The general position across biometric standards is consistent: hats and caps are not allowed, while a head covering worn for religious or medical reasons is, provided it does not interfere with what the photo exists to record. The face must be fully visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, the covering must not cast a shadow across the face, and it must not obscure the hairline or the outline of the face any more than it has to.
Then there is France, which requires a bare head. That is not an oversight in the rule and it is the single most important exception to know about, so it is worth stating before the general guidance.
The rule by authority
| France | Bare head required. The official specification for French ID photos states the head must be uncovered: no hat, no scarf, no headband. This applies to passports and the national identity card alike. French requirements |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Permitted for religious or medical reasons only; gov.uk states the photo must "not have a head covering (unless it's for religious or medical reasons)". The face must be clear from chin to forehead. UK requirements |
| United States | Permitted where worn daily for religious reasons, and the State Department may ask for a signed statement to that effect. A medical covering needs a signed doctor's statement. The covering must not obscure any part of the face or cast shadows. U.S. requirements |
| Canada | Permitted for religious reasons provided the full facial features are visible. Canadian requirements |
| Schengen area and most ICAO standards | Permitted on religious grounds with the face fully visible; some authorities ask for a written justification. Schengen requirements |
| Countries where it is expected | Several authorities in the Gulf and elsewhere anticipate a covering rather than treating it as an exception; the face-visibility condition still applies. Example |
Rules are revised, and consulates sometimes apply them more strictly than the published text. Each document page links to its issuing authority so you can check the current wording at source before you submit.
What actually causes a covering to be refused
Rarely the covering itself. Usually one of these, all of which are fixable in the photograph:
- The hairline or forehead is covered. The requirement is visibility from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. A hijab or turban worn low across the brow fails; pushed back a couple of centimetres it does not.
- A shadow across the face. A projecting edge over a face lit from above throws a shadow over the eyes — the commonest fault by some margin. Light your face from the front, not from overhead.
- The chin or jawline is obscured. A scarf pulled up under the chin hides the face outline the standard needs. Fold it clear of the jaw.
- Not enough contrast with the background. A white or cream covering against a white background loses the outline of the head entirely. Choose the alternative permitted background colour — light grey where the authority allows it — or a covering in a different shade.
- Under-chin coverage measured as head height. Head height is measured chin to crown of the head, and the crown is the top of the skull, not the top of the fabric. Cropping to the top of a turban puts the measurement outside the required range.
That last one is a real hazard, because it is invisible unless you know to look for it. When you align the photo, place the guide at the crown of your head, not at the highest point of the covering.
Practical advice
Wear what you normally wear — the photo should look like you, and a covering worn daily belongs in it. Push it back far enough to expose the full forehead and hairline, keep it clear of the jaw, front-light your face so no shadow falls across it, and pick a colour that separates from the background. If your authority may want a statement of religious observance, as the U.S. may, prepare one rather than discovering the requirement at the counter.
For France, the answer is simply to remove it for the photograph.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear a hijab in a passport photo?
In most countries yes, as a religious head covering, provided your full face is visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead with no shadow across it. The UK permits head coverings for religious or medical reasons, the U.S. permits them where worn daily for religious reasons and may ask for a signed statement, and Canada permits them with facial features fully visible. France is the notable exception: French ID photos require a bare head.
Does France really not allow a headscarf in a passport photo?
The published French specification requires the head to be uncovered — no hat, scarf or headband — for both the passport and the national identity card. Because this differs from most other authorities, check the current wording on the official French page linked from the France document page before applying.
Can I wear a turban in a passport photo?
Yes in the UK, the U.S., Canada and most ICAO-standard countries, as a religious covering, with the full face visible and no shadow cast. One thing to watch: head height is measured to the crown of your head, not the top of the turban, so align the crop to your skull or the measurement will be out of range.
Are hats or caps allowed?
No. Non-religious headwear is refused everywhere, along with sunglasses, headphones and anything else that obscures the head or face.
Do I need to prove the covering is religious?
Sometimes. The U.S. State Department may ask for a signed statement that the covering is worn daily for religious reasons, and a medical covering requires a signed doctor's statement. Several European authorities may ask for a written justification. The UK's published rule states the exception without requiring documentation up front.