Dear Mr Bassie,

Could you please advise on the guidelines with respect to using a digital photo when applying for a British passport online?

NN

Dear NN,

Persons will need a digital photo to apply for a passport online. Those persons applying online must get a new photo when obtaining a new passport, even if their appearance has not changed and the photo must have been taken within the last month prior to applying.

OBTAINING A DIGITAL PHOTO

Persons can get a digital photo either from a photo booth or shop before applying for the passport or by taking one using their own device during the passport application. Please note that photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than a photo taken using the applicant’s own device.

OBTAINING A DIGITAL PHOTO WITH A CODE FROM A PHOTO BOOTH OR SHOP

Before starting the application, persons should get a digital passport photo from a photo booth or shop and they should choose the option to get a code with the photos. Persons applying will be asked to enter the photo code during their passport application and the digital photo will be added to your application.

TAKING A PHOTO USING A PERSONAL DEVICE

Applicants will need someone to assist them when taking a photo during their application and should be aware that there are rules pertaining to digital photos. The quality of the digital photo must be:

• Clear and in focus

• In colour

• Unaltered by computer software

• At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall

• At least 50KB and no more than 10MB

WHAT THE DIGITAL PHOTO MUST SHOW

The digital photo must:

• Contain no other objects or people

• Be taken against a plain light-coloured background

• Be in clear contrast to the background

• Not have ‘red eye’

Persons should note that when using a photo taken on a personal device, they should include their head, shoulders and upper body and should not crop the photo as this will be done automatically.

The applicant in the photo must:

• Be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera

• Have a plain expression and their mouth closed

• Have eyes open and visible

• Not have hair in front of their eyes

• Not have a head covering (unless it is for religious or medical reasons)

• Not have anything covering their face

• Not have any shadows on their face or behind him/her.

Applicants should not wear glasses in the photo unless they have to do so. If they must wear glasses, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and they must make sure the eyes are not covered by the frames or any glare, reflection or shadow.

I hope this helps.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com