Can You Wear Glasses in a Passport Photo? Our Guide Has the Answer

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and is not equivalent to the services of a licensed lawyer. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help, and does not offer legal services. Third party news articles mentioned on our website do not necessarily reflect the views of the company, or the current services that we offer.

Can You Wear Glasses in a Passport Photo—Mystery Solved

Creating an ideal passport photo isn’t easy—starting from the size and facial expressions to all other criteria the picture must meet. One of the most common questions when it comes to taking a passport picture is related to eyewear.

Can you wear glasses in a passport photo? What should you do if you have a specific health condition that doesn’t let you remove them when taking a picture? No worries—all answers to your burning questions are right here! We also offer you an extra tip by teaching you how to get a perfect passport photo without breaking a sweat.

General Requirements for an Acceptable Passport Photo

When taking a passport picture, it’s crucial to follow the official guidelines of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. It proposes some basic requirements you must meet so that you avoid mistakes that would delay your application. The picture must:

  • Be filter-free (in case it’s a digital photo)
  • Show opened eyes and face turned to the camera directly
  • Represent your current physical appearance and clearly identify you
  • Be taken within the last six months
  • Have the prescribed size—2 x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm)
  • Be taken in front of a white or off-white background
  • Feature the specific measures of the head—it must range between 1 and 1 ⅜ inches (25 mm and 35 mm) from the top of your head to the bottom of your chin
  • Be printed without borders and on matte paper

The photo shouldn’t:

  • Be blurry or grainy
  • Be changed digitally
  • Have holes or smudges or be damaged in any other way

Are Glasses Allowed in Passport Photos?

According to the decision made in 2016, the U.S. Department of State doesn’t allow applicants to wear glasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses in passport photos. The reason for this is a huge number of rejected applications due to face identification difficulties. Logically, submitting passport photos with glasses may delay the processing of your passport application.

Can You Wear Prescription Glasses in Passport Photos?

Prescription glasses often create a glare on the photos that makes identification difficult. This is why they must be removed unless your medical condition requires you to wear glasses all the time. You can avoid taking them off by providing a signed statement from your doctor. The document should be submitted along with your application.

Even if you can take a passport photo with prescription glasses, you must ensure that your face is completely visible. This means that the lenses mustn’t make a reflection that would make the picture unclear or hide your eyes in any way.

What Else Won’t Be Accepted in Your Passport Picture?

Besides all types of glasses, there are many other clothing items, accessories, and objects you shouldn’t wear when taking a passport photo. Here’s a table listing these:

Clothes and AccessoriesOther Objects
  • Uniforms (unless it’s religious attire)
  • Hats, head coverings, and other headgear
  • National costumes (unless their nature is religious)
  • Traditional face masks or veils
  • Jewelry and piercings that cover your face too much
  • Headphones
  • Wireless devices
  • Hands-free devices

You should also avoid:

  • Posing
  • Having a wide smile
  • Closing your eyes
  • Making strange facial expressions

DoNotPay Guarantees a Perfect Passport Photo Within Seconds!

To get a great passport picture, you must go through quite a burdensome process. If you decide to take a digital photo, there are a lot of adjustments you must make to adapt it to national standards. Why waste your time editing or visiting a photographer when you can subscribe to DoNotPay and get an ideal passport picture online within minutes?

Once you take a digital photo of yourself at home, we will:

  1. Scan it
  2. Perform all the necessary changes related to:
  3. Background
  4. Photo dimensions
  5. Contrast and lighting

Upon polishing your picture, we will send you a digital version by email. You can also choose to receive physical copies—all you have to do is provide us with your mailing address and choose a convenient shipping method!

How To Use DoNotPay To Create a Flawless Passport Photo

Here’s how our feature works:

  1. and find the Passport Photos option
  2. Upload a digital photo or snap one on your phone at the given moment

Once you do that, wait for our system to check your picture and make the necessary corrections. If the app notifies you that your face can’t be detected, you can click on Try Another Photo and give it another go.

Find Out More About Passport Photos With DoNotPay

Don’t take risks with unverified info—check out our knowledge base and:

Find your place of residence in the table below to see where you can have your passport photo taken:

San DiegoSacramentoBostonAlbuquerqueRaleigh
HoustonAtlantaPhoenixSan FranciscoDenver
CincinnatiRochesterLos AngelesColumbusScottsdale
HonoluluMinneapolisChicagoTallahasseeKansas City
New York CityPortlandPhiladelphiaAustinRockville
SeattleCharlestonSan JoseSan AntonioCharlotte
HerndonColvilleIndianapolisLas VegasBrooklyn

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