Real Reason You Might Get Stuck at Immigration: Risks of Editing Your Passport Photo

Before heading off on an international trip, you must pack your passport. When traveling abroad, you must go through an immigration checkpoint. The criteria and restrictions for immigration checks vary from country to country. If there’s a problem, the situation can become complicated, and in severe cases, you may be denied entry and have to return to South Korea.

There are various reasons for being denied entry, among which we’ll introduce cases where entry was rejected due to passport photos.

Actress Hong Soo Ah shared a story on a variety show about almost being denied entry. She said, “There was a film production announcement in Beijing, and after the event in the afternoon, I was supposed to return on an evening flight, so I went through the departure inspection with my makeup still on.”

She continued, “But at the checkpoint, they looked at my passport and then at my face and said it wasn’t me.” Hong Soo Ah said, “So I had to confess involuntarily that it was indeed me, and if I had surgery, here and there,” and “Even then, they said it wasn’t me. Eventually, the staff gathered for a meeting.”

Hong Soo Ah drew laughter by saying that the airport staff told her to “change the passport photo quickly.”

A model from Ukraine had a similar experience to Hong Soo-ah. She was denied entry to Malaysia because her face in the passport photo differed from that in the passport photo. Tatiana Lin visited Malaysia for a vacation. At that time, she went through the immigration check with a bare face, and because her real appearance differed from that in the passport photo, she could not pass through the immigration checkpoint.

She shared on social media, “I just arrived in Malaysia, but customs won’t let me in. They say I look different from my passport,” and simultaneously posted a photo taken locally. Tatiana Lin also mentioned, “It does seem a bit different.” Eventually, after additional identity verification, she was granted entry.

Such ridiculous situations can arise at airports if your appearance in person differs significantly from your passport photo. Cases of being denied entry due to differences between a made-up face and a bare face are occurring worldwide.

An official explained, “Eyeliner that significantly changes the shape of the eyes, glittery makeup, and facial piercings can affect the AI that recognizes passports.” The official also advised, “Piercings around the nose and mouth are acceptable as long as they are small,” and added, “The same goes for tanning. You may be denied entry if your skin color is drastically different from your natural tone. It’s important to choose makeup for your passport photo that closely matches your skin tone.”

Due to excessive editing, if the actual appearance differs from the photo, startling situations can occur at the airport, making it essential to present a natural look.

Excessive editing, plastic surgery, or makeup can make photos look different from their real appearance. In the past, when taking passport photos, it was mandatory to show your ears because both ears must be exposed to reveal the facial outline. Now, the requirement has been adjusted so that the entire face needs to be visible, even if the ears are not.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, “We relaxed the standards considering the many inconveniences faced by the public as long as there are no problems with identity verification.” Considering these factors when choosing a passport photo is essential. Trying to look fancy with excessive editing on your passport photo could lead to unnecessary troubles.

In addition to differences between passport photos and real-life appearance, there are other reasons for being denied entry. If your passport is slightly damaged, it could cause problems when issuing airline tickets and during immigration checks. If the damage is confirmed, you may be denied entry.

This includes cases where the passport has been scribbled, stamped, or stained. Even if the passport paper is torn, it’s not acceptable. If the section containing identity verification information is damaged, it could be misunderstood as an attempt to forge the passport. It’s necessary to check the condition of your passport in advance and apply for reissue if there’s a problem.

Also, before leaving on an international trip, you should check the expiration date of your passport. Since the expiration period for passports varies from 3 to 6 months, it’s advisable to have a margin of 6 months.