FIAP Portfolio Distinctions - May application round
The second application round opens at the start of May and closes on the 15th May.
Please register with me if you intend to apply so I have you on my list. The link to register is in the menu to the left on this page.
It is essential that you download the documents from the document downloads page, that is accessed from the registration page, and read them careful as these will help you prepare your application and increase your chances of success. You will need these to find the link and application process. Make sure you read section 2 of FEA1 which has the application procedure outlined. You should also watch the talk at the end of our FIAP Distinctions presentation event in 2025. This can also be found in the menu on the left. Go to the 53minute mark. The talk is about the FIAP Biennials competitions which involve entries that are a cohesive set and much of this talk discusses how to form a cohesive set. The Portfolio Distinctions applications must also be a cohesive set so the tips in this talk are invaluable!
It is also worthwhile reading the Directors Notices section of the Feb 2026 edition of the FIAP News magazine. This can be located on the home page of the FIAP website and will also be on our Other Docs and Forms page until the May edition is published. In the Feb edition, they talk about some of the criteria on which the portfolios are assessed, so make sure you read this.
Final Days for Lodgement of Category A (salon result based) Distinctions
The closing date of the 28th Feb, by which Category A Distinctions applications must be lodged with me, is fast approaching. There is just one circuit left to publish their results, this being Mine Museum Circuit, that I know will send their report to FIAP before the 28th Feb.
There are still several salons that have released their results but have yet to send their FIAP Salon Files (list of results) to FIAP. It is necessary that these files have been lodged with FIAP by the time our applications are being processed by FIAP as it is these files that are collated into the FIAP database and that database is then used to confirm results shown on your application. The Australian processing of applications is usually completed within a day or two of our closing date and is sent to FIAP immediately, so I always indicate that the Patronage website must show these files as lodged when applications close.
I do endeavour to facilitate people stuck with last minute results but need to know they are out there. On multiple occasions in past years, I have had people who have not registered for FIAP Distinctions until the very last minute and some that lodge without registering. Remember that you do not need certainty of these FIAP Salon files being lodged to be able to register. The register simply means I know you are out there and have communication with you. When facing these final days with salon files not yet lodged, I may be able to help BUT I need you to register so you are on my list and I know who to check in with regarding their scenario when we come into the final week. Without you on my register, I am able to ascertain where assistance might be needed.
For those of you who are registered and know that there is absolutely no possibility that you will be able to proceed with your application, please email me and let me know. This means I will be able to check that you definitely cannot proceed and will remove you from this year's applicant list. It also means you won't get ongoing emails, including emails in the final days seeking updates on the status of your application ;)
Updated FEA1 Guidelines for Australian Applicants document and New Distinctions Draft Worksheet
The FEA1 document has had a major update. The revised document was loaded to the APS website distinctions documents downloads page at 6.45pm AEDT on the 18th Jan. Page 1 is labelled FEA1/2026 at the top of the page and the footer has the 18th Jan 2026 date on it. If you have an older version, you should now replace it with the new one.
Now that the Portfolio applications have closed, and I have a working knowledge of the application lodgement platform, it has been possible to build a more comprehensive information and lodgement procedure for these distinctions into this document. This is the major update that has been completed. What I cannot be sure about is whether some things will be changed by FIAP in response to feedback between now and the next application round so those considering applying in Round 2 in May should check back to see if there is a newer version between in the month before Round 2 opens.
The update needed to indicate that a first time Category A Distinctions application is no longer required to have been entering for a full year before lodging an application has also be done.
Thanks to an astute applicant, a clause in 1.06d that cited a now redundant rule from the old Distinctions requirements, has also been removed.
Multiple other updates are of a minor nature to improve wording or make it more concise have been done.
FIAP have provided a draft worksheet to help people sort out the results they wish to include on their application. This is a standalone copy of page C from the application form but includes the function to be able to delete a row of data and have the data below that row move up (something you can't do on the application form itself). This is helpful as it enables you do sort out what you want on your application. You can then copy what you want to the final application form. This is worksheet not something you lodge, it is just a draft document that you have the option of using instead of a copy of the actual application form to help sort out which results you want to include on your application. It still has the count function at the top. This draft worksheet has been added to the Distinctions downloads table as an optional download. Mention of it has also been added to the FEA1 document.
FIAP Portfolio Distinction Lodgements About to Close
The closing date for the first application round for FIAP Portfolio Distinctions is on Thursday 15th January. I have not been able to confirm is exactly when the platform will close to applicants but recommend you have your application lodged well before 11.45pm on the 15th in your time zone.
Please note that it does take some time to register on the upload website and load your photos so do not leave this to the last minute. The files size the platform is accepting is 1920 - 3600px on the long edge, set to 300ppi and saved as a jpg to between 0-3mb per photo. Note that at 3600px, you will find you need to lower the file quality setting to 10 or 11, instead of the highest setting of 12, to stay under 3mb.
