What to Wear for a Passport Photo (Colours, Rules, and What Gets Rejected)

Quick answer: Wear a plain, mid-tone or dark top with no patterns, no logos and no uniform. The single most common clothing mistake is wearing white: passport backgrounds are white, off-white or light grey, so a white shirt makes your shoulders disappear into the background, and Canada's passport service states outright that this gets photos rejected. Take off glasses (banned in the US and Australia, discouraged in the UK), remove anything shiny or face-covering, and keep religious head coverings plain and clear of the face. Beyond that, dress how you normally look: the photo has to match the person turning up at the border.

Clothing rarely gets its own section in official guidance, which is exactly why it causes avoidable rejections. Here is what the passport offices of the US, UK, Canada and Australia actually require, and what it means for what you put on before the shoot.

The one rule everyone gets wrong: shirt colour

Every country requires a plain light background: white or off-white in the US, cream or light grey in the UK, plain white or light grey in Australia, white in Canada. Your clothing has to contrast with that background so the edges of your head and shoulders are clearly visible.

That single requirement rules out:

• White tops (the big one). Canada's guidance says it plainly: avoid wearing white, it can blend into the background and will mean your photo gets rejected.
• Cream, beige, pale grey and very light pastels, for the same reason.
• Anything with a strong sheen that catches light and blows out.

What works: navy, charcoal, black, forest green, burgundy, mid blue, or any solid mid-to-dark colour. If your skin tone is very fair, lean darker still; the contrast rule applies to your face against the background too.

What to wear for a passport photo: women

The rules are identical for everyone; the practical questions differ.

• Neckline: anything from a crew neck to a modest V works. Very wide or strapless necklines can read as "no clothing" in a tight passport crop, which looks odd on the document even when it is technically allowed.
• Hair: keep it off your face. All four countries require your full face to be visible and the edges of your face unobscured; the UK specifically rejects hair in front of the eyes. Tuck it behind your shoulders rather than letting it fall over the jawline.
• Make-up: allowed and normal. Keep it close to your everyday look, avoid heavy highlighter or shimmer that reflects the light, and remember the photo has to still look like you at a border in five or ten years.
• Jewellery: small and non-reflective is fine. Australia's rule is the most explicit: nothing may obscure any part of your face, especially around the eyes, mouth and nose, and no reflection from rings or studs. Large earrings that catch light are the usual offender.

What to wear for a passport photo: men

• A plain shirt, t-shirt or jumper in a mid or dark colour. Collared or not, both are fine.
• No uniforms. The US is explicit: you cannot wear a uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage clothing. This catches out service members, security staff and anyone reaching for a work polo with a logo.
• Facial hair is fine, and growing or shaving a beard does not require a new passport, since it counts as a small appearance change rather than a significant one.
• Headphones and earbuds off. Australia states that AirPods and other wireless earbuds are not hearing aids and must be removed. Actual hearing aids may be worn.

What to wear for a passport photo: kids and babies

• Children: the same clothing rules apply, so plain and mid-toned again. Avoid hoods, character costumes and anything with a big logo. Children under 6 in the UK do not have to look directly at the camera or hold a neutral expression, and Australia allows an open mouth for under-3s.
• Babies: dress them in a plain coloured onesie or top, not white, since they are usually photographed lying on a white sheet. That white-on-white combination is the number one reason baby photos come back rejected. No hats, no bibs, no dummies or pacifiers, and nobody else in frame, which includes a parent's supporting hand. The full method is in our baby passport photo guide.

Glasses, head coverings and accessories

This is where countries genuinely differ, so check yours:

Rule	US	UK	Canada	Australia
Glasses	Banned since 2016 (medical exception with doctor's note)	Avoid unless you must; no tint, no glare, eyes clear	Allowed if untinted, eyes visible, no glare	Banned unless medically necessary; poor eyesight is not a reason
Religious head covering	Allowed with a signed statement; full face visible	Allowed for religious or medical reasons	Allowed; full face visible, no shadows	Allowed; must be plain with no patterns
Hats (non-religious)	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed
Hearing aids	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed (earbuds are not)
Face coverings	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed

One more universal rule worth repeating: you cannot edit the photo afterwards. Removing glare from glasses, smoothing skin, changing clothing colour or cleaning up the background all count as alterations, and Canada in particular rejects applications over exactly this.

Country-specific notes

• United States: the uniform and camouflage ban is the clothing rule people miss. See the full spec on our US passport photo page.
• Canada: the "avoid white clothing" instruction is official, not folklore, and Canada also requires a commercial photographer. Details on the Canadian passport photo page.
• United Kingdom: contrast with a cream or light grey background, and hair must not cover the eyes. See the UK passport photo page.
• Australia: jewellery reflections and earbuds get their own mention in the official rules, and glasses are out unless medically necessary.

FAQ

What colour shirt is best for a passport photo?

A solid mid-tone or dark colour: navy, charcoal, black, burgundy or mid blue. The photo needs clear contrast between you and the light background, which is why white and pale shades cause rejections.

Can you wear white in a passport photo?

You should not. White blends into the white or light background and Canada's passport service explicitly warns that it leads to rejection. If white is required for religious dress, layer it so the shoulder line still reads against the background, or discuss it with the photographer.

Can you wear black in a passport photo?

Yes, and it is one of the safest choices. Black contrasts strongly with every approved background colour. Just make sure the fabric is matte rather than shiny.

Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?

Depends where you are applying: banned in the US and Australia (medical exceptions only), allowed in Canada if there is no glare and your eyes are visible, and discouraged in the UK. When in doubt, take them off; no country rejects a photo for the absence of glasses.

Can you wear jewellery or a nose ring in a passport photo?

Yes, provided nothing obscures your face and nothing reflects light back at the camera. Australia's guidance singles out reflections from rings and studs. Small, matte and away from the eyes, mouth and nose is the safe standard.

Can you wear a hijab, turban or kippah in a passport photo?

Yes. All four countries permit head coverings worn daily for religious reasons. The conditions are consistent: your full face from chin to forehead must be visible, the edges of your face must be visible, there must be no shadows, and Australia additionally requires the covering to be plain without patterns. The US asks for a signed statement.

Does what I wear affect biometric recognition?

Indirectly, yes. Biometric systems map facial geometry, so anything that hides the jaw or face edges (hair, high collars, large jewellery, patterned coverings) makes matching harder. That is the reasoning behind most of these rules.

Should I dress up for a passport photo?

No need. Everyday clothing you would actually be recognised in is the goal, in a plain, mid or dark colour. This is an identity document, not a portrait session.

Bottom line

Plain, mid-tone or dark, no patterns, no logos, no uniforms, and definitely not white. Take the glasses off unless your country allows them, keep jewellery small and matte, and make sure hair is clear of your face. Get that right and the only remaining variables are lighting and framing, which our free passport photo maker handles with per-country size and head-height guides.