Facial hair and passport photo

[midliferider]

During last few months, I have grown facial hair. As it is recent addition to my look, passport photo taken couple of years ago don't have facial hair.
I will be going to Europe in few days for my next cycle tour.
Should I take an electric shaver in case I am not allowed through the passport control?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

The difference between my photo and my hairy face has proved no hindrance in my numerous trips abroad (Europe and elsewhere).

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

You'll be fine.

It's something I worried about on my last trip too, having grown a beard since getting my passport. I couldn't get the automated passport readers to recognize me before I had the beard but they do now.

 

[Illaveago]

During last few months, I have grown facial hair. As it is recent addition to my look, passport photo taken couple of years ago don't have facial hair.
I will be going to Europe in few days for my next cycle tour.
Should I take an electric shaver in case I am not allowed through the passport control?

I did the opposite when I was in Spain many years ago, shaving half my beard off for a carnival and the next day shaving the rest off. When I returned home they did look at my passport photo and my face a bit more carefully.

 

[I like Skol]

I had a passport photo with a reasonable head of hair for a long time, it was never a hinderance

I also went blonde for a little while and took a skiing holiday while blonde, again, no issues at the borders.

 

[midliferider]

I did the opposite when I was in Spain many years ago, shaving half my beard off for a carnival and the next day shaving the rest off. When I returned home they did look at my passport photo and my face a bit more carefully.

I am not worried if they don't let me in at UK airport. There is no pressure, they can check so many things and eventually will let me in.
My worry is entering Spain. If they detain me at Spain when leaving is also not a worry as I had already finished my tour.

 

[midliferider]

Thanks for all your replies.
It will add to the excitement of the tour.
However, I am always one of those who get taken to a side for "random" check.
Perhaps I have a look of a trouble maker.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Perhaps I have a look of a trouble maker.

Well you grew that beard to deliberately make trouble didn't you ?

 

[Drago]

My passport photo looks like Grant Mitchell, but last time I went abroad I was bearded like Charles Bronson. Didn't raise an eyebrow that I could detect.

 

[I like Skol]

My passport photo looks like Grant Mitchell, but last time I went abroad I was bearded like Charles Bronson. Didn't raise an eyebrow that I could detect.

Good old Grunt, I miss him...…..

 

[Tin Pot]

During last few months, I have grown facial hair. As it is recent addition to my look, passport photo taken couple of years ago don't have facial hair.
I will be going to Europe in few days for my next cycle tour.
Should I take an electric shaver in case I am not allowed through the passport control?

As a beardie, you’re already on the watchlist. Bringing unnecessary battery powered electrical devices through border control ain’t gonna help.

 

[Profpointy]

You're best off having a beard in real life and clean shaven in the photo. If there's a problem, shave off the whiskers and all's good.

If you are beared in the photo and clean shaven in the flesh, you could be whisked off to guantanamo bay for 6 weeks till your beard's grown back to match the photo, by which time your forms will have been lost and you'll be there for years

 

[Tin Pot]

You're best off having a beard in real life and clean shaven in the photo. If there's a problem, shave off the whiskers and all's good.

If you are beared in the photo and clean shaven in the flesh, you could be whisked off to guantanamo bay for 6 weeks till your beard's grown back to match the photo, by which time your forms will have been lost and you'll be there for years

Plus your explosives will have degraded and become useless.

PS I wouldn’t neccesarily reach for the sandals either on your next border control jaunt.