements. You can take your own passport photo — with a smartphone, a digital camera, or even a webcam.

What counts:

• Correct dimensions (35 × 45 mm in AT/DE/CH)
• Biometrically correct positioning
• Light, solid-colored background
• Even lighting
• Sufficient image quality

Tools like PassphotoLabs ensure that your self-taken photo is automatically checked for biometric compliance and cropped correctly — for just €4.

Myth 3: “Photo Booth Photos Are Always Accepted”

Verdict: False.

Photo booths sometimes deliver usable results, but there’s no guarantee. Common problems:

• Uneven lighting due to the fixed light position
• Shadows on the face or background
• Incorrect head positioning because no feedback is given
• Outdated technology that doesn’t meet current biometric standards

Authorities regularly reject photo booth images. Especially with older machines in supermarkets or train stations, the quality is often inadequate.

Myth 4: “You Can’t Wear Glasses”

Verdict: It depends on the country.

The rules around glasses have tightened in recent years:

Where glasses are still permitted, strict rules apply: no reflections, no tinted lenses, eyes fully visible, frames must not obscure the eyes.

Recommendation: Take off your glasses for the passport photo as a general rule. This avoids problems — regardless of which country.

Myth 5: “Black and White Photos Work Too”

Verdict: False (in most countries).

For passports and national ID cards in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, color photos are required. Black and white images are not accepted.

The reasons:

• Color photos provide more biometric information (skin tone, hair color)
• Digital storage on the chip is in color
• Automatic facial recognition systems are optimized for color images

Exception: A very small number of countries still accept black and white photos for certain document types — but these are rare special cases.

Myth 6: “The Photo Must Be Printed”

Verdict: Not always.

More and more applications accept digital passport photos:

• Online passport applications in many countries require a digital photo (JPEG upload)
• Visa applications online (e.g., ESTA, eTA, e-Visa) require a digital image
• Driver’s license applications in AT and DE partially accept digital photos

For in-person visits to government offices, you’ll still need printed photos in most cases. PassphotoLabs delivers your photo in both formats: as a digital file for download and in a print-ready format for printing at home or at a drugstore.

Myth 7: “Any White Background Is Fine”

Verdict: False.

The background must be uniform, solid-colored, and without texture. Not accepted:

• White walls with visible texture (woodchip, plaster)
• Backgrounds with shadows
• Walls with color variations or stains
• Patterned or textured surfaces

The background should be pure white to light grey — depending on the country, there are slightly different specifications (Germany prefers light grey, Austria accepts white to light grey).

Tip: Don’t worry about the perfect background. PassphotoLabs completely removes the background using AI and replaces it with the standards-compliant background — regardless of what’s in your original photo.

Myth 8: “Passport Photos Last Forever”

Verdict: False.

Passport photos have a limited validity period:

• Austria: The photo may be no more than 6 months old.
• Germany: No more than 6 months old.
• Switzerland: No more than 12 months old.

For children under 2, even shorter periods often apply, as their appearance changes rapidly.

Practical tip: Take your passport photo shortly before the application. With PassphotoLabs, it’s done in minutes and costs just €4 — cheaper than any photographer.

Myth 9: “Children Don’t Need Their Own Passport Photo”

Verdict: False.

Since 2012, every child in the EU needs their own travel document — and therefore their own passport photo. Inclusion in a parent’s passport is no longer possible.

This applies from birth: even newborns and infants need their own passport photo when they require a travel document.

While the requirements are somewhat more relaxed for young children (slight deviations in head position and facial expression are tolerated), a biometric photo is still required.

Myth 10: “AI Passport Photos Aren’t Accepted by Authorities”

Verdict: False.

This is one of the most persistent myths — and it’s simply wrong. AI-powered passport photos are accepted by authorities in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, as long as they meet biometric requirements.

Authorities don’t care how the photo was created. What matters is the result:

• Correct dimensions and positioning
• Biometric compliance
• Sufficient image quality
• Standards-compliant background

PassphotoLabs goes one step further: with the validation for €1, your photo is checked against all official requirements. If the photo is still rejected, you get your money back. Very few photographers offer this kind of guarantee.

Conclusion: Informed, Not Intimidated

Most passport photo myths date from an era before biometrics and digitization. The rules have changed — and with them, the possibilities. Today you can take your own passport photo, have it checked by AI, and create it for a fraction of the former cost.

Only one thing matters: The photo must meet current biometric requirements. Everything else — who takes it, where it’s taken, what technology is used — is irrelevant.

Create your passport photo now →