AnswerUnited States online passport applicationchecked November 10, 2026
Red eye in the photo
Do not submit a photo with red eye, and do not edit the red eye out. The State Department says to take a new photo with natural lighting instead.
Why it happens
- The flash is close to the lens and reflects off the back of the eye.
- The room is dark, so the pupils are wide when the flash fires.
How to fix it
Turn off the flash
Use daylight from a window instead.
Brighten the room
More light makes the pupils smaller and reduces red eye.
Retake the photo
Do not use a red-eye removal tool. It counts as a digital change.
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Checks
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Questions
Does the red-eye setting on my camera count as editing?
Pre-flash modes that reduce red eye before the shot do not change the photo. Software that repaints the eyes after the shot does. The safest option is no flash at all.