Portfolio Lodgement Closing Date, Last Minute Salon Entries and FIAP Bulletin
The closing date for applications for FIAP Portfolio Distinctions is 15th Jan, so just days away. There are just 15 application spots per country. Less than half have been taken as of writing this update (Sun 11/1). There are a few more people who have registered but there will still be spots available. Please remember to register with me if you know you will be applying so that I have contact with you. Please also remember that you must have uploaded your photos, clicked to submit the application and paid the fee via the same upload website. If you have missed any of these steps, your application is not yet lodged!!
There is still a file size discrepancy between the Distinctions regulations and the application upload platform but the size permitted by the platform has been increased. Please proceed as per the size on the upload platform (2500-3600 on long edge and under 2mb).
There is a lot of information in the latest FIAP Bulletin in e-News. This same bulletin can also be found in the Liaison Officer Bulletin page accessible via the menu to the left in this FIAP Information area.
I have already mentioned this in my email sent on the 6/1 to people on my Distinctions register, but there may be people not yet registered so I will repeat this here. There may be people who are still chasing some last minute salon results in the hope of applying for a Category A (salon result based) FIAP Distinction. There are now very few salons still open that might provide both online results and send their FIAP Salon file to FIAP's database in time to use the result for an Australian FIAP Distinctions application. I have spoken with the Maitland Salon here in Australia and confirmed they will get their results onto their website and into FIAP's hands in time for you to include them on your application. The Maitland Salon closes on the 18th Jan. Here is the link to the Maitland Salon: https://maitlandinternational.salon/
I have also been in contact with the Mine Museum Circuit organiser in Italy. Their circuit is much closer to the deadline but they are going to get their results on their website and into FIAP's hands by the 26th Feb (in time by a whisker). This circuit closes on the 31st Jan. Here is the link to the Mine Museum Circuit: Mine Museum Circuit
There may be other salons that will both publish their results online and send their files to FIAP in time to be on the FIAP database when our applications are sent by me to FIAP, but with many salons taking more than a month to send their results to FIAP, these other salons are less certain. You can always give them a go and count those results for your next Distinction application if not in time for this years application.
Portfolio Lodgement Has Begun and File Size Discrepancy
The new FIAP Newsletter has arrived and with it the information about how to upload your FIAP Portfolio Distinction application.
I am acutely aware that there is a file size discrepancy between the Distinctions regulations and the upload website with the website seeking a much smaller file. The website currenly won't accept the larger file. FIAP have been alerted to this and the IT team are working to resolve this on the website.
It is possible to load the smaller files and submit your application and still change the files up until the closing date. So assuming the issue is resolved in the next day or so, you can still secure your place as one of the 15 applicants and swap to larger files later. The registrations are currently well below the 15 maximum but it is possible this could change in coming days.
One Year of Entries is No Longer a Prerequisite for First FIAP Distinction Applicants
I have noticed that a long standing requirement for people to have gained acceptances in salons with FIAP Patronage for at least a year before being eligible to apply for their first FIAP Distinctions is not in the new Distinctions regulations. I have now confirmed with FIAP that this is no longer a requirement. If you have been entering salons and have achieved the results you need to apply for your first FIAP Distinction (NFIAP or AFIAP), then you can apply in our upcoming annual application round regardless of the length of time you have been entering salons!
The FEA1 Guidelines document on our website does not have this updated yet. This will be in the next update to the document that will be needed as soon as FIAP send out the information about the website platform for lodging Portfolio Distinctions.
Note that with the exception of being able to jump NFIAP, the levels must be sought in sequence with no other level jumped and there is still the usual minimum one year between applications. Each country can only lodge Category A Distinctions for their country all together once per year. We keep our timing consistent so that we always meet the one year requirement between applications.
Amendment to FEA1 Guidelines for Australian Applicants document
I have been alerted to the fact that the application form, 047/2025.xlsx, that is used for Category A Distinctions and AV Distinctions must be saved as an xlsx file, not the older Excel file type xls. The older file type is incompatible with some of the new functions in this newly redeveloped form. I have made this small but important amendment throughout FEA1 and added a note in section 1.08.a.4 to mention that you must save the file as an xlsx file. Anyone downloading this document after 6.45pm AEDT on 26/12 will have this amendment included. Whilst there is no other change to this document, it would be preferable to download it again unless you feel confident that you will remember to always save this file as an xlsx.
Documents for 2026 Applications Are Now Available
The documents for FIAP Distinctions applications are now all available as of the completion of the "FEA1 Guidelines for Australian Applicants" document. With the change to the Distinctions and the change to the way we list and verify results, updating this large document involved major changes throughout. The document has been loaded to the Downloads Table. There are a few places where text has been highlighted that indicate some of the more significant changes to the application process but there are changes in many other parts of the text.
