Photo guides and how-tos
Practical guides on document photo standards, country-by-country visa
processes, comparison tables and rejection diagnostics — organised by
topic. 44 guides total.
Visa cluster guides
Country-by-country visa photo guides with the photo specification and the application route.
Schengen visa photo (all 27 countries)
Pillar guide covering all 27 Schengen states with the shared 35 × 45 mm biometric photo standard.
US visa photo (8 categories)
DS-160 photo upload for B1/B2, F-1, H-1B, K-1, spouse, J-1, L-1 and EB-5 categories.
UK visa photo (6 categories)
UKVI 45 × 35 mm photo for Standard Visitor, Skilled Worker, Student, Spouse, Ancestry, Youth Mobility.
Canada visa photo (6 categories)
IRCC 50 × 70 mm photo for TRV, Study, Work, Express Entry, Family Sponsorship and Super Visa.
Australia visa photo (6 categories)
Home Affairs 35 × 45 mm photo for Visitor 600, Student 500, TSS 482, Skilled 189/190, WHV, Partner.
Photo rules by topic
Cross-country aggregator guides covering one photo rule (background, expression, glasses, hair) across all major visa-issuing countries.
Background colour rules
Plain white, light grey or off-white — which countries require which shade.
Expression rules: smile, mouth, eyes
Why nearly every modern route requires a neutral expression, mouth closed.
Religious head coverings
How hijab, kippah, turban and similar coverings are handled across major countries.
Can I wear glasses?
Which countries allow glasses, what is "glasses glare", and how to retake.
Beard and facial hair
Whether beards and moustaches are accepted across passport and visa routes.
Hair: hairstyle, fringe, colour
Long hair, dyed hair, fringes and bald applicants across major routes.
Photo validity: how recent?
The six-month rule explained, plus country-by-country recency requirements.
Dress code and clothing
Why uniforms are banned and white tops are risky against white backgrounds.
Makeup, piercings, jewellery
How much makeup is acceptable and what counts as "natural look".
Child photo rules
How adult rules are relaxed for children aged 1–6.
Baby and infant photos
Sleeping infants, no-parent rule, white-sheet method for 0–12 months.
Digital upload vs printed photo
Which consulates require printed photos and which are fully digital.
Size and country comparison
High-volume comparison tables across many countries.
How-to guides
Task-specific step-by-step guides for taking, printing and resizing photos yourself.
Rejection help
Country-specific rejection guides with the top causes and how to fix each.
Decisions and comparisons
Help choosing between similar visa types, application routes and providers.
Cost, where and time
Practical answers to the money questions before you start.
Glossary
Short definitions of the terms used across passport, visa and ID photo rules.