Passport and photograph requirements, and why they are rejected
The least interesting part of a file, and one of the most frequent reasons preparation has to be redone.
Passport validity and condition
Validity requirements are measured from your intended travel, not from today. Physical condition matters too — damage, water marks or a detached page can cause problems independent of validity.
Photograph specification
Background colour, head size within the frame, expression and recency are all specified, and all are checked. A photograph that was acceptable for another purpose is not automatically acceptable here.
Scanning and photographing documents
If you are capturing documents with a phone, all four corners must be visible, the page must be flat and evenly lit, and the text must be readable at full size. Most re-upload requests we issue are for legibility alone.
Copies of previous visas and stamps
Where travel history is relevant, the relevant pages need to be captured clearly and completely rather than as a partial photograph of an open passport.
Checked against the responsible authority on the date shown. Guidance is informational and does not replace advice for your specific case.