Passport Photo Paper & Print Defects — Creases, Staples, Gloss and Black-and-White
A passport photo can be rejected for how it is printed, not just how it is taken. The UK standard requires good-quality photo paper free of creases, serrated edges, ink marks and other visible damage — staples and paper-clip marks included — refuses glossy and textured paper, rejects watermarks that show up when scanned, and does not accept black-and-white photos at all. Here is the full defect list and how to avoid each one. Verified against the UK HMPO photo standards, September 2026.
The 15-second answer
- Paper quality and surface are specified. Photos must be printed on good-quality photo paper, free of creases, serrated edges, ink marks and other visible damage.
- Staples and paper clips leave marks that get rejected — the standard names staples and paper-clip marks as visible damage.
- Glossy and textured paper are not accepted — they can cause haze and glare and distort the image on screen.
- Black-and-white photos are not accepted — they make skin tone, eye colour and true likeness hard to judge.
- Watermarks that appear when the photo is scanned are rejected.
The defect list, one by one
- Creases and folds — a bent or creased photo counts as visible damage and is not accepted. Keep prints flat and unsleeved until sent.
- Serrated or torn edges — edges cut with a serrated trimmer (the jagged "perforated" look) are named as a rejection reason on paper applications.
- Staple and paper-clip marks — clipping a photo to a form leaves a puncture or a dent; the standard treats these as damage. Use a paper clip only on a sleeve, never through the photo.
- Ink marks and smudges — stray ink is listed alongside other visible damage.
- Glossy paper — not accepted: it may cause haze and glare and distort the image on screen.
- Textured paper — not accepted for the same reason.
- Watermarks — a watermark that shows up on screen when the photo is scanned is rejected. This includes the faint stock watermarks on some cheap paper.
- Black-and-white — not accepted, in either digital or paper form; it obscures skin tone, eye colour and true likeness.
Paper, surface and damage — what to buy and how to handle
Print on good-quality photo paper, and choose a finish that is neither glossy nor textured. Keep the print flat: no folding it into a wallet, no paper clip through the sheet, no staples. If you trim it yourself, use a straight-edge trimmer rather than a serrated one, and cut so no torn edge is left. This is where a print shop earns its keep — a lab print on the right stock removes most of this list in one step.
The black-and-white question
Some countries accept black-and-white photos; the UK does not, in either digital or paper form, because it makes it difficult to tell a customer's skin tone, eye colour and true likeness. If you are applying in the UK, shoot and print in colour. If a rule elsewhere appears to allow monochrome, check that country's own page rather than assuming the UK rule applies.
Watermarks and scanner artefacts
A watermark that only becomes visible when the photo is scanned is a rejection reason — so the paper's stock marking, or anything you overlaid, can surface at the checking stage even though it looked clean to the eye. Print on plain photo paper with no visible marking, and inspect the scan before you submit.
60-second print check
- ☐ Printed on good-quality photo paper
- ☐ No creases or folds — the sheet is flat
- ☐ Edges are clean, not serrated or torn
- ☐ No staple holes or paper-clip dents
- ☐ No ink marks or smudges
- ☐ Surface is neither glossy nor textured
- ☐ No watermark visible when scanned
- ☐ Colour, not black-and-white
Frequently asked questions
What paper should a passport photo be printed on?
Good-quality photo paper — and not glossy or textured. The UK standard says glossy or textured paper is not accepted because it may cause haze and glare and distort the image on screen.
Can a passport photo be black and white?
Not for the UK route. The standard says black-and-white digital or paper photos are not accepted, because they make it difficult to tell skin tone, eye colour and true likeness.
Will staple marks get my photo rejected?
They can. The standard requires photos to be free of visible damage including staples and paper-clip marks, so keep clips and staples off the photo itself.
Are creases a problem?
Yes — photos must be free of creases, serrated edges, ink marks and other visible damage. Keep the print flat and uncut.
What is a watermark rejection?
The UK will reject photos with watermarks that show up on the screen when scanned — including stock markings that are invisible on the paper but appear in the scan.
Where can I print to be safe?
A print shop or lab using appropriate photo stock avoids the paper and finish problems in one step; if you print at home, use good-quality non-glossy, non-textured photo paper and a straight-edge trimmer.
Size, quantity and allowed formats are on the printing guide; the digital-file side is on digital file requirements. Check your printer's scale with the print calibration tool, and the full list is in the top rejection reasons. Already refused? Work the rejected next steps.