Please note that we still have not received any further information about the upload website for the Portfolio Distinctions. The FEA1 document has the information that is known to date. I would expect the upload platform to be relatively straight forward to use, similar to salon entry platforms.
The payment page has had some of the changes implemented and can be used by Category A Distinctions applicants. The application fee and admin fee are both payable to APS by the 28th Feb closing date.
The area to still be addressed is the admin fee for Category C Distinctions applicants. The main application fee will be paid direct to FIAP and will be payable when the FIAP Liaison Officer approves the application to proceed to assessment. The APS admin fee will be paid via the APS website but will only be payable at the time an application is successful. This part of the APS payment form will be completed in the new year when the APS Office reopens.
Document Downloads Page Updated
This page is reached via the menu on the left. The table has been updated to reflect the new Distinctions. The cheat sheet that featured in the Zoom presentation is now available as an optional download in the document downloads table.
The payment page updates are not yet done. As indicated previously, do not pay any Distinctions payments before the application lodgement opening date of 1st Jan 2026. The Guidelines document for APS applicants (FEA1) still needs to be updated. This document and the payment page are both highlighted in yellow on the document downloads table as not yet updated. Everything else in the table is ready.
As yet, there is still no further information about the lodgement platform for the Portfolio Distinctions.
FIAP Distinctions Application Fees
FIAP's Distinction application fees have remained the same but the exchange rate has changed and we need to make a small increase in the Australian dollars amount charged. We are required to pay FIAP in a single sum for the whole group so also have to ensure there is a small buffer to cover fluctuations in the exchange rate between when you pay and when we pay FIAP up to 2 months later. There will also be a small increase in the administration fee to cover the increase in costs. The updates to the payment page have not been done yet so, as per the information session, please do not make any payments for your Category A Distinctions (salon results based Distinctions) on the APS website until 1st Jan.
Updates to the Video Tutorials Page
Some changes have been made to the tutorials page to remove some totally redundant tutorials and to add three. The three new ones are the recording of the FIAP DIstinctions Information session in two parts (as indicated below) and we have also linked in the FIAP Tutorial on how to fill in their new application form for Category A Distinctions.
There are others that will be replaced next year but what is there now covers the essentials.
Recording of FIAP Distinctions Information Session is now available via the APS website
An information session was held via Zoom on Sunday 23rd November at 4pm AEDT. The recording of this is now available to watch via the Video Tutorials page here in the FIAP information area of the APS website (see menu on left or use link below).
https://www.a-p-s.org.au/index.php/videos
Whilst linked into our website, it is housed on the APS Youtube channel so it can also be watched there. As this session effectively had two parts, I have split the video into two parts. Here are the direct links to watch it on YouTube if you prefer:
Part 1 - New FIAP Distinctions from 1st Jan 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NHnM4XOq_I
Part 2 - Salon Entries and FIAP Distinctions Application Process for Australians from 1st Jan 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xG5U5HxTVY
With a lot of change to both the FIAP Distinctions and a change also now being introduced to the way APS members complete the application form and verify the results, this session was very long. It included time for questions to be answered and also covered the use of a unique identifying number for people entering international salons.
It is essential that all Australian applicants for FIAP Distinctions and all APS Verifying Officers watch the two above videos before preparing or verifying a Distinctions application in 2026! You will need a few hours to watch these.
NEW application form for ESFIAP and HonEFIAP - FIAP Service DIstinctions
FIAP are now offering ESFIAP to anyone who has judged at least 30 international salons that were run under FIAP Patronage. If you have been a judge in internationals, please collate your records. If you have at least 30 salons on your judging history that had FIAP Patronage, then please complete the following form and lodge it with me.
spreadsheet ESFIAP and HonEFIAP dossiers 2025(97 KB)
New Distinctions Regulations for 2026
The new Distinctions Regulations document was sent out by FIAP on the 12th June 2025 and the associated application form arrived on the 5th November. These related documents, 047/2025, apply to Distinctions applications lodged from 1st January 2026. As Australia lodges its yearly applications with the Australian FIAP Liaison Officer during the months of Jan and Feb, these new regulations apply to Australia's next application round.
Here are the new FIAP documents. The first one is the new regulations document that provides the core information about the required acheivements to be eligible to apply for a FIAP Distinction. The second document is the new application form.
pdf
DOC 047 2025 FIAP Distinctions 2026 E(317 KB)
spreadsheet DOC 047 2025 New FIAP Excel Dossier EN(334 KB)
It is important to note that there is a link to a video tutorial in the application excel dossier. It is vital that you watch this tutorial before attempting to fill in the new application form. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4_e49F9POM
Please wait to fill in your form until the information session on the 22nd November as I plan to change the APS application procedure in relation to what needs to be on your form and what needs to be verified, so watch the tutorial but PAUSE PLEASE on filling in the form until we go through this in the online session.
