Can you wear glasses in a passport photo? Can you smile? Must your ears show? The answer depends on the document, and the rules differ more than most people expect: glasses are not allowed for a US visa (except for a medical reason) but are allowed for a Canadian passport, and a closed-mouth smile is fine for a US passport but not for a UK one. This guide puts the official rules for 26 passports, visas and ID cards side by side, each from the government's own page, checked in September and October 2026.

The short answer

  • Glasses: 8 of the 26 documents do not allow them, except for medical reasons in some cases: the US passport (printed and online renewal), the US visa and DV lottery photos, Australia's passport and visa, India's e-Visa and Nigeria's passport. The UK says to avoid them unless you have to. 13 allow them if the eyes are clearly visible, the lenses are not tinted and there is no glare (the UAE says medical glasses only). 3 say nothing.
  • Smiling: 18 ask for a neutral expression, most of them with the mouth closed. Only the US passport allows a smile (mouth closed, or no teeth showing for the online renewal), and India's passport and OCI card ask for a "natural" expression. 4 say nothing.
  • Hair: almost every document wants your eyes and the edges of your face clear of hair. 5 also want both ears to show: China, France, India's passport, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
  • Head coverings: almost all allow one only for religious reasons, some for medical reasons too, with the face showing from chin to forehead. France asks for a bare head, and Saudi Arabia generally does not allow coverings, with exceptions.

When a document says nothing, the safest photo is the strictest one: glasses off, a neutral face with the mouth closed, hair away from the eyes, and no head covering unless you always wear one for your religion.

The rules by document

DocumentGlassesSmileHair, ears and faceHead covering
Australia passportNo, unless for a medical reason (with a medical certificate or form B-11)No: neutral, eyes openHair away from the eyes and the edges of the faceReligious only, plain
Australia visaNo, unless for a medical reasonNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the faceReligious only, plain
Canada passportYes: eyes clearly visible, no glare, no tinted lensesNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the faceReligious or medical
Canada visa and permitsYes: clear lenses, frames off the eyesNo: neutral, mouth closedNot statedReligious, face fully visible
China visaYes: clear lenses, no glare, frames off the eyesNo: neutral, mouth closedEars visible; hair off the eyebrows and eyesReligious only
France passport and ID cardNot needed; thin frames, clear lenses, no glareNo: neutral, mouth closedEars uncovered; a fringe must stay off the eyesBare head; no exception stated
Germany passport and ID cardYes: eyes clearly visible, no dark lenses, no reflectionsNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the eyesReligious only
India e-VisaNoNot stated (eyes open)Whole head, top of the hair to the chinNot stated
India OCI cardYes: no glare, no tinted lenses, frames off the eyesNatural (children: neutral, mouth closed)Hair off the eyesReligious only
India passportNo coloured or dark glasses; tilt slightly to avoid glareNatural: no grinning or frowningBoth ears visible; hair off the eyesReligious only
Ireland passportYes: frames off the eyes, no glare, no dark glassesNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the eyesReligious or medical
Malaysia eVISANot statedNot stated (eyes open)Full face, from the frontReligious only
New Zealand passportYes: not tinted or thick-framed, no glareNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the eyes and faceReligious or medical
Nigeria passportNo, even if you wear them every dayNo: neutral, mouth closedEars visibleReligious only
Saudi Arabia e-VisaNot statedNot statedBoth ears and cheeks visibleGenerally not allowed; exceptions possible, especially religious
Schengen visa (German Embassy London)Yes: frames off the eyesNo: neutral, eyes openFace fully visibleReligious coverings accepted
Singapore passportYes: clear, untinted lensesNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the eyesMust be dark against the white background
South Korea passportYes: no reflection, no tinted lenses or coloured contact lensesNo: mouth closed, no teethHair off the eyes, eyebrows and edges of the faceReligious, if worn every day
UAE visaMedical glasses only: clear lenses, no reflection, frames off the eyesNo: neutral, mouth closedHair off the eyesReligious only
UK passportAvoid unless you have to; no tinted lensesNo: plain expression, mouth closedHair off the eyesReligious or medical
UK visaAvoid unless you have toNo: plain expression, mouth closedHair off the eyesReligious or medical
US DV lotteryNoNo: neutral, eyes openA hat must not hide the hair or hairlineReligious, worn every day
US Green CardNot statedNot statedFull face, from the frontReligious only
US passportNo, unless your doctor signs a noteNeutral, or a smile with the mouth closedHair off the eyesReligious (signed statement) or medical (doctor's statement)
US passport online renewalNo, unless for documented religious or medical reasonsNeutral or a natural smile, no teethHair off the eyesReligious
US visaNo, except for a medical reason with a signed statementNo: neutral, eyes openA hat must not hide the hair or hairlineReligious, worn every day

