Dress Code and Accessories: What You Can and Can't Wear in Document Photos

Why Clothing and Accessories Matter

Most people focus on technical requirements — photo size, background color, lighting — and forget that what you're wearing can cause rejection just as easily.

Government document photo standards aren't just about the photo itself. They're about ensuring your face is clearly visible, unobstructed, and accurately represented. Anything that covers, obscures, or distracts from your facial features can trigger a rejection.

This guide breaks down the dress code rules for passport, visa, and ID photos — what's allowed, what's prohibited, and what varies by country.

Glasses: The Most Confusing Rule

Eyeglasses are the single most inconsistent requirement across countries. What's mandatory to remove in the US is perfectly acceptable in the UK. Here's the breakdown.

United States: Glasses Prohibited

Rule: You must remove your glasses for passport photos, visa photos, and most other US government document photos.

Why: As of November 2016, the US Department of State banned glasses in passport photos due to problems with glare, reflections, and shadows from frames interfering with facial recognition systems.

Exceptions: None. Even if you wear prescription glasses every day and never take them off, you must remove them for the photo. Contact lenses are allowed (they're invisible).

What about sunglasses? Absolutely not. Tinted lenses, sunglasses, and transition lenses are prohibited in all countries.

United Kingdom: Glasses Allowed (With Conditions)

Rule: You may wear glasses in UK passport photos, but only if they meet strict requirements.

Requirements if wearing glasses:

• Frames must not cover your eyes
• No glare or reflections on the lenses
• No tinted or colored lenses
• Your eyes must be clearly visible through the lenses

Recommendation: If you can avoid wearing glasses, do so. Even if glare-free photos are possible, many people get rejected because of subtle reflections they didn't notice. Removing glasses is the safer choice.

Canada: Glasses Allowed (With Conditions)

Rule: Similar to the UK. Glasses are permitted but must not have any glare, and your eyes must be fully visible.

Common rejection reason: Glare on lenses. Even a small reflection from the camera or a window can cause rejection.

European Union: Varies by Country

Most EU countries allow glasses with the same conditions as the UK: no glare, no tinted lenses, eyes fully visible, frames don't cover eyes.

Some EU countries prohibit glasses entirely (following the US model). Always check the specific requirements for your country.

Australia: Glasses Allowed (With Conditions)

Rule: Glasses are permitted if there's no glare and your eyes are visible. However, Australia recommends removing glasses if possible.

Japan: Glasses Prohibited

Rule: Glasses must be removed for Japanese passport photos.

UAE: Glasses Allowed (With Conditions)

Rule: Glasses are generally allowed for UAE documents (Emirates ID, passport) as long as there's no glare and eyes are clearly visible.

Key takeaway on glasses: If your country allows glasses, only wear them if you're confident you can take a photo with zero glare. If your country prohibits glasses, remove them. When in doubt, remove them. A photo without glasses will never be rejected for "not wearing glasses."

Head Coverings: Religious Exemptions and Rules

Most countries prohibit head coverings in passport photos — but all countries provide religious exemptions.

What's not allowed: Hats, baseball caps, beanies, hoods, bandanas, fashion headscarves, any head covering worn for style or weather. Head coverings can obscure the shape of your head and face, which interferes with identification and biometric matching.

Religious exception: If you wear a head covering for religious reasons — hijab, turban, kippah, or other religious headwear — it is allowed in passport photos in nearly all countries.

Requirements when wearing religious head coverings:

• Your full face must be visible — from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead (hairline)
• Both cheeks must be visible — the covering cannot obscure the sides of your face
• The covering cannot cast shadows on your face
• Your facial features must be clear — no part of the covering can cover your eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, or chin

Country-specific: US, UK, Canada, Australia allow religious head coverings (US/Canada may require a signed statement). EU varies; France has stricter rules. UAE allows religious coverings and they are common. Japan allows them with strict requirements.

Clothing: What Colors and Styles to Avoid

Most common mistake: Wearing white or very light-colored clothing when the background is white. Your shoulders and neck blend into the background; your head can appear to float and fail automated framing checks.

