Passport applicants told to stop smiling

UK passport applicants are being warned not to smile to ensure their mug shots comply with international aviation standards and also work with facial recognition technology being introduced with the new biometric 'ePassports'.

The new guidelines about passport photos were introduced last summer but will be strictly enforced from 12 September.

Photos submitted with passport applications from that date must show the full face looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed. Sunglasses or heavily tinted glasses and long fringes that cover the eyes are also a no-no.

The guidelines will ensure UK passports comply with standards introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation in 2003. Standardisation of passport photos means the UK Passport Service (UKPS) can also use facial recognition technology to weed out fraudulent applicants who try to apply for more than one passport using different names.

Bernard Herdan, chief executive of the UKPS, said in a statement: "In the face of the growing threat of forgery and identity theft, countries all around the world are tightening the security of their passports to the internationally agreed standards."

Existing passport holders will not need to have their current passports updated but they will have to comply with the new guidelines when they renew or replace their passports.