To order a Sentinel card, you must provide a current and valid digital photograph. The following rules and guidelines set the standards which the photograph must meet.

• The photo must have been taken in the last month
• The application will be rejected if the photo does not meet the rules set out on this page
• A new photo must be submitted when you replace a card

Your Photo Must Be:

• Correctly oriented (not sideways or upside down)
• Clear and in focus
• In colour (not black and white)
• Taken against a light grey or cream background
• Unaltered by computer software
• An original photo (not a scan/copy of an existing photo)
• JPEG format
• Less than 4MB in size
• Free from ‘redeye’
• Free of any reflection or glare from glasses
• Contain no other objects or people
• True likeness
• Show the head and shoulder only

In your photo you must:

• Be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
• Have a plain facial expression and your mouth closed (no smiling, grinning or frowning)
• Have your eyes open and visible
• Not have hair in front of your eyes
• Not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
• Not have anything covering your face
• Not have any shadows on your face or behind you
• Not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. You can wear other glasses if you need to, but your eyes must be visible without any glare or reflection.

See below for examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos: