Rules

Can You Smile in a Passport Photo? Rules by Country

Can you smile in a passport photo? Official answers for the US, UK, Canada and Schengen visas, plus glasses, makeup, hair, head coverings and babies.

By Antoine Duno
Updated September 19, 20269 min read

The answer depends on which country issued your passport or visa. The US allows a gentle, closed-mouth smile. The UK and Canada say no smiling. Schengen visa checklists, such as Germany's, ask for a neutral expression. We didn't cover other countries here, so check your own authority's page.

Below you'll find the official answer by country, followed by the rules on glasses, makeup, hair, jewelry, head coverings and photos of babies. Every rule links to the authority that sets it, and that authority always has the final say on your photo.

Can you smile in a passport photo? Official rules by country

Document	Smile allowed?	What the official source says
US passport (paper application)	Yes, mouth closed	You can smile; keep your eyes open and mouth closed, and avoid exaggerated expressions (State Department)
US passport (online renewal)	Natural smile, no teeth	Neutral facial expression or natural smile; avoid showing teeth (State Department)
US visa	Neutral	Neutral facial expression, both eyes open (State Department)
UK passport	No	Plain expression, mouth closed; the online service's rules say no smile (GOV.UK, passport service)
Canadian passport	No	Mouth closed, not smiling or frowning (Canada.ca)
Schengen visa (German Embassy London)	Neutral	Neutral facial expression, both eyes open (German Embassy London)

Why most countries want a neutral face

Passport photos are used for facial biometrics. HM Passport Office's guidance for photographers explains that UK passport photos must meet standards for facial biometrics, and it defines a neutral expression as neither frowning nor smiling, with the mouth closed. A consistent expression makes it easier to match your face to the photo.

What counts as an acceptable US smile

Even where smiling is allowed, keep it subtle:

Lips together, no teeth showing
Both eyes fully open, not squinting
No raised eyebrows, pursed lips or exaggerated expressions
Head straight, not tilted

The State Department's examples show an open mouth and closed eyes as unacceptable. If you're unsure, a relaxed neutral expression is always safe. For the full US checklist, see US passport photo requirements.

Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?

Glasses rules vary more than almost any other rule.

Document	Glasses allowed?
US passport	No. Remove eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses. A medical exception needs a signed doctor's note.
US visa	No, except in rare medical cases with a signed medical statement
UK passport	Only if you have to. No sunglasses or tinted lenses, and no frames, glare, reflection or shadow over your eyes.
Canadian passport	Yes, if your eyes are clearly visible and there's no glare on the lenses
Schengen visa (German Embassy London)	Allowed if the frames don't cover any part of the eyes

Practical tip: even where glasses are allowed, glare or reflections over your eyes aren't, and they're easy to miss on a phone screen. Taking your glasses off avoids the problem. The US State Department also says not to rest glasses on top of your head in the photo.

Makeup, filters and retouching

The official US and UK photo guidance reviewed for this article doesn't ban everyday makeup. What matters is that the photo is a true likeness of you. The line is drawn at digital changes:

The US State Department says not to change your photo with software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence, and it checks photos for AI edits.
GOV.UK requires photos to be unaltered by computer software. The online passport service says no effects or filters.
HM Passport Office's photographers' guidance says photos must not be manipulated, for example by removing spots or softening lines or shadows, and must show natural skin tone.

In practice, that means (our passport photo beard and makeup guide goes further):

Fine: your usual makeup, as long as your features stay clearly visible and your skin tone looks natural
Not fine: beauty filters, skin smoothing, face slimming, AI "enhancements," or digitally removing blemishes
Also avoid: phone portrait or beauty modes that apply effects automatically

Hair and facial hair

Keep hair away from your eyes. Both the US and UK say hair must not cover your eyes.
Hair can go past the edge of the frame. The US State Department says this is fine as long as your entire head is shown and correctly sized.
Head size is measured to the head, not the hair, in the UK. HM Passport Office's photographers' guidance defines the crown as the top of the head, not the top of the hair.
Beards and hair color changes are minor. The State Department lists growing a beard and coloring your hair as small changes that don't require a new US passport. Whether a beard or makeup can cause a rejection is covered in beard and makeup in a passport photo.

Jewelry, piercings and clothing

Item	US passport rule
Jewelry and facial piercings	Allowed if they don't hide your face
Uniforms, uniform-like clothing, camouflage	Not allowed
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices	Not allowed
Face masks and face coverings	Must be removed
Hearing devices (US visa photos)	May be worn if you normally wear them

Whatever the country, choose clothing that contrasts with the background so your outline is clear; the Canadian pages warn that white clothing can blend into a light background and get the photo rejected.

Hats and head coverings

Hats are not allowed for fashion reasons. Religious and medical head coverings are generally accepted, with conditions.

US passport (State Department):

Religious: include a signed statement that it's religious attire worn daily in public.
Medical: include a signed doctor's statement.
Your full face must be visible, with no shadows or parts of your face blocked.
The covering should be one color, without patterns or small holes.

UK passport (GOV.UK): no head covering unless it's for religious or medical reasons, and nothing covering your face.

Schengen visas: the German Embassy in London says not to wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, with an exception for religious coverings. See our Schengen visa photo requirements guide for other consulates.

Rules for babies and children

Young children get a few exceptions, but some rules never relax.

Rule	US	UK
Eyes open	Babies' eyes don't need to be fully open; older children's must be	Not required under age 1
Expression	Neutral; no exaggerated expressions	Plain expression not required under age 6
Looking at camera	Must face the camera	Not required under age 6
Other people or hands in photo	No other person in the photo; hands blocking the face are shown as unacceptable	On their own; supporting hand must not be visible
Pacifiers and toys	Face must not be blocked; pacifier shown as unacceptable	No toys or dummies

Sources: State Department, GOV.UK.

Setup tips from official sources:

Place the baby on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with one (US State Department).
For children under one, lay them on a plain light-colored sheet and take the photo from above (GOV.UK).
Make sure there are no shadows on the child's face (US State Department).

For a full walkthrough, see how to take a passport photo at home.

Quick reference: what to do on photo day

Relax your face; close your mouth
For US passports, a slight closed-mouth smile is okay; elsewhere, stay neutral
Remove glasses (or check your country's exception carefully)
Pull hair away from your eyes
Remove hats unless worn for religious or medical reasons, and bring any required statement
Skip uniforms, camouflage, headphones and face masks
Turn off filters and beauty modes
Look straight into the camera with both eyes open

Once you have a shot you like, our tool can crop it to the right size and run the basic checks before you pay. It doesn't detect glasses or judge your expression, so those two are on you.

Frequently asked questions

Can you smile in a US passport photo?

Yes, a little. The State Department says you can smile as long as your eyes are open and your mouth is closed, and its online renewal page asks for a neutral expression or natural smile without showing teeth. Avoid exaggerated expressions.

Can you smile in a UK passport photo?

No. GOV.UK requires a plain expression with your mouth closed, and the online passport service's photo rules say no smile. Children under 6 are exempt from the plain-expression rule.

Can I wear makeup in a passport photo?

The official US and UK photo rules reviewed for this guide don't ban everyday makeup. What they require is a true likeness with natural skin tones and no digital changes. Filters, beauty modes and retouching are not allowed.

Can I wear a hijab or other religious head covering in a passport photo?

Generally yes, if your full face is visible. The US asks for a signed statement that the head covering is religious attire worn daily in public, and says it should be one color without patterns or small holes. The UK allows head coverings worn for religious or medical reasons.

Do babies need their eyes open in a passport photo?

Not always. The US State Department says it's okay if a baby's eyes aren't entirely open, and the UK doesn't require eyes to be open for children under one. Older children must have their eyes open.

Sources

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Requirements