Glasses

Where glasses are not allowed, a few documents make an exception for a medical reason, and they ask for proof. Australia's passport office accepts a medical certificate or its form B-11, and says poor eyesight alone is not a reason. The US passport asks for a signed note from your doctor, and the US visa for a signed medical statement, for example after eye surgery. Nigeria's passport portal says no glasses even if you wear them every day.

Where glasses are allowed, the conditions are nearly always the same:

  • your eyes are clearly visible, and the frames do not cover any part of them;
  • the lenses are clear: no sunglasses or tinted lenses, even prescription ones;
  • there is no glare or reflection on the lenses. India's passport booklet suggests tilting your head slightly up or down to avoid it.

Thick or heavy frames are shown as wrong on the Chinese and New Zealand pages. South Korea and Singapore also rule out coloured or cosmetic contact lenses. If your glasses are allowed but you can take them off, taking them off avoids any problem with glare or frames.

Smiling and your expression

Most documents ask for a neutral expression: mouth closed, eyes open, not smiling or frowning. South Korea adds no teeth showing and no raised eyebrows, and Germany lists laughing with an open mouth and grimaces as failures. Australia and Canada are more relaxed for babies: under-3s in Australia may have their mouth open, and Canada allows some leeway for newborns.

The US passport is the exception: the State Department's page says you can smile as long as your eyes are open and your mouth is closed, and the online renewal page allows a natural smile without showing teeth. US visa and DV lottery photos still need a neutral expression. India's passport and OCI card ask for a "natural" expression, and the passport rules add no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows.

Hair, ears and forehead

Almost every document wants your eyes free of hair and the edges of your face visible, so tie long hair back or move it behind your shoulders, and keep a fringe off your eyes. China, France, India's passport, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia go further and want both ears to show. The US visa and DV rules say a hat must not hide your hair or hairline.

Head coverings

Most documents allow a head covering only for religious reasons, and Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US passport also for medical reasons. The face must show from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges and no shadows. Some ask for proof: the US passport wants a signed statement that it is religious attire worn daily in public, or a doctor's statement for a medical covering. Australia and the US ask for a plain covering in one colour, with no pattern. Singapore asks for a dark covering that stands out against the white background, and shows a patterned hijab as acceptable. France asks for a bare head and states no exception.

Jewellery, headphones, make-up and editing

  • Jewellery and piercings are usually fine if they do not hide the face or reflect light (US passport, Australia, France, South Korea).
  • Headphones and earbuds must come out (US, Australia, Nigeria, South Korea). Hearing aids may stay (US visa and DV, Australia).
  • Make-up: only Australia mentions it, showing "too much make up" as unacceptable.
  • Editing: no filters, retouching, beauty modes or AI changes, and no removing the background with software. The US, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Germany and others say so directly. A photo that has been changed can be refused, and for the DV lottery it can make you ineligible.

Before you take the photo

  1. Take your glasses off, unless your document allows them and you need them. Then check for glare.
  2. Keep a neutral face with your mouth closed, unless it is a US passport photo.
  3. Move your hair away from your eyes and the edges of your face, and behind your ears for China, France, India's passport, Nigeria or Saudi Arabia.
  4. Take off hats, headbands and headphones. Keep a religious or medical covering only if your document allows it.
  5. Use a plain wall in the right colour instead of editing the background later.
  6. Check your document's own page, because these rules change and some consulates add their own.

Sources