FIAP Distinctions Applying

Some of the new changes to the current Distinctions AFIAP, EFIAP etc.. from Jan 2026 will benefit applicants, no print requirements, no counting Salons only Countries, and all acceptances now cumulative from the first Distinction (i.e. no starting again at EFIAP/b after completing AFIAP and EFIAP). A new novice level which is free to apply NFIAP has been introduced.

Also, you can now continue to work for acceptances/awards between applications and have them count.

Although only a max of 10 acceptances per work will count from salons entered from 2026 onwards, works with acceptances/awards gained in salons with patronage numbers pre-2026 can number more than 10 when applying after 1st Jan 2026 (i.e. if you have 15 acceptances for a work from salons entered up to and including 2025, these can all be used. You just can't add any more acceptances gained with that work in 2026 salons. If you need to use an acceptance for an award or Country gained in 2026, then you would to have to count only 10 acceptances for that work, and the 2026 acceptance/award would then be part of that maximum 10.)

MFIAP now requires applicants to hold the EFIAP/p before they can apply. 

FIAP Photographic Distinctions are available to individuals who are members of SPF Clubs. Full details about FIAP Distinctions NFIAP, AFIAP, EFIAP, EFIAP/b......and how to apply is available below.

Firstly, you must participate in salons with FIAP patronage to gain acceptances. You require to keep an accurate note of all the competitions you enter as you go. Make sure to note full Salon names, patronage numbers, and country of the Salon. Making sure that all spelling is correct on your annotations will allow you to complete the required forms later without issues. Any titles of photos used should be accurate throughout and should not be changed once entered in a FIAP salon.

A full list of these qualifying Exhibitions also known as Salons can be found on the FIAP Patronages website (also known as myfiap website) (click here)

All applications for FIAP Distinctions by anyone living in Scotland must be submitted via the Scottish Photographic Federation. Applications can only be made by the SPF once yearly, to comply with FIAP’s requirement of a year between every level of Distinction being applied for or awarded.

Applications may be made to the SPF's FIAP Liaison Officer, annually, following the details given below for the level of Distinction being applied for following exactly the process laid out in this document. This supersedes all previous processes.

This annual application process opens on 1st March, at which time all paperwork required for the current year’s submission should be available to you from this SPF webpage, and your personal copy of the ‘FIAP Scotland Salon File’ will be available for you on request from the SPF’s FIAP Liaison Officer (click here) from 1st March.

The deadline date to receive all applications is 15th May to give time for final checks to be made, prior to our late June submission to FIAP, while keeping our annual Certificate date of August. No applications or requests for 'Scotland FIAP Salon Files' will be accepted out with the 1st Mar - 15th May time period.

All applicants are advised to start by reading the latest FIAP documentation available (click here) from page 110 FIAP document 047/2025E which give full details of all of FIAP Distinctions requirements. 

The SPF are responsible for checking the information given before submission to FIAP. These dates give time for applications to be checked by us and for you to supply replacement information as required. We will confirm receipt by email within one week - please check your spam folder if you don't see an email.

All applications will be forwarded to FIAP in late June to allow the mid-August certificate date to be maintained. 

• It is a requirement that you must hold a 'new style' FIAP Photographers 'Life' Card before you can apply for a FIAP Distinction, please see the details below.
• You must first request a copy of your personal copy of the ‘FIAP Scotland Salon File’ (available from March) and check your records with it  before you can apply.
• All applications should be sent to be received by the SPF FIAP Liaison Officer Libby Smith by 15th May (please not before 1st Mar).
• Please wait for paperwork for the year you are applying in to appear below before submitting any Applications (Next Application will be 2026)

First obtain a FIAP Photographer's Life Card (Full details are available below). You require the numbers from this Card to complete some details on your application.

