Glasses are the clearest example of ID photo rules diverging between countries. One authority forbids them entirely; another permits them subject to conditions that are easy to fail. Getting this wrong is a common and completely avoidable refusal.
United States: not allowed
Since 1 November 2016 the U.S. Department of State has not permitted eyeglasses in passport photos. This applies to new passports, renewals, and the 2 x 2 inch photo used for U.S. visas and USCIS forms. Take your glasses off.
The reason was practical: glare and frames obscuring the eyes were causing a large share of rejected applications. Removing them entirely eliminated the problem.
There is one narrow exception — glasses that cannot be removed for medical reasons, such as after recent eye surgery — which requires a signed statement from a medical professional submitted with the application. It is not a route to keeping your glasses on for preference.
United Kingdom: allowed, with conditions
HM Passport Office permits glasses, but the eyes must be clearly visible. In practice that means no glare or reflection on the lenses; no tinted, photochromic or reactive lenses that have darkened; frames that do not cover any part of the eyes; and no heavy frames obscuring the eyebrows.
Official guidance suggests it is better not to wear them at all — advice worth taking, since it removes several ways to fail at no cost.
Schengen area and elsewhere
Most Schengen authorities — Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria — allow glasses on the same terms as the UK: eyes fully visible, no reflections, no tint, frames clear of the eyes. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are comparable.
Sunglasses are refused everywhere, without exception.
Where you are unsure, remove them. A photo without glasses is accepted by every authority; a photo with them is accepted by some.
If you keep them on: killing the glare
Reflection is the fault that most often fails an otherwise good photo. Three things fix nearly all of it:
- Move the light off the lens axis. A reflection appears when a light source sits behind the camera and bounces straight back. Light from a window at 45 degrees to your face, rather than directly in front, largely eliminates it.
- Never use a flash. An on-camera flash is exactly the geometry that produces a mirror-bright spot on each lens.
- Tilt the frames a fraction. Pushing the arms very slightly down at the ears angles the lenses down a few degrees — enough to throw the reflection below the lens without visibly changing how the glasses sit.
Then check at full size that both pupils and the irises around them are plainly visible.
Head coverings, for comparison
Often asked alongside glasses, and the answer is different: religious and medical head coverings are permitted by essentially every authority, including the United States. The condition is that the face remains fully visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with no shadow cast across it. Hats and caps worn for any other reason are not allowed.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No. The U.S. Department of State has prohibited eyeglasses in passport photos since 1 November 2016, for passports, renewals, visas and USCIS forms. The only exception is glasses that cannot be removed for medical reasons, which requires a signed statement from a medical professional.
Can you wear glasses in a UK passport photo?
Yes, provided your eyes are clearly visible: no glare on the lenses, no tinted or photochromic lenses, and frames that do not cover the eyes. HM Passport Office nonetheless advises that it is better to remove them.
How do I avoid glare on my glasses in a passport photo?
Light your face from about 45 degrees to one side rather than straight on, never use a flash, and tilt the arms of the glasses very slightly down at the ears so the lenses angle the reflection below the lens. Then check at full size that both pupils are clearly visible.
Are sunglasses or tinted lenses ever allowed?
No. Sunglasses are refused by every authority, and tinted or photochromic lenses that have darkened are treated the same way, because the eyes must be clearly visible.
Can I wear a headscarf or religious head covering in a passport photo?
Yes. Religious and medical head coverings are permitted by essentially every authority, including the United States, provided the face is fully visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead with no shadow across it. Hats worn for other reasons are not allowed.