Do you have to take a new passport photo when renewing adult British passport?
Posted by becket7102@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 41 comments
[removed]
Actual-Sky-4272@reddit
Engage brain.
Actual-Sky-4272@reddit
I get away with it on my senior railcard…🤣
AirlineSevere7456@reddit
If you haven't used it before you can let them use your last driver's licence photo or at least you could.
Boboshady@reddit
You can take a selfie, but man are they fussy about lighting - my lad has dark patches under his eyes and they rejected his picture twice because they thought it was a shadow.
Top tip - a whiteboard, outside, slightly angled so you don't get a reflection, works wonders. A sheet would also work if you can pull it tight so there's no visible creases.
Don't try and frame it as a passport shot - take as much space around the person (you) as you can, then crop it on the website when you upload it.
fussyfella@reddit
The automated system when you first try to upload is way fussier than HMPO rules. My wife just could not get it to accept hers, so she just clicked the "upload anyway" button (or whatever it is) and it came back approved very quickly (her selfie was notably better than the last "professional" passport picture she had used).
It may have changed (that was 5 years ago) but I think all the applications are reviewed by a human, who will be more likely to go "yeah, that looks the same as the last picture" than an algorithm.
Boboshady@reddit
Same, I 'upload anyway'd it both times the first it was rejected on manual review, so I swapped to a brighter picture and uploaded it anyway again, but with an explanation about the darker skin. I can't remember now if I gave that explanation at the time of upload, or after it was rejected again and I appealed it.
icabod88@reddit
Yeah mine was uploaded with an amber warning saying that I wasn't looking at the camera, when obviously I was looking right at it
I added a note, uploaded it anyway and it was fine
Key_Produce2617@reddit
Yes you do. When I renewed my driving licence I was surprised that it come up with my new passport photo so didn’t have to get a new one for that.
Open-Trip@reddit
You will have to get new photos. The good news is you can use one of the photo booths and it gives you a code with the photos. You enter that when you submit your application online and the photos appear, so no more posting them off with a form. I got my new passport in about a week two. All pretty impressive.
blankspacebaby12@reddit
Isn’t it easier to take the photo on your phone and not go to a Photo Booth at all?
Open-Trip@reddit
You can but the chances of rejection are increased as they are very specific about lighting and framing.
blankspacebaby12@reddit
Ok, I’ve never had an issue, both adults and kids.
Open-Trip@reddit
Good to know. I’ll go this route next time. Those photo booths are pretty pricey these days.
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
Do you have reciepts for this claim 😂
If we are just making stuff up on vibes, I'd say most people have no issue doing their pic on a smart phone.
Open-Trip@reddit
It’s stated in the application website
https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
highrouleur@reddit
I did mine back in 2018. Literally submitted over 20 photos. Some were rejected immediately by the auto filter. Some were rejected by a human after a day or so. I believe it was the 23rd attempt that actually worked
No_Preference9093@reddit
That’s most of the reason you have to renew it.
Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit
You need a new photo. But as long as you have a decent smartphone and a background that is light enough, you can take it in your own home. Just ask someone to take it as a selfie will unlikely meet the dimensions.
CPD1960@reddit
Unless your name is Dorian Gray, you need a new photo!
VerbingNoun413@reddit
A Passport of Dorian Gray?
horoscopical@reddit
Of course. You've aged 10 years since your last one.
Tallman_james420@reddit
It's more obvious if the person's passport photo was taken when they were 14 and now they are 24.
Even if they don't look much different though, by the time the next one comes around it will be 20 years and something will definitely start to look a bit off.
hdhxuxufxufufiffif@reddit
UK Passports for under-16s are only issued for five years for that very reason.
Tallman_james420@reddit
Ok, 16 and 26 then.
Amazing-Visual-2919@reddit
It's so easy renewing. Takes about ten minutes as I recall from doing it this year. Obviously you need a new photo as you won't look like you did ten years ago.
UnlikelyPie8241@reddit
Oh right I was thinking from a driving licence or ID card not from a passport possibly over 10yrs previously. ☺️
bahumat42@reddit
It's probably good practise to use a more recent photo.
Most people change a little in the time between them.
SpaceTimeCapsule89@reddit
Yeah you need a new photo each time and you can take the photo with your phone now. If you're worried your photo will be rejected because it's not the right size, the contrast isn't right, the background is off etc, they will indicate if it will be accepted or not during the application but you can actually pay £7 and send some photos to companies online and they will produce a photo that will 100% be accepted.
GBrunt@reddit
You just renew it online with your own smartphone selfie.
DaveBeBad@reddit
Yup. Apply online, selfie, send off your passport and wait a week or two. Easy
Informal-Intern-8672@reddit
Yes, but you can renew online and take the picture in your phone. Then you just send your old passport off and they send your new one, whole process took about a week.
UnlikelyPie8241@reddit
You can as long as you can be recognised from it.
Independent_Today819@reddit
No, that's not true. Can't be more than 30 days old
LouisaB75@reddit
From the gov.uk website
"You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed."
"Your photo must have been taken in the last month."
I renewed mine a couple of months ago. Did the online application on the Saturday and had a new passport by the Thursday. I played it safe and had my photo taken and also checked at a shop where they run it through a system to ensure it passes the passport agency checks. They provided hard copies as well as digital ones.
Very easy and much quicker than it had been to renew it 10 years ago.
PontiusThe-AV8Tor@reddit
You do have to get a new photo for a passport on every application.
For a driving licence it depends on when you passport photo was last taken for that or ANY other government ID. i.e. If you have a Forces ID card, Veterans ID card, current driving licence or current passport and the photo is within 10 years they will give you the choice of using your old one or uploading a new one.
However for a passport you need a new photo every time.
mrfluffypants1504@reddit
Yes, just done it and had to get a new photo. Last time they let me use my driving licence one.
Figgzyvan@reddit
You can use one you took yourself.
DemonicFrog@reddit
You've never been able to use the previous picture, a big reason for the renewal is to update the picture as people change in a decade.
PootMcGroot@reddit
It has to be "recent" (ie within months of application).
A passport photo from 10 years ago isn't recent.
Adventurous-Elk-5193@reddit
yes. you will look different now!
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.