Passport photo questions

It depends on the country. The US and Australia require glasses off unless you have a medical reason, the UK allows them only if you have to wear them, Canada allows them with no glare, and India rejects coloured or dark glasses.

No. The US, UK, Canada and India reject sunglasses and tinted glasses, and Australia allows no glasses at all unless they are medically necessary.

Usually yes, as long as it doesn’t hide your face. The US and Australia allow jewellery that keeps your face clear, the UK asks you to remove facial piercings if you can, and Canada and India’s passport portal don’t say.

Take headphones and earbuds off: the US, UK and Australia don’t allow them, though the UK and Australia allow hearing aids. Hair clips are fine in the UK and Australia if your face stays visible; the US, Canada and India don’t mention them.

Yes. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and India all allow a head covering worn for religious reasons as long as your full face is clearly visible; the US also asks for a signed statement that you wear it daily in public.

No. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and India don’t allow hats; the only exception is a head covering worn for religious reasons (and, in some countries, medical reasons).

It depends on the country. The US and India don’t accept photos in uniform (the US also bans camouflage), the UK accepts military or school uniforms, and Canada and Australia don’t say.

No official rule bans a white shirt, but Canada says to avoid light-coloured clothing because it can blend into the background, and India’s portal asks for dark clothing. The US, UK and Australia don’t mention clothing colour.

Hair must not cover your eyes or face in the US, UK, Canada, Australia or India. Canada and Australia also want the edges of your face visible, India wants both ears visible, and none of them mentions eyebrows.

Usually not. The US and UK say a beard or new hair colour doesn’t need a new passport unless you can no longer be recognised from your photo. Canada (for significant changes) and India say to apply for a new passport; Australia doesn’t say.

Mostly no. The UK, Canada and Australia require a neutral expression with your mouth closed, and India says no grinning; the US passport page allows a smile with your mouth closed but no teeth.

No. The US, UK, Canada and Australia require your head straight and facing the camera, and India asks for a frontal view of the full face.

Yes. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and India all require you to look straight at the camera; the UK relaxes this for children under 6.

No official source sets a makeup rule. The US, UK, Canada and India don’t mention it, and Australia’s official examples show heavy makeup as an unacceptable photo.

No. In the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India the child must be alone in the photo; the UK lets you support a baby’s head only if your hand isn’t visible, and Canada says no hands at all.

Sometimes. The US accepts a baby’s eyes not fully open for a passport (not a visa) and the UK accepts closed eyes under age 1, but India’s passport portal requires eyes open, and Canada and Australia don’t say.

Lay the baby on a plain white or light sheet (US, UK) or seat them in a car seat covered with a white sheet or blanket (US, Canada), with no shadows on the face and nobody else in the shot. Australia and India give no method.

No country gives tips for keeping a toddler still, but some rules are relaxed: the UK doesn’t require children under 6 to look at the camera or keep a plain expression, and Australia allows an open mouth under 3. The child must always be alone.

Yes in the US, the UK (online applications) and Australia, where someone else can take it for you. No in Canada, where a commercial photographer must take it; in India, adults and children over 4 are photographed at the Passport Seva Kendra.

A phone photo works for US online passport renewal and UK online applications, though GOV.UK says someone should help you take it. Canada requires a commercial photographer, Australia discourages apps and selfies, and India doesn’t say.

No. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and India reject edited photos: no retouching, filters or red-eye removal. If something is wrong, take a new photo.

If your DS-160 confirmation page shows an X instead of your photo, the upload failed: bring one printed photo that meets the requirements, with the confirmation page, to the US embassy or consulate.

It depends on the document: US online passport renewal 54 KB–10 MB; US visa 600×600 to 1200×1200 px; UK online at least 600×750 px and 50 KB–10 MB; Canada online renewal 1200×1800 to 3000×4500 px and 200 KB–5 MB. Australia and India publish no file rules.

US: 2×2 in (51×51 mm). UK: 45×35 mm. Canada: 50×70 mm. Australia: 35–40 mm wide by 45–50 mm high. India (applying in India): 45×35 mm.

Good-quality photo paper, professionally printed. The US accepts matte or glossy, Australia wants glossy dye-sublimation prints of at least 200 gsm, the UK doesn’t accept glossy or textured paper, and Canada and India ask for high-quality photo paper.

Mostly no. The US, UK, Australia and India require colour photos; Canada is the exception and accepts black and white.

Within the last 6 months in the US, Canada and Australia, and within the last month in the UK. India asks for a recent photo without a set number of months.

Plain and light. The US wants white or off-white, Canada white or light-coloured, Australia white or light grey, the UK light-coloured (cream or light grey for printed photos) and India plain white.

No country publishes a ranked list, but the reasons they name are blurry or pixelated photos, wrong paper, shadows, glare or reflections, edited photos, a dark background, and anything covering the eyes or face.

Send a new photo that meets the rules. The US asks by letter or email, the UK and Australia request a new photo while assessing your application, and India asks for a new photo with a fresh application form; Canada doesn’t publish the steps.