Can you smile in a passport photo?

Expression rules by document

• US passport: a natural smile is fine; no exaggerated expressions; eyes open, mouth closed
• Online renewal: a natural expression with both eyes open; avoid showing your teeth
• US visa (DS-160): neutral expression
• DV lottery: neutral expression

The safe choice

A relaxed, neutral face with your mouth closed and both eyes open meets every one of these rules, so it is the safest choice if you aren’t sure.

What counts as a natural smile

The passport page says you can smile, but you must avoid exaggerated expressions.

The State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual is more specific. It says your expression should be natural. Normal, unexaggerated smiles are acceptable. Unusual expressions and squinting are not.

The example photos on the passport page show where the line is. A woman facing forward with a neutral expression is acceptable. A woman smiling with her mouth open is not.

Poses and expressions that get photos rejected

• Smiling with your mouth open
• Squinting, or having your eyes closed
• Tilting your head forward or to the side
• Sticking out your tongue, or covering your mouth with a hand

The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason it puts passport applications on hold.

Children and babies

The rules for a child’s passport photo are stricter than for adults. The passport page says a child’s facial expression must be neutral.

Children must face the camera with their full face visible. A baby’s eyes don’t have to be fully open, but all other children must have their eyes open.

The examples also rule out a pacifier in the mouth and another person in the photo.

If you can’t hold a neutral expression

The State Department will accommodate you if you have difficulty facing forward or keeping your eyes open. You need a signed statement from your doctor or another medical professional.

Some disabilities, including loss of muscle control, make a natural expression hard. The Foreign Affairs Manual says such photos may be accepted.

What happens if your expression is wrong

When you renew online, the photo tool checks the basic requirements. If your photo isn’t acceptable, it tells you what to change, and you can try another photo.

An employee still reviews it later. If there is a problem, the State Department asks for a new photo by letter or email.

The DV lottery is stricter. The DV-2026 instructions say you may be ineligible if your entry photos don’t fully meet the rules. You also can’t reuse the photo from a prior year’s entry.

How to get the expression right

1. Face the camera

   Stand several feet from the camera. Look straight at the lens with your head level, not tilted.

2. Close your mouth

   Rest your lips together. A slight closed-mouth smile is fine for an adult passport, but not for a visa or a child’s photo.

3. Check before you send

   Compare the photo with the rules above. PassportOwl checks each rule before you pay.

Smiling without squinting

A wide smile often narrows the eyes. The staff manual says squinting is not acceptable, even when a normal smile is.

The visa photo FAQ uses the same words. Odd expressions and squinted eyes are not accepted there either.

If you can’t open one or both eyes because of a medical condition, the staff manual says the photo may be accepted.

What a neutral expression looks like

The visa photo FAQ describes it as a neutral expression, with both eyes open, facing the camera directly. Neutral doesn’t mean a frown.

These are practical tips, not rules: relax your jaw, rest your lips together, and breathe out just before the shot. PassportOwl checks live that your eyes are open and your mouth is closed, so you can fix it before you take the photo.

Questions