Please download all of the following documentatation from the Downloads Area below. You Require to have ALL of the following Documents Before You can Apply -

• 1. Instructions for SPF Distinctions Applicants 2026 – this document. Please also note particularly all of the additional documents and weblinks referenced prior to this section of this document, including the FIAP Photographer’s Life Card requirement.
• 2. SPF Distinction Application Form 2026 – Please complete and submit this document to the SPF as part of your initial application. (supplied in a choice of formats)
• 3. SPF Notes Using the New FIAP Draft and Dossier Excel Files which will show you where to view a YouTube Guide on how to complete this new ‘FIAP Dossier Excel File’ as well as MAC software issues with other programs, and additional help to complete your application correctly.
• 4. FIAP Distinctions Rules 2026 on - Notes on changes to previous Rules_Issue 1 31st July 2025 outlining the quantities required for each level when applying from 2026
• 5. Draft Excel Worksheet Page C which is supplied to allow you to organise and review your List of Acceptances before completing the ‘FIAP Dossier Excel File’. Please complete and submit this document ‘Draft Excel Worksheet Page C’ as part of your initial application, to ensure you are maintaining the formatting of the new Excel sheet. Document 3 will assist you with this.
• 6. FIAP Dossier Excel File – The file that requires to be completed in full once the SPF have checked the submitted documents 1 and 3 have been completed correctly.

Your Next step is to request your copy of the Scotland FIAP Salon File for the year, after 1st March, from the FIAP Liaison Officer (click here)

After you have read and folowed all of the information outlined above, and have requested and received a copy of your ‘Scotland FIAP Salon File’ and have checked that information against your Page C information, you are ready to make an initial application to the SPF.

To making your initial application to the SPF, (between 1st Mar and 15th May)

Please send by email -

• a completed copy of SPF Distinction Application Form 2026 (in word or PDF format) together with
• a completed Draft Excel Worksheet Page C (in excel format)

Send to the SPF FIAP Liaison Officer, to the email address supplied on the paperwork. We will acknowledge receipt within one week.

• If you are unsure of completing the Draft Excel Worksheet Page C, and maintaining formatting, please enter a sample entry and send it to us and we will check it for you.

Once this initial application has been checked by us, which may take us some time, we will get back to you with any required amendments, comments or queries, or request that you progress to completing Pages A, B and C of the ‘FIAP Dossier Excel File’ as outlined in the instructions with the help of the YouTube video.

When complete please send a copy of your completed ‘FIAP Dossier Excel File’ by email to the SPF contact who requested it. At that time, we will also request your ‘portfolio of images’ (see details outlined on the documentation) which must be sent via WeTransfer not by email.

Once we are happy everything is complete and correct, we will return the correct ‘FIAP Dossier Excel File’ to you and we will ask you to supply a paper copy of Page A and a signed paper copy of Page B direct to Libby Smith, FIAP Liaison Officer. You will also be supplied details of how to make payment at that time.

The distinction "Master Photographer of FIAP" (MFIAP) is awarded to a photographic artist in recognition of his/her entire achievements in the field of artistic photography. MFIAP is the third step, after AFIAP and EFIAP, in the FIAP distinctions awarded for personal successes in photography.

The candidate must be holder of the EFIAP/p distinction before they are eligible to apply for this award (from 1st Jan 2026)

The following procedure must be followed:

• See separate sheet “Notes to Assist MFIAP Applicants 2025-6” - Please Note - Changes may apply to the below for the next Application which will be for 2026. Please contact the SPF FIAP Liaison Officer to ensure you have up to date details as soon as available.
• The full MFIAP Pack is available to download below.
• Please read the section in the FIAP Book from page 92 on the following link (click here) and comply with these requirements set out in FIAP Document 011/2016 E Sections 5, 8 and 9.

Any applications for MFIAP require to be submitted to SPF between 1st September 2025 and by 1st December 2025, for submission to FIAP for January 2026.

Please contact the SPF's FIAP Liaison Officer, if you require further advice.

Visit the FIAP website MFIAP area to see photos from photographers from throughout the world awarded MFIAP (click here) 

The following successful Scottish author's MFIAP panels are also available to view on the FIAP website;

To view Robert Fulton's successful MFIAP Panel (2015) (click here)   To view Peter Paterson's successful MFIAP Panel (2015) (click here)   To view Rod Wheelans' successful MFIAP panel (2008) (click here)   To view John Simpson's successful MFIAP panel (2006) (click here)