The above two documents have been added to the Distinctions documents download page. Please note that other documents will need significant updates some of which could not be done until both the above documents were in hand. The updates to other documents and video tutorials will take a lot of time to prepare. These other documents will not be available until some time in December. It might not be possible to produce new video tutorials until next year but the FIAP tutorial covers the essential aspect.
As of 9th November, there are no details about the lodgement process for the new Portfolio Distinctions. What is known is that these applications will be lodged directly with FIAP via an upload platform and must then be approved by the FIAP Liaison Officer. Given the first opportunity to apply is in January, the details should arrive soon. In the interim, please read the regulations document carefully. Also make sure you always read the FIAP Bulletin in the monthly APS e-News and the FIAP News magazine that is produced quarterly.
If you are planning to apply, please also register via the Applicant Registration page (see link in left side menu). This does not commit you to proceeding but it does ensure you are on my list. The register is year specific so registrations for past years were only for that year and you must registered specically for the new round that will be in Jan and Feb 2026.
I especially want anyone considering applying for MFIAP, which closes on the 15th Nov, to register or email me asap.
Calendar
15th Nov 2025: Closing Date for Category B, MFIAP Distinctions applications
23rd Nov 2025: Zoom Information Session about the new FIAP DIstinctions
1st Jan 2026: Opening for applications for lodgement of Category A Distinctions (salon result based Distinctions)
15th Jan 2026 Applications for Category C, Round 1 Portfolio Distinctions, close
28th Feb 2026: Closing date for Category A Distinctions
15th May 2026: Applications for Category C, Round 2 Portfolio Distinctions, close
15th Oct 2026: Applications for Category C, Round 3 Portfolio Distinctions, close
Clarification of Clauses - See August Edition of FIAP News
There are some particular clauses in the regulations that have been the cause of much confusion, and criteria that is not clear die to the wording. The August Edition of FIAP's magazine, FIAP News, has now been published. This edition contains an eight page article about the new Distinctions regulations. In this they have provided some extra explanations and some examples that clarify clauses.
The August edition of FIAP News can be found on the home page of the FIAP website, where past editions can also be found. It is also available in the Other FIAP Docs and Forms page in the menu to the left here in the FIAP area of the APS website.
Some Key Features of the New Regulations
- Changes to the criteria for Distinctions achieved via exhibition results.
- The introduction of a new set of Distinctions for Portfolios.
- The introduction of a new optional Novice level that has no FIAP application fee. This can be sought before AFIAP.
- Additional Diamond Levels up to Diamond 8.
- Introduction of a Grand Master Distinction that automatically applies to a person who holds both MFIAP and the highest level of the new Portfolio Distinctions.
- Removal of complex requirements concerning circuits, eg you can count more than one country and more than one awarded photo from the same circuit if the awards are in salons in the circuit that are in different countries.
- No requirement for entering a minimum number of salons.
- Removal of most criteria concerning certificate dates. The criteria for a year between applications and specific criteria between EFIAP Platinum and EFIAP/d1 apply.
- A limit of 10 acceptances/awards for one photo on an application.
- The requirement to use new photos for EFIAP Diamond levels, ie not on your lower level applications and salon results gained no more than a year prior to your platinum level certificate date.
- No requirement for acceptances with prints.
- The prerequisite for applying for MFIAP will be EFIAP Platinum rather than EFIAP but there is no longer the requirement to hold the prerequisite level for three years before applying and there is no longer a limit of three attempts at MFIAP.
MFIAP Applicants - Extra application round in Dec 2025
The applications for MFIAP are routinely processed by FIAP just once a year. Applicants from all countries are required to have their applications lodged by 1st Feb each year (when FIAP require them). A number of people who have been preparing their applications for 2026 have been caught short of the new prerequisite stipulates that the applicant must now hold EFIAP Platinum rather than just EFIAP. The new regulations were announced after the application round in 2025 such that applicants who do not hold EFIAP/p could no longer apply in 2026. FIAP have recognised this fact and are holding an extra application opportunity in 2025 before the new regulations officially take effect. For the December 2025 round, the applicants need to meet the requirements in the current regulations not the new regulations, ie you must have gained your EFIAP at least 3 years before applying. Applications for this close with FIAP on the 1st December.
In order to carefully check applications before lodgement, these MUST BE LODGED WITH THE FIAP LIAISON OFFICER NO LATER THAN THE 15TH NOVEMBER. Here is the document announcing the extra round.
pdf
Extra MFIAP Application Round in 2025 - INFO 332 2025(160 KB)