Passport Photo Dress Code: What to Wear (and What to Avoid) in 2026

US Passport Guide · Last verified: February 2026

There's no official "dress code" for US passport photos — the State Department doesn't require formal attire. But several clothing choices will get your photo rejected, and several others will make you look better in a photo you'll carry for 10 years. This guide covers both.

The one rule that causes the most rejections: white clothing

Do not wear white or very light-coloured clothing for passport photos. The background must be white. If your clothing is also white, your shoulders and neck disappear into the background — the system can't define the boundary of your face and the photo fails.

This is the single most commonly violated clothing rule. It applies to:

White shirts and blouses
White or cream turtlenecks
Light grey tops (they can also blend in, especially with light backgrounds)
Very pale yellow or pink — edge cases, but risky

Wear dark or clearly coloured clothing instead. Navy, dark blue, black, burgundy, green, purple — all work well.

What the State Department actually prohibits

Prohibited:

Uniforms of any kind — military, police, school, work uniforms
Camouflage clothing
Hats and head coverings (except for documented religious or medical reasons)

Not prohibited:

Casual clothing of any kind (jeans, t-shirts, hoodies — all fine)
Formal clothing (suits, dresses — also fine)
Jewellery (see section below)
Makeup (see section below)
Hairstyles of any kind (see hair guide)

Best clothing choices for passport photos

Best colours:

Navy blue — most recommended by passport photographers
Dark blue or dark grey
Black — works well but can look harsh
Burgundy or wine
Forest green
Any clearly saturated colour that contrasts with white

Best styles:

Collared shirts — create a defined neckline that looks clean in the frame
Crew-neck tops — also work well
V-neck tops — fine as long as not too deep

Avoid:

White, off-white, cream, or very light grey
Busy patterns (stripes, checks, florals) — distracting in a small photo
Turtlenecks — can cast shadows on the neck and jaw area; also technically, the neck-to-face boundary can be unclear
Sleeveless tops or spaghetti straps — some countries (Philippines, India) specifically prohibit these; for US photos they're not banned but create an informal look and may look odd against a white background
Hoodies with the hood up — hood creates shadows and frames the face in a way that can obstruct the outline

Necklines and collars

The photo includes your face and the top of your shoulders. The neckline matters:

Open neckline (crew neck, v-neck, collar): works well — your face is clearly the focal point
Very high neckline (turtleneck): can cause problems — creates shadows under the chin and makes the neck-to-face boundary less defined
Very low neckline: technically not prohibited for US photos but looks unprofessional and may be flagged by stricter countries

Best practice: wear something with a clear, defined neckline that sits at or just above the collarbone.

Glasses: the complete rule

In US passport photos: glasses are not permitted. This has been US policy since 2016 (for new passports) and is now strictly enforced. Remove all glasses:

Prescription glasses
Reading glasses
Sunglasses
Fashion/non-prescription glasses

Contact lenses: allowed, as long as your eyes are clearly visible and the contacts do not change your eye colour significantly. Clear contacts or colour contacts in your natural eye colour are fine.

Medical exception: if you cannot remove your glasses for documented medical reasons, you must submit a signed doctor's statement with your passport application. This is rare.

Jewellery

Jewellery is allowed in US passport photos with these conditions:

Must not obstruct any part of your face — no large earrings that touch your cheeks, no nose rings that cover the nostril outline
Must not create glare or reflections — shiny statement pieces can reflect light and create bright spots
Must not cast shadows on your face — unlikely for most jewellery but theoretically possible with very large pieces

Generally fine:

Small to medium earrings
Standard nose rings (small studs)
Necklaces (below the frame or small and unobtrusive)

Risky:

Very large dangling earrings that touch your face or jaw
Very shiny statement pieces at face level

Makeup

Makeup is permitted. The rules:

Allowed:

Foundation, concealer, powder — as long as they match your natural skin tone
Eye makeup (mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow) — as long as eyes are clearly open and visible
Blush, bronzer — as long as they don't change your apparent skin tone dramatically
Lipstick — allowed in any colour

Not allowed (or risky):

Heavy theatrical makeup that significantly changes your appearance
Stage makeup or cosplay makeup
Anything that alters the apparent shape of your facial features
Under the 2026 AI rules: heavy photo-filter style "flawless skin" looks even in real makeup may draw scrutiny — look like yourself

Best practice: wear your everyday makeup, nothing extreme. The photo needs to match your appearance at the border — wear what you'd wear on the day of travel.

Headwear and religious coverings

Hats, caps, and most head coverings are prohibited. Exceptions:

Religious head coverings are permitted if:

They are part of religious attire worn continuously in public
You must submit a signed statement attesting that the head covering is part of traditional religious attire worn in public
Your full face must be visible from chin to forehead with no shadows
The covering must be one solid colour — no patterns or small holes
The covering must not obscure any part of your face, including chin, forehead, or either side of the face

Medical head coverings are permitted with a signed doctor's statement.

Not permitted:

Baseball caps, beanies, fedoras
Decorative headbands that sit on top of the head (headbands at the hairline are fine)
Seasonal or costume head items of any kind

What to wear by country

Different countries have different clothing rules. The US is fairly permissive. Stricter examples:

Country	Specific clothing rules
🇨🇳 China	Avoid white/light blue; dark clothing strongly recommended
🇵🇭 Philippines	No plunging necklines, sleeveless tops, or see-through fabrics
🇮🇳 India	No uniforms; everyday attire
🇷🇺 Russia	Everyday attire; no uniforms
🇩🇪 Germany	Everyday attire; avoid white against their grey background
🇰🇷 South Korea	No white clothing (blends into white background); no uniforms

Frequently asked questions

What colour shirt should I wear for a passport photo?

Dark blue, navy, or any clearly saturated colour that contrasts with the white background. Avoid white, light grey, cream, or very pale colours.

Can I wear a white shirt for a passport photo?

No — white clothing blends into the white background, making your shoulders and neck disappear. This causes rejection. Wear dark or clearly coloured clothing.

Can I wear a turtleneck in a passport photo?

It's not prohibited, but turtlenecks can create shadows under the chin and may make the neck area harder to see. A normal collar or crew neck is better.

Can I wear jewellery in a passport photo?

Yes, as long as it doesn't cover your face, create glare, or cast shadows. Small to medium earrings and necklaces are fine.

Can I wear makeup in a passport photo?

Yes. Everyday makeup is fine. Heavy theatrical makeup that significantly changes your appearance is not.

Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?

No — not permitted in US passport photos since 2016. Remove all glasses including prescription glasses.

Can I wear a hat in a passport photo?

No, except for religious or medical head coverings with supporting documentation.

Can I wear a uniform in a passport photo?

No. Uniforms of any kind — military, police, school, workplace — are not permitted.