Can you smile in a passport photo?
Quick answer
Usually not: most authorities ask for a neutral expression with the mouth closed. The US passport is an exception that also accepts a natural, unexaggerated smile with the mouth closed, and several countries relax the rule for babies and young children.
Updated October 4, 2026
Most passport and visa photo rules ask for the same thing: a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera. A few documents allow a little more. Here is what each authority publishes.
Which countries allow a smile?
Of the documents below, only the US passport says a natural, unexaggerated smile is acceptable, and its photo page adds "avoid showing teeth". The US visa and the US Diversity Visa (DV) lottery photo ask for a neutral facial expression.
Australia shows smiling as unacceptable for anyone over 3 years old. Ireland, New Zealand and South Korea say not to smile, and Japan rejects raised mouth corners.
What a neutral expression means
The rules describe it in similar words:
- mouth closed, no teeth showing
- eyes open and clearly visible
- looking straight at the camera, head not tilted
- no frowning and no raised eyebrows
Babies and young children
Several authorities relax the expression rule for the youngest: the UK does not require a plain expression under age 6, the Netherlands exempts children under 6 from the neutral look, Poland accepts any expression up to age 5, and Australia allows an open mouth under age 3.
How the Studio helps
In the Ovalight Studio the live guide points out a smile or an open mouth while you line up the shot, so you can relax your face before the photo is taken.
Expression rules by document
Summarised from each document's official source; open a document for its full rules and source link.
| Document | Expression |
|---|---|
| US Passport Photo | Neutral expression or natural (unexaggerated) smile, mouth closed; online page adds 'avoid showing teeth'; both eyes open, irises visible. |
| US Visa Photo | Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, full-face view directly facing the camera. |
| US DV Lottery Photo | Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, full-face view directly facing the camera. |
| UK Passport Photo | Plain expression, mouth closed, facing forwards looking straight at the camera, eyes open and visible. |
| Schengen Visa Photo | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera. |
| Canada Passport Photo | Neutral, eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, not smiling or frowning; face and shoulders centred and squared to camera. |
| Australia Passport Photo | Anyone over 3 years: face camera straight on, eyes open, neutral expression (smiling shown as unacceptable) |
| Ireland Passport Photo | Neutral, do not smile, mouth closed; no head tilt, look straight into camera. |
| New Zealand Passport Photo | Neutral, no smiling, mouth closed, eyes open, facing forward, not tilted. |
| India OCI Card Photo | Natural, neutral, eyes open, mouth closed, full face front view, both edges of face visible. |
| China Visa Photo | Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed, ears visible, frontal. |
| Japan Passport Photo | Applicant alone, facing front, not tilted; expression must not differ markedly from actual appearance (e.g. raised mouth corners/smile rejected); eyes open. |
| South Korea Passport Photo | Neutral: mouth closed (no teeth), no smile, no squinting or raised eyebrows; head centred, face and shoulders facing front; no head tilt; no close-up shots. |
| UAE Passport Photo | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible (no hair across eyes), looking straight at the camera; head straight, square to the camera, not tilted or turned (both edges of the face visible). |
| Netherlands Passport Photo | Neutral look, looking straight into the camera, mouth closed. |
| Poland Passport Photo | Natural/neutral face without facial gestures, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight into the lens. |
Questions
Can you smile in a US passport photo?
A little. The U.S. Department of State accepts a neutral expression or a natural, unexaggerated smile with the mouth closed, and its photo page says to avoid showing teeth. Both eyes must be open.
Can you smile in a UK passport photo?
No. GOV.UK asks for a plain expression with your mouth closed, facing forwards and looking straight at the camera. Children under 6 do not need a plain expression.
Can you show your teeth?
Not for the documents listed here: they all ask for a closed mouth, and the US passport adds "avoid showing teeth". Some countries allow an open mouth for babies, for example Australia under age 3.
Can babies smile or have their mouth open?
In several countries, yes: the UK does not require a plain expression under age 6, Poland allows any expression and an open mouth up to age 5, Australia allows an open mouth under 3, and South Korea allows a slightly open mouth up to 36 months.
Make your photo at home
The Ovalight Studio guides you to the right shot, crops your photo to the exact size and checks it against the rules for your document.