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]]>Flattering Your Features
You don’t have to go full glam to look good in your passport photo. While you can certainly wear some makeup (especially if you plan to wear makeup while traveling), anything too bold is generally not recommended. Red lips and false eyelashes, for example, can drastically alter the way a person looks, making it difficult for airport security to confirm that their identity matches the one on their passport. Instead, choose a natural look that highlights your features without camouflaging them.
How to Dress
As clothing is largely not visible in passport photos, there aren’t a lot of rules about what is and is not allowed, so you can essentially wear anything that you feel comfortable in. The only exception is uniforms, which can only be worn by diplomats or flight crew members with special approval. While not explicitly forbidden, we also recommend steering clear of white clothing, as it can blend in with the background and leave you with a photo of a floating head. Hats and head coverings are also forbidden unless they’re for religious or medical reasons.
Getting the Right Facial Expression
Capturing a facial expression that you’re happy with can take a bit of practice, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Smiling with teeth is technically allowed in the United States, but cheesy grins can make it difficult for facial recognition software to confirm the identities of those traveling with biometric passports. Ultimately, you’re better off with a pleasant, yet neutral expression. Practice in front of a mirror by thinking about something that makes you smile softly until you land on a look that you’re happy with.
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]]>Report the Loss
Once you’ve emptied your bags and turned your hotel room upside down to the point where you’re absolutely sure that your passport is gone, head to the local police station and file a report. You may need a copy of this report in order to apply for a new passport, and it can serve as evidence in the event that your passport was stolen.
Replace Your Passport
Contact the consular section of your country’s embassy as soon as possible to start the application process for a replacement or emergency passport. You’ll likely need certain documents such as another valid form of ID, passport photos, and proof of citizenship, though if you don’t have all of these, they will still be able to assist you.
Secure Your Identity
Passports are a gold mine for identity thieves looking to create false documents. Even if you’re not totally certain that your passport was stolen, you will be at risk should it fall into the wrong hands, so it’s a good idea to take steps to safeguard your identity. Informing your bank and credit card company will allow them to monitor your accounts and flag any suspicious activity.
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]]>The post The Viral Passport Makeup Trend appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Luckily, there was a trend circulating around TikTok and Instagram last year that will help you take the best passport photo ever. It’s called “passport makeup”, and it’s basically a tutorial of how to do your makeup so that it looks natural and great in the photo.
Essentially, the tutorial teaches you to contour your face in a way that compliments your natural facial structure. Since the camera of a passport photo tends to wash you out, using a more intense contour will help you look “normal”. This means contouring the cheeks and brightening the undereyes. This is always the first layer of the passport makeup.
@georgia.barratt Reply to @haaalzzy mission complete #xyzbca #makeup #beauty ♬ As It Was – Harry Styles
Next, you need to focus on your eyes. Most tutorials focus on lengthening the eyes with winged eyeliner. Other than eyeliner and mascara, you might add a touch of bronzer into your crease to add a bit more definition.
(@fxyyee)After you complete your lip combo, you’re done. You’re now ready to smash your passport photo!
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]]>Some souvenirs, however, are better left in their country of origin.
A new trend involves collecting passport stamps from unique locations. Amongst these are Machu Picchu in Peru, Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales. Travelers give themselves the novelty stamps as reminders of the adventures they’ve been on, and proudly show them off in their passports. But that may not be the wisest move.
Page 5 of all United States passports clearly state that “only authorized officials of the United States or of foreign countries may place stamps or make notations or additions to this passport.” Anything else is considered an unauthorized alteration or manipulation of the travel document and can bar you from entering certain countries.
“The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid the use of novelty stamps in the U.S. passport. The Department could potentially consider novelty stamps as ‘damage’ to the U.S. passport,” explained an official at the U.S. State Department. “We cannot comment on what passport damage or alteration might cause the Department of Homeland Security or the government of a foreign country to prevent entry at the border.“
So, if you’re planning on collecting the quirky stamps, rather place them in a travel journey.
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]]>Use an RFID Blocking Sleeve
To protect your passport from potentially being scanned and read by somebody with nefarious intentions, you can keep it in an RFID blocking sleeve, which also has the added advantage of adding physical protection from damage or from being easily spotted as a passport by a potential thief.
Keep Copies
If you want to be the safest you can possibly be, print out a copy of your passport, laminate it, and keep it in your wallet. In fact, do this with a few copies kept in multiple places so you don’t have to worry about ever being without one. Beyond that, keep an online copy that you can easily access for emergencies.
Leave a Copy With Someone You Trust
If there is ever (knock on wood) an emergency in which you aren’t capable of or available to find copies of your passport, keeping one with somebody you trust can be a lifesaver.
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]]>Most Of Them Are Red
There are only four passport colors in the entire world—red, blue, black, or green—and there’s usually a meaning behind this cover color. Red is the most common passport color and it’s mostly chosen by countries in the EU or interested in joining the EU.
Singapore and Japan Have the Most Powerful Passport
The citizens of Japan and Singapore have the most powerful passport in the world according to Henley Passport Index. This means that they have visa-free access to the largest number of countries, 192 to be exact.
Smiling Was Banned In 2004
As you may already know, smiling in passport photos has been strictly forbidden ever since it was banned in the United Kingdom in 2004. The reason why this happened is that the facial recognition software is likely to have a problem recognizing our faces if we’re smiling.
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