| And the biggest single reason for this is photos. | | | | the most common things we hear from existing and |
| The biggest single significant change with respect to | | | | new clients is that finding an image center who can |
| Canadian Passport photos occurred in 2003, when | | | | or is willing to produce Canadian passport photos can |
| the ICAO introduced new photo specifications for | | | | be as - if not more - difficult than actually getting |
| travel documents (standard size, face-on, neutral | | | | them done properly. |
| expression, light-colored background), but meeting | | | | Canadian passport photos have a reputation for being |
| the standards perfectly and creating as much of a | | | | difficult to take, in part, because Passport Canada |
| compliance as possible has been a difficult task to | | | | and the Federal Government act proactively with |
| manage for Passport Canada. | | | | ensuring that Canadian passports migrate towards |
| Commercial photographers in the United States do | | | | the newest technologies as quickly as possible for |
| not need to be up to date on the standards | | | | security and administrative reasons. This, of course, is |
| associated with Canadian Passport photos, simply | | | | a good thing, but in the last 3 years, the standards |
| because Canadian citizens make up a very small | | | | for Canadian passport photos has changed |
| percentage of their customer base, if they do at all. | | | | dramatically, and as a result, Canadians who reside in |
| 6 out of the 10 photos we receive from our clients, | | | | the U.S., who cannot visit a Passport Canada office |
| all of which originate in the United States, will not be | | | | or receive a passport from a consulate, have no |
| approved by Passport Canada, and we direct them | | | | choice but to wait and see how their application and |
| to either one of our vetted partners, a commercial | | | | photos are received. Most commercial photographers |
| photographer who we know can meet the | | | | in the United States, understandably, aren't current |
| standards, or we simply advise to have the photos | | | | with their knowledge of the ever changing standards, |
| re-done. This is also part of the reason we created | | | | and as a result, rejection rates are considerably |
| our commercial photographers links in our Help | | | | higher for those of you who live in the U.S. |
| section. We are constantly building this list, as one of | | | | |