Passport Photo Hair Rules
Hair rules for passport photos come down to one core requirement: your full face must be clearly visible. Hair, accessories, and coverings must not obscure your features or cast shadows on your face.
General Hair Rules
- Hair must not cover your eyes or touch your eyebrows
- Hair must not cast shadows across your face or onto the background
- Your face outline from hairline to chin must be unobstructed
- Your photo should reflect your current, consistent appearance
Long Hair
Long hair is permitted. Wear it how you normally would — down, pulled back, in a ponytail. If you wear it down, make sure it doesn't fall forward and obscure your face or jaw. Push hair behind your shoulders to keep your face clearly visible from all sides.
Bangs and Fringes
Light, side-swept bangs that stay above your eyebrows are generally fine. Thick, heavy bangs that cover your forehead down to your eyebrows may trigger rejection in countries that require the full face from hairline to chin to be visible. If your bangs naturally sit at eyebrow level or above, you should be fine.
Hijabs, Turbans, and Religious Head Coverings
Religious head coverings are permitted in most countries for passport photos. The requirements are consistent across countries:
- Full face — forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, chin — must be clearly visible
- No shadows from the covering across the face
- The covering must be worn consistently in daily life
- Some countries (e.g. UK) require a signed statement confirming the religious nature of the covering
See our passport photo clothing guide for more on head covering rules by country.
Wigs
Wigs are allowed if worn as part of your everyday appearance — for medical reasons (such as chemotherapy), alopecia, or consistent daily use. They are not permitted if they are purely cosmetic and you wouldn't wear them in daily life, as your passport photo must represent how you normally look.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear my hair down in a passport photo?
Yes, hair down is allowed. However, your full face must remain clearly visible — hair cannot cover your eyes, obscure your face outline, or cast shadows across your features.
Can I wear a wig in my passport photo?
Wigs are generally allowed unless they significantly change your facial appearance. If you wear a wig in everyday life, use it in your passport photo. If it's purely cosmetic and you might not always wear it, check with your passport authority.
Can I have bangs that cover my forehead?
Light bangs that don't touch your eyebrows are generally fine. Thick bangs that cover your forehead significantly or touch your eyes may cause rejection — your full face from hairline to chin must be clearly visible.
Can I wear a hijab in my passport photo?
Yes. Religious head coverings including hijabs are permitted in passport photos in most countries, provided your full face — forehead to chin, ear to ear — is clearly visible and there are no shadows across the face.
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