What to wear: Dark colors (black, navy, dark grey, dark brown) or medium colors (red, blue, green, purple) that contrast clearly with the white background.

What to avoid: Pure white, very light grey, cream, beige, off-white, ivory. Avoid busy patterns, logos, or text on clothing. Military, airline, or official uniforms are generally prohibited unless the photo is for a work ID related to that uniform.

Necklines: Crew neck or collared shirts are recommended. Avoid extremely low-cut or strapless tops. Your photo should look like normal, everyday clothing.

Jewelry: What's Allowed

Allowed: Earrings (not extremely large), necklaces (not too flashy or reflective), small nose studs, wedding rings. Proceed with caution: Very large earrings, shiny or reflective jewelry (matte is better), facial piercings — small studs are usually fine. Not allowed: Anything that covers your face; accessories in your hair that look like a head covering. When in doubt, keep jewelry minimal.

Earrings: Do's and Don'ts

Hair: Styling Rules

Any natural hairstyle is allowed (long, short, curly, braided, etc.). Your face must be fully visible — hair cannot cover eyes, eyebrows, or a significant portion of cheeks. Some countries require ears visible. Avoid hair covering eyes, extreme volume/height, or hair accessories that resemble head coverings. If you have long hair, ensure it doesn't create shadows on your face.

Facial Hair: Beards and Mustaches

Facial hair is allowed in all countries. Wear it however you normally wear it — passport photos are meant to represent how you look daily. If you apply with a beard, continue to have similar facial hair when you travel to avoid mismatch at border control. Full beards, goatees, mustaches, stubble, clean-shaven are all allowed. Fake beards or mustaches are not.

Makeup: How Much Is Acceptable?

Natural, everyday makeup is acceptable — foundation, concealer, mascara, lipstick in natural tones, light contouring. Avoid heavy or theatrical makeup, extreme contouring, very dark or unusual lip colors, glitter or metallic makeup. Your makeup should enhance your natural appearance, not transform it.

Country-Specific Dress Code Summary

• United States: Glasses not allowed; head coverings only religious (with statement); no uniforms, avoid white; jewelry allowed (minimal recommended).
• United Kingdom: Glasses allowed (no glare); head coverings only religious; avoid white or light grey; jewelry allowed.
• Canada: Glasses allowed (no glare); head coverings only religious (with declaration); avoid white; jewelry allowed.
• Australia: Glasses allowed (no glare, removal recommended); head coverings only religious; avoid white; jewelry allowed.
• European Union: Glasses usually allowed (some countries prohibit); head coverings only religious (France stricter); avoid white; jewelry allowed.
• Japan: Glasses not allowed; head coverings only religious (strict); avoid white; jewelry minimal; ears must be visible.
• UAE: Glasses allowed (no glare); religious coverings common and allowed; modest dress, avoid white; jewelry allowed.

The Safe Choice: What to Wear When You're Unsure

Dark-colored solid shirt (black, navy, dark grey, or dark red/blue/green). Remove glasses (unless your country explicitly requires them, which is rare). No head covering unless religious. Minimal or no jewelry. Hair pulled back so face is fully visible. Natural, minimal makeup. This combination will pass in every country's requirements.

What pixid.studio Checks (And What It Can't)

When you upload a photo to pixid.studio, we can detect: glasses (when prohibited for your document type), background color matching (clothing too close to background), head covering (with religious exemptions). We can't judge whether jewelry is too flashy or makeup too heavy — those require human review. Follow this guide when choosing what to wear, then use pixid.studio to verify technical compliance.

Final Dress Code Checklist

• ✅ Glasses removed (if applying to US, Japan, or other countries that prohibit them)
• ✅ No hat or head covering (unless daily for religious reasons)
• ✅ Clothing contrasts with background (avoid white, light grey, cream, beige)
• ✅ No uniforms
• ✅ No large, distracting jewelry
• ✅ Hair pulled back so face is fully visible
• ✅ Makeup is natural, not theatrical
• ✅ Clothing is appropriate and not revealing

When in doubt, go simple. Dark, solid clothing. Minimal or no jewelry. Natural hair and makeup. No glasses. You can add personality within official bounds — but the consequences of getting it wrong aren't worth the risk.