https://www.passphoto-labs.at/en/tags/myths/Recent content in Myths on PassphotoLabsHugoenSun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.passphoto-labs.at/en/blog/passport-photo-myths-debunked/Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.passphoto-labs.at/en/blog/passport-photo-myths-debunked/<p>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&rsquo;s time to put the 10 most common myths under the microscope.</p> <h2 id="myth-1-you-have-to-smile-for-a-passport-photo">Myth 1: &ldquo;You Have to Smile for a Passport Photo&rdquo;</h2> <p><strong>Verdict: False.</strong></p> <p>The opposite is true. For biometric passport photos in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the rule is: <strong>neutral facial expression, mouth closed.</strong> Smiling changes facial proportions and makes automated facial recognition at border controls more difficult.</p>