That's what I call service...

[Tronhard]

I returned to NZ and have had to renew my NZ passport while I am here. One can do so completely on line if there is a current passport, and you have to nominate a referee if they want to check up on you. The great thing is that I can take my own photo via a site that I can submit the image to and I get immediate feedback as to whether the image is acceptable or not. On the on-line application I give them my passport details, confirm my address and upload the photo- - and of course pay them!

When I did the upload I got an immediate email response to advise that the application had been received and that it could take up to 10 working days to process. That was at about 8:30am. At 12:40pm the same day I got an email that my passport has been processed, approved and printed and will be with me via courier in about 3 days.

I particularly like the idea that I can take my own photo. In Canada I shall have to a similar renewal, this time on paper and pay an authorized company to take my photo.

This last experience what I call service in the 21st Century - Kudos to the NZ Dept of Internal Affairs!!!

(Remember - if you look like the photo, you need the vacation...)

[rpcrowe]

I shot my own photo as well as my wife's photo for our U.S. passport book renewal and passport card application. I filled out the renewal form online, printed it out and just made sure that the passport photos were in line with the requirements. It took approximately two weeks to get the renewed passport and passport cards.

BTW: I was a little bit confused when I did the last renewal. I wasn't familiar with the "passport card". It turns out that this can be carried in lieu of the standard passport for trips to and from Mexico and other selected Western Hemisphere countries.

When a passport became a requirement for travel to and from Mexico, carrying the standard passport became a PITA. I would need to carry my passport for a fishing trip in my son-in-law's boat if we were to enter Mexican waters, even if we had no intention of going ashore in Mexico. The passport card allows me to make those trips without having to carry the standard passport. The passport card is the size of a California Driving License or my Retired Military I.D. card and it fits just fine in my wallet!

[Tronhard]

Hi Richard:

I think Canada is a bit conservative in its approach to some documentation and the systems it uses.

I think it is unnecessarily restrictive to have to get a photographer to take my photo when I can do at least as good a job myself, and for free. The output from the photographer is a small passport-size print, while my NZ one allows up to 5MB images of specific proportions, giving a much higher-resolution image. I also think the digital submission is what makes the process faster. The image contains metadata about the image setup, whereas the hardcopy for the CBSA has to have a stamp on the back saying who took it and when it was taken.

I applied for my NEXUS card in Vancouver, a process that took months and culminated in a 20 minute interview with a member each of the US and Canadian Border Security Agencies. The US official was, to be polite, abrasive and when he took my picture with a webcam to put on my ID card, he managed to get it skewed and contorted as it was barely 30cm from my face when he took the photo. Ironic, when on sees the restrictions required for a passport photos that we submit.

[mastamak]

Trev, I took my own photo for my Australian passport several years ago and also printed it. Does this make me a "serious" photographer as per your thread above, or am I perhaps just another miserly old bugger .
Anyway by means unknown to me I now have a digital passport which I discovered when returning to Sydney from NZ a few months ago. Instead of having to confront the invariably grumpy customs officer I just had to stare at a screen for a minute or so whilst a computer analysed my head, beeped and gurgled, and eventually pronounced that I was, in fact, me. This was a quite relief as you can imagine and having been digitally identified I was quickly ejected into a world of pain, chaos and relentless and unwanted shopping opportunities, otherwise know as Sydney International Terminal.
Grant

[pnodrog]

Trev, I took my own photo for my Australian passport several years ago and also printed it. Does this make me a "serious" photographer as per your thread above, or am I perhaps just another miserly old bugger ........................................
Grant

Your normal self could be a serious photographer and your dark side a miserly old bugger - Oops judging by your reaction to the shopping opportunities I may have it the wrong way round...

[Donald]

I notice that Myanmar (formerly Burma) is even allowing self-taken pics. Certainly for entry visas.

I was looking at the need for a visa when it looked as if I might be going there. Whole thing was done online with, as I say, a self-taken pic.

Grant - Brought a smile on a cold, grey January morning up in the north-western corner of Europe. I have that wonderful experience to go through in a couple of days from now as I head for Malaysia.

[Tronhard]

Hi Grant
Your are seriously a brave man for printing your passport photo. LOL !

I hate having my own photo taken for a bunch of reasons, not least the peril of cracking the lens. That reluctance is made worse by the idea that one cannot smile, so we tend to look miserable!
Hence the cliche - If you look like your photo you need the vacation...

I love the new digital passports myself, they save a lot of complications. Canada has them now and I am looking forward to getting my new one when I return in a few months time.