Maldives Immigration has advised passport applicants not to submit photographs that have been altered using artificial intelligence (AI) or other digital editing tools, warning that such images do not comply with the country's official passport photo requirements.

In a notice shared on X on Tuesday, the agency reminded the public that photographs modified with AI-powered applications or similar image-editing software are not acceptable for passport applications.

Immigration said applicants who submit altered images may face delays during the application process or have their applications rejected if the photographs fail to meet the required standards.

The agency emphasized that passports are among the country's most important security documents and play a critical role in verifying an individual's identity for travel and official purposes.

For that reason, passport photographs must accurately reflect an applicant's true facial features and appearance without digital manipulation or enhancements.

Immigration also urged applicants to exercise caution when preparing passport photographs, noting that the growing availability of AI-based editing tools has made it easier to alter images in ways that may not comply with official regulations.

Applicants were encouraged to carefully review the passport photo guidelines before submitting their applications and to ensure that all photographs are original, unedited, and fully compliant with the prescribed requirements.