Passport Photos with Glasses, Head Coverings and Jewellery

Why face visibility matters

Passport photos are used for visual and biometric comparison. The eyes, nose, mouth, jawline and edges of the face need to be clear. An accessory can be familiar in daily life and still create glare, shadow, obstruction or a false outline in the photograph.

Do not rely on a general statement such as "prescription glasses are always allowed." Open the current rule for the issuing authority and the application route.

U.S. rules

Glasses

The U.S. Department of State instructs applicants to remove eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses. Glasses should not rest on top of the head. If glasses cannot be removed for medical reasons, the applicant must include a signed note from a doctor.

Hats and head coverings

Hats and head coverings should be removed unless worn for religious or medical purposes. A paper application requires the relevant signed statement. When a covering is allowed, the full face must remain visible, no part of the face should be blocked, and there should be no shadows. The Department of State also describes the covering as one color without patterns or small holes.

Jewellery and devices

Jewellery and facial piercings can remain if they do not hide the face. Headphones and wireless hands-free devices should be removed. Uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform and camouflage clothing are not accepted under the ordinary rule.

UK rules

Glasses

GOV.UK says not to wear glasses unless you have to. If they must be worn, the lenses cannot be tinted, the frames cannot cover the eyes, and glare, reflection or shadow cannot hide the eyes.

Head coverings

Digital photo guidance permits a head covering for religious or medical reasons but requires the face to remain unobstructed. HM Passport Office examiner guidance says a covering should not cast a shadow, hide or distort the face, or create poor contrast with the background. The office may ask for an explanation where the reason is unclear.

Australian rules

Glasses

The Australian Passport Office says glasses must not be worn unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons. Vision impairment by itself is not described as a reason. If medically necessary glasses remain, frames must not obscure the eyes and lenses must not reflect light.

Religious coverings

A religious head covering may be worn if it is normally used for religious reasons. The covering should be plain, without patterns, and the face must be visible from chin to forehead with both side edges visible.

Jewellery, piercings and hearing aids

Jewellery and piercings may remain when they do not hide the eyes, mouth, nose or other facial areas and do not create reflections. A hearing aid normally worn by the applicant may remain.

How to avoid glare and shadow

• Remove optional glasses rather than trying to angle them.
• Place soft light in front of the subject, not directly above.
• Check both eyes at full image size for lens reflections.
• Check the forehead, cheeks and jawline for shadows from a covering.
• Use background contrast so a light covering does not disappear into the wall.
• Retake the photo instead of editing out glare or shadows.

What about makeup, beards and hair?

Authorities focus on a current true likeness and visible facial features. Ordinary appearance changes are not the same as an accessory, but heavy cosmetic alteration, filters or digital reshaping can stop the image being a true likeness. Hair should not cover the eyes or required facial edges. A beard should be shown as it naturally appears; do not digitally add, remove or reshape it.

Because detailed appearance rules vary, this article does not claim a universal makeup limit. Check the authority's accepted and rejected examples.

Before taking the photo

1. Open the official rule for your country and route.
2. Remove anything optional that can create glare or obstruction.
3. Prepare required religious or medical statements for the application.
4. Make sure the face remains visible and the background provides contrast.
5. Take several unedited frames and inspect the eyes and facial edges.
6. Only then crop to the requested outer dimensions.

What the crop tool cannot verify

Our tool can set the outer ratio and print dimensions. It cannot determine why a covering is worn, validate a medical statement, detect every lens reflection or decide whether jewellery hides a biometric landmark. Use the official examples as the final test.

Related guides

For preventing accessory shadows, see our background and lighting guide. For a complete review, use the rejection checklist.

Sources reviewed: U.S. Department of State passport photos, GOV.UK digital photos and HM Passport Office photo standards, Australian Passport Office photo guidelines. Review date: June 29, 2026.