The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems for acquiring biometric information of an individual. The apparatus may include a light source directing visible light towards an eye. The light source may direct the visible light at an angle of at least 30 degrees from a line of sight of the eye. The visible light may penetrate a surface of the iris, illuminating substantially the whole iris for biometric acquisition. The visible light may have an intensity level above that which causes discomfort to the eye if the visible light reaches a light-sensitive part of the eye's retina. A sensor may acquire iris biometric data from the illuminated iris.