How do I avoid looking angry with a neutral expression?

Take a slow breath in through your nose, relax your jaw so your back teeth aren't clenched, keep your lips gently touching, and focus softly on the camera lens as if greeting someone.

Biometric Rules 3 min read

Can You Smile in a Passport Photo? Official Facial Expression Rules by Country

Why facial recognition scanners require a closed-mouth neutral expression—and which countries allow a gentle, natural closed-lip smile.

Quick Summary & Official Rules

Showing teeth or an open-mouth smile will get your passport photo rejected in virtually every country worldwide.
The U.S. Department of State allows either a neutral expression OR a gentle, natural closed-mouth smile (both eyes open).
The UK (HMPO), Canada (IRCC), and Schengen countries strictly enforce a 'neutral expression with mouth closed—no smiling or frowning'.
PassPhotoKit's 478-point Face Mesh automatically checks your jaw-open and mouth-smile blendshapes before you download.

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1. Why e-Passport Gates Dislike Teeth & Wide Smiles

Modern automated border control e-Gates (ICAO 9303) measure precise distances between your pupils, nostrils, mouth corners, and chin contour. A wide smile showing teeth raises the cheeks, narrows the eyes, and changes mouth-to-chin geometry enough to lower automated facial matching confidence.

2. Country-by-Country Smile Rules

While all countries ban open-mouth smiles showing teeth, there is a subtle difference regarding a soft closed-lip expression:

United States: Allows a neutral expression or a natural, unexaggerated closed-mouth smile with both eyes open.
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia & EU Schengen: Require a strict neutral expression—mouth closed, lips relaxed, no smiling and no frowning.
Children under 6 (UK/Canada) & Infants (US): Exempt from strict neutral expression requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Smiles that show teeth or squint the eyes are rejected by the U.S. Department of State because they distort biometric facial measurements.

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