Whether you can keep your glasses on in a passport or visa photo depends entirely on the document. Some countries ban glasses outright, some allow them with conditions, and almost all of them refuse tinted lenses and glare. Because the rule changes from one document to the next, the safest habit is simple: check the rule for your document, and if in doubt, take your glasses off for the photo.
The rules, document by document
This table is built directly from our document rules, so it always shows the current position for each document:
| Document | Glasses | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Passport | Allowed. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes. | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| UK Passport | Allowed. No sunglasses or tinted glasses. Eyes fully visible with no glare or reflection. Frames must not cover the eyes. | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| US Passport | Not allowed | Natural smile allowed |
| US Visa (DS-160) | Not allowed | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Schengen Visa | Allowed. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes. | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Indian Passport | Not allowed | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Chinese Visa | Allowed. Frames must not cover the eyes, no glare, no tinted lenses. Heavy frames should be removed. | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Canadian Passport | Allowed. Eyes clearly visible, no glare. No sunglasses or tinted glasses, including tinted prescription lenses. | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
Each document has its own page with the full list and a link to the issuing authority, for example UK Passport photo and US Visa (DS-160) photo.
Where glasses are banned
The United States is the clearest example: since November 2016, glasses are not allowed in US visa and passport photos unless there is a documented