Passport Photo Mismatch Nearly Derails Influencer’s Morocco Trip, Warns Travelers

Alisha Marie almost missed a flight because of her passport photo. In a video posted on her TikTok account that has received over 20 million views, Alisha recounts the facts. As she was about to board a flight, she was notified that her face differed from the one visible on her passport. She was wearing an oversized black hoodie, a black cap and had a makeup-free appearance during the security checks, but she did not resemble the photo on her passport. "They almost didn’t let me board the plane. They said I didn’t look like my passport. That’s why you should never take sexy photos for your passport," she advises her followers.

Alisha’s account has prompted comments from people who have had the same experience as her. "This happened to me in Morocco," said one internet user. "They almost didn’t let me back into the US from Australia because I didn’t look like my ID photo and my driver’s license was expired," said another. "It happened to me, but it’s because I dyed my hair blonde and in my ID photo, I have jet black hair," recounts a third internet user.

Putting on makeup before taking a passport photo has become a trend. Denise Ambrusko-Maida, owner of the travel agency Travel Brilliant, advises travelers not to make themselves look like a "sexy girl" in passport photos. "I deliberately take my ID photo to look like a swamp rat. [...] If you’re the kind of person who’s going to fully make up for that flight, great, I love that for you. I’m not trying to tell you not to do that. Having traveled the world many times, I know that won’t be the case for most people." She advises them to think about what they would look like after spending 15 hours on an overnight flight, sitting in the middle seat, when taking the photo.

"Most people feel embarrassed by their ID photos. Yet they constitute a security measure to prevent fraud, ensure border security and guarantee easy identification of travelers," explains Gemma Brown, product manager at the British online travel agency Travel Republic. And she adds: "Therefore, if you excessively improve your appearance when taking your photo, you can actually slow down the verification process at the airport, as your in-person appearance is too different from the photo in question." Passport rules require a neutral expression, a clear image, no filters and a white or off-white background.

The passport rules require a neutral expression, a clear image, no filters and a white or off-white background, reports The SUN. Makeup is not prohibited. However, ID photos must accurately reflect the traveler. Otherwise, there would be unfortunate setbacks.