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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

Model blocked at border because she didn't look like passport photo without make-up

A woman was blocked from entering a country because she looked so different from her passport photo, she has claimed.

Tatiana Lin, a Ukrainian actress and model based in Taiwan, has said she was stopped by border control as she looked too different to the snap without her makeup on.

The model – who posts all about her travels on Instagram @_tatiana_lin – was in Malaysia with her boyfriend when the mix up happened.

She claims that her passport photo shows her wearing some cosmetics but she was bare-faced when she turned up at the airport, Mothership reported.

Tatiana posted Instagram in traditional Chinese and explained that customs originally denied her entry because she didn't look like the photo on her passport - although she admitted she did think the snap was "a little different".

Tatiana said she wasn't wearing makeup on the day (@_tatiana_lin/Instagram)

Thankfully, the model was eventually allowed to enter beautiful Malaysia.

Makeup can affect your ability to enter a number of countries as it may cause Artificial Intelligence scanners to not recognise your facial features as a match with your passport.

Brits are allowed to wear makeup in their passport photos however it may be rejected if the cosmetics drastically alter how you look.

Cosmetics are okay so long as you look natural and not too dissimilar from how you look without it.

In the UK, Brits are now able to submit passport photos digitally.

The gov.uk website states: “You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.

The model has tens of thousands of followers on Instagram (@_tatiana_lin/Instagram)

“Your photo must have been taken in the last month. Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.”

The photo must also be clear, in focus, in colour, unedited and the correct size.

There are strict rules too such as not having any hair covering your face or your eyes, making sure you face forward and look straight at the camera, and having your eyes open and visible.

You can wear clear glasses if you need them, but they cannot have any glare, reflection or shadow.

Similarly, head coverings are only accepted for religious or medical reasons.

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