I N C I D E N T A L L Y:
You would have thought that in a country famous for its wide open spaces, mountains and national parks, the people of Canada would have had plenty to smile about. However, state authorities have now decreed that nationals applying for Canadian passports must wipe the smile off their faces when posing for a passport photograph ” as a security precaution. Canada is, of course, also famous for grizzly bears ” but as well as not seeming happy Canadian passport holders cannot appear grizzly on their photographs either. In fact new rules states that applicants should submit photographs with ”neutral expressions”, which ”rules out smiling, frowning, glaring and grimacing”. This apparently makes it easier for security personnel to recognise travellers from their passport photographs. Next time you travel have a glance at your own passport ” particularly if it is nearing renewal ” and consider whether Canadian Immigration would recognise you from it ” whether you”re smiling or not!
Supplied by our friends at Britannia Airways