Canadians have been told NOT to smile please – at least when they are posing for passport photographs.
According to a report in The Guardian, Canadians applying for a passport are now asked to submit photographs showing “neutral expressions”, which rules out “smiling, frowning, glaring and grimacing”.
A spokesman for the Canadian Passport Office reportedly told the country’s Mail and Globe newspaper that the changes followed recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation that such a move would make it easier for security personnel to recognise travellers from their passport photographs.
The new ruling was passed last month and will come into effect on 3 November. After that, The Guardian reports, all passports issued will be “smile- and frown-free”.
