Taking Document Photos Accepted First Time

Most delays in a file are not caused by a missing document. They are caused by a document that was uploaded but could not be accepted: a blurry photo, a cut-off corner, an expired page. Each rejected upload costs you days, because you have to find out why, retake it and wait for the next check. This guide shows how to get it right the first time.

You do not need a scanner. A phone camera is enough if you follow a few simple habits.

Before you take the photo

• Find good light. Near a window in daytime is best. Avoid using the flash, because it leaves a bright spot that hides the text.
• Put the document on a plain, flat, dark surface such as a table. A folded or curved page makes the edges of the text blurry.
• Remove any plastic cover, sleeve or folder so there is no reflection.
• Clean the camera lens with a soft cloth. A smudged lens is a common reason for a blurry picture.

While you take it

• Hold the phone directly above the document, parallel to the surface, so the page does not look like a trapezoid.
• Fill the frame, but keep all four corners and every edge inside the picture.
• Hold your breath or rest your elbows on the table for a second so the camera is steady, then tap to focus on the text before you shoot.
• Take the picture, then zoom in on it and read a line of text. If you cannot read it on your screen, your specialist will not be able to either.

Page by page

• A passport needs a separate picture of the first page (the page with your photo and personal details) and the last page, as listed on your document checklist. Make sure the machine-readable lines at the bottom of the page are fully visible.
• A certificate with more than one page should be uploaded as a single file with every page, in order, not as the first page only.
• Your CV should be a readable file, not a picture of a screen.
• Your photograph should show your face clearly, looking at the camera, with a plain background and no filters.

What each rejection reason means

Your specialist picks a reason when a document cannot be accepted, and you see it on your dashboard with the fix. - Blurry or unreadable: the text could not be read. Retake it in better light, hold the camera steady and fill the frame. - Cropped or incomplete: part of the document was cut off. Make sure all four corners and every page are in the picture. - Expired: the document is no longer valid. Upload a current one. If it has expired, start renewing it early, because renewal can take time. - Wrong document: the file is not the one the slot asks for. Check the label above the upload box. - Name does not match: the name on the document is not the name you registered with. Upload a document in your registered name, or message your specialist so the registration can be corrected.

After you upload

• Check your dashboard for the status of each document: waiting, accepted or rejected.
• If a document is rejected, you do not need to start again. Replace only that one.
• Keep the original paper documents safe and with you. The photo is only a copy for checking.
• If you are not sure which file to upload, message your specialist before you upload.

This guide gives general information about preparing your documents. Your specialist tells you exactly what your file needs.