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Does your passport photo still look like you?

My boyfriend got his current passport on his 17th birthday. Now on the verge of his 27th year, the picture inside barely resembles him. He changed and grew as stamps were added, but his passport photo remained the same. His shaggy, teenage hair has morphed into a more clean cut look, and these days his face is looking a little less tan and a little more grown up. But somehow, customs agents are able to look underneath his current five o'clock shadow to recognize he is still the same person he was nearly ten years ago.
Do you still look like the "former you" in your passport? Do you ever get nervous in security lines wondering if the agent will question whether or not your documents are the real deal? A joint photo project called Passport and Reality by Suren Manvelyan and Biayna Mahari that was brought to our attention by Flavorwire is collecting passport photos and comparing them to current looks. Some of the photos are simply bad mug shots, while others show just how much people change over the years. Click through the gallery below to see what I mean: passport photos are on the left, while present-day portraits are on the right.
Filed under: Photos, Travel Security
























Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
Gina Jun 7th 2011 9:41PM
The people got older, but for the most part you can tell it is the same person.
steve Jun 7th 2011 9:46PM
If you need a US passport, contact Rush Passport by visiting http://rushpassport.com
Escalonz Jun 7th 2011 9:55PM
Congraatulations AOL for finally doing something about these selfish scammers by blocking out their cheap shots. Should have been done years ago. Any way to prosecute them?? Any law violated or do we need to legislate one?
Liara Jun 7th 2011 10:18PM
So... in most of these pictures, it's pretty clear to me that they are of the same person. I'm not a trained specialist by any means, but obviously hair style and facial expression make for differences at first glance. Once you look at actual features, not the way they do their hair or the number of wrinkles they do or don't have, but rather for example the individual shape and size of the ears/nose/lips, it's a lot easier to see. Even the jaw line, general flow of the eyebrows, and the shape/height of the hairline help a lot. I mean, in my passport photo, my hair was down past my shoulders and now it's above my chin, but my cleft chin and slightly asymmetrical ears aren't going to change without plastic surgery that I don't ever plan to have.
steve e Jun 7th 2011 10:35PM
had my son's passport updated when he went on school trip to Greece this year - he di dnot look like picture and did not want any problems,,,
Robin Jun 7th 2011 10:42PM
Whos the caucasian?
Paul Jun 8th 2011 12:04AM
What looks so "different" about those pics??? Anyone who couldn't tell that's the same person in both pics must be blind.
What about people who have lost (or gained) 100, 200, or 300 (or more) pounds before and after? Now THAT can be stupifying ..
Liliana Jun 8th 2011 12:10AM
Currently i'm living in the US , but unfortunately i still have my citizenship in Europe, and i just had to update my passport since i will be studying abroad. We have to renew every five years. Anyway, ten years to renew a US passport does not sound safe at all.
Time Jun 8th 2011 1:40AM
All Muds.
Walt Jun 8th 2011 1:36AM
Funny how all of their noses get wider with age. I have to go in the bathroom and look in the mirror at mine.
Francisco Jun 10th 2011 5:32AM
This article try to prepare us for the new "digital angel"... the verichip?
Cherry Jun 8th 2011 6:33AM
is the unibrow look in????