Passport Photo Rules: Glasses, Hijab, Beard, Makeup & Head Coverings

Glasses are banned in passport photos across the UK, the US, the EU and Schengen countries, Canada, and Australia. The rule was introduced because frames and lens reflections interfere with the facial-recognition systems that border agencies rely on — a problem that grew as biometric matching became the default. If you have a medical condition that means you cannot remove your glasses, you will need documentation: a signed doctor's note in the UK or a medical certificate in the US. Even with documentation the frames must not cross your eyes, there must be no glare or reflection on the lenses, and the tint must not hide your natural eye colour. In practice, removing glasses is almost always the simpler path.

Religious head coverings — including the hijab, turban, kippah, and other faith-based headwear — are permitted in UK, US, and EU passport photos, but under specific conditions designed to keep the face fully visible for biometric matching. The full face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hairline, the covering must be a single solid colour that contrasts with the background, and it must not cast any shadow across the face. The US adds one extra step: a signed statement that the covering is worn daily for religious reasons. Loose fabric that drifts into the frame, patterned headwear, or a covering that shades the face will all cause rejection.

Beards, moustaches, and other facial hair are allowed in every major country's passport photo, and the key rule is consistency: the photo must reflect how you normally look. If you usually have a beard, keep it for the photo rather than shaving just for the application, because a border officer comparing your face to the photo expects your everyday appearance. A full beard that covers the jawline is perfectly acceptable as long as it does not hide your eyes, nose, or mouth — the three features the biometric template is built from. The same logic applies to a clean-shaven look: shave as you normally would, not specially for the camera.

Everyday makeup is allowed in passport photos in every country, and the rule that governs it is simple: the makeup must not change your natural appearance. The reason is that the photo has to match your face at a border checkpoint, often years after it was taken, so anything that alters your proportions or creates glare will work against you. The products to avoid are heavy contouring that reshapes the face, dramatic eyeliner that changes eye shape, coloured contact lenses, false eyelashes that hide the eyes, and high-shine highlighter that reflects the flash. Neutral, everyday makeup — the kind you would wear to work — is always safe.

Choose everyday clothing in a colour that contrasts with the background, so that the outline of your head and shoulders stays clear. Darker tops work well against a light background, while white or very pale tops blend into a white or cream backdrop and erase the shoulder line, which can cause rejection. Avoid uniforms, camouflage, and anything that looks like official clothing (some countries ban these outright), as well as bold patterns and large logos that can interfere with how the biometric scanner reads the image. Because the photo only shows your head and shoulders, low-cut tops are best avoided; a plain dark shirt, blouse, or jumper is ideal.

The core rules are consistent across the major destinations, but the documentation required for religious headwear varies — most notably, the US asks for a signed statement. This table summarises the position in the UK, US, EU and Schengen, Canada, and Australia.