ICAO standards for official photo

The International Civil Aviation Organization’s mandatory guidelines apply to any machine-readable travel and identification document. One of its main aims is to define legal requirements that prevent ID photo and document falsification. Consequently, we have summarized ICAO standards for official photo taking, so that your photo gets approved the first time and no unnecessary delays occur.

1. ICAO mandatory requirements enable automated control
2. The mandatory identification guidelines
3. Technical specifications for an infrared camera readable visa
4. Leave your id photo troubles to us
5. More on this topic

1. ICAO mandatory requirements enable automated control

For most national governments, it is of utmost importance to issue identification and other official documents in conformity with the ICAO standards for official photos. Airports around the world are introducing automated biometric gates for boarding when a passenger’s identity is verified by facial recognition and a passport scan.

2. The mandatory identification guidelines

To create an ID photo that conforms to ICAO, please respect the following rules:

You must face square on and look directly at the camera with both eyes visible.
The image must be sharp, from the top of the head to the chin, and from the nose to the ears.

3. Technical specifications for an infrared camera readable visa

Position your head in the center.
The lighting must be natural for the face to be recognizable (avoid all colour balance modifications).
Choose a background in a single colour to create contrast with the face and hair. For portrait photos in colour, it is recommended to opt for a light blue or pale gray background.
The quality of the portrait should be at least comparable to the minimum acceptable quality for photographs (resolution comparable to pairs 6–8 line pairs per millimeter).
The subject in the photo must be a representation of the holder in black and white or in true colours.

4. Leave your ID photo troubles to us

Use our app that strictly abides by all the ICAO standards for official photos. Create your digital photo in the right size and standards. Receive them shortly in your email, and within a few days, in your mailbox.

If you need an official passport photo, use Smartphone iD, our online biometric ID photo app available on Apple or Google Play Store. You will get 100% guaranteed photos in a matter of minutes.

Sources

https://global.itu.edu.tr/docs/librariesprovider33/default-document-library/%C4%B1cao-standarts.pdf?sfvrsn=c9eea239_0