Can You Smile in a Passport Photo?

Smile rules by country

The US passport is the exception. Every other document below asks for a neutral expression.

Document	Smile?	Official rule
US passport	Yes	Both eyes open and mouth closed. A natural smile is allowed; avoid exaggerated expressions
US visa	No	Neutral, both eyes open
Canada	No	Neutral, eyes open and looking at the camera, mouth closed, no smile
United Kingdom	No	Plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible
Schengen visa	No	Neutral, mouth closed, looking directly at the camera, head neither tilted nor turned
Ireland	No	Neutral, mouth closed, no smile, no tilting your head
Germany	No	Neutral, lips closed, looking straight into the camera
Netherlands	No	Neutral, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed
Austria	No	Neutral, mouth closed, facing the camera
Greece	No	Neutral, no smile, mouth closed, eyes open
Türkiye	No	Neutral, mouth closed, no smile and no teeth showing
India	No	Natural and neutral, no smiling or frowning. Even a closed-mouth smile is marked non-compliant
China visa	No	Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed
South Korea	No	Neutral, mouth closed with no teeth showing, no smile and no raised eyebrows
Australia	No	Neutral expression, facing the camera, eyes open
Peru (DNI)	No	Neutral expression, no smile

Every row comes from the official rules we checked for our country guides.

What each expression looks like

Eyes, eyebrows and head position

• Eyes open. Keep both eyes open and look straight at the camera.
• Head straight. Schengen and Irish rules ask you not to tilt or turn your head, and Austria does not allow portrait poses such as a half profile.
• No exaggerated expressions. The US asks you to avoid them, and South Korea also rules out raised eyebrows.
• Glasses. Not allowed for US passports and visas, and limited in other countries. See what to wear for a passport photo for the rules by country.

Babies and toddlers

Young children get a little more room, but a big smile or crying is still not accepted.

• United States. A neutral expression that is not exaggerated, so a crying baby is refused. A baby's eyes do not have to be entirely open.
• Canada. Some range is allowed in a baby's expression, but the mouth should be closed and the eyes clearly visible.
• Australia. A child under 3 may have their mouth open.
• South Korea. Children up to 36 months who cannot keep their mouth closed may have it slightly open.

See our baby passport photo guide for the full rules.

Questions, answered

Can you smile in a US passport photo?

Yes. A natural smile is allowed as long as both eyes are open and your mouth is closed. Avoid exaggerated expressions.

Can you show your teeth in a passport photo?

No. The US passport rules ask for your mouth to be closed, and countries such as Türkiye and South Korea say no teeth may show.

Can you smile in a US visa photo?

No. US visa photos need a neutral expression with both eyes open, unlike US passport photos.

Can you smile in a Canadian or UK passport photo?

No. Canada asks for a neutral expression with no smile, and the UK asks for a plain expression with your mouth closed.

Is a small, closed-mouth smile OK for an Indian passport?

No. India's guidelines ask for no smiling or frowning, and the official examples mark even a closed-mouth smile as non-compliant.

Can my baby smile in a passport photo?

For a US passport, a baby's expression should be neutral and not exaggerated, so a big smile or crying is refused. Other countries give babies some room, such as an open mouth for young children in Australia and South Korea.

Where can I get a passport photo in Midtown Manhattan?

At ThisPix, 805 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, at East 50th Street. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Tell us which document the photo is for and we will guide your expression.

Photo rejected for the wrong expression? Read what to do if your passport photo is rejected.