Nearly every rejection comes down to the same handful of mistakes. Here is what reviewers actually look for.
Head size is wrong
The single most common failure. Most authorities specify the distance from the crown of your head to your chin, not just “fill the frame”. Too close and the top of your head is cropped; too far and your face is too small to match against.
The background is not plain
A door frame, a picture rail, or a shadow cast onto the wall behind you all count as a patterned background. Stand at least half a metre away from the wall so your own shadow falls out of frame.
Shadows across the face
Overhead lighting creates shadows under the eyes and nose. Face a window in indirect daylight instead, with no lamp behind you.
Glasses and glare
Several authorities now ask you to remove glasses entirely. Where they are allowed, the frames must not cover the eyes and there must be no reflection on the lenses.
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera. A slight smile is enough to fail a biometric check.
The photo is too old
Most authorities require a photo taken within the last six months, and they compare it against your previous one.
Resolution is too low
A cropped screenshot or a photo from a chat app has usually been recompressed. Use the original file from your camera roll.
It has been retouched
Skin smoothing, beauty filters, and AI-generated attire are explicitly rejected by a growing list of authorities. Submit an unedited photo.
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