New changes mean common item now BANNED from passport photos

While many of us think about tax come the new financial year (and all the gripes that come with it) the big switch from FYs actually brings more than an accounting headache.

And this financial year is no different with a number of new pieces of legislation due kick in come July 1.

One of the most notable of these is the restricting (and enforcing) of glasses in passport photos.

The Australian Passport Office said in a statement that the move “further strengthens the integrity of the Australian passport”.

“Research has shown that glasses adversely affect passport facial matching,” the APO added.

“Matching is more accurate without glasses. A limited exemption for medical reasons may apply where supported by a medical certificate.”

The APO website also states that exemptions will be made for valid medical reasons e.g. severe light sensitivity or recent eye surgery, but vision impairment alone was not sufficient for medical exemption. Finally, they advise that if glasses must be worn for excemptive medical reasons, the frames “must not obscure the eyes and there must be no reflection from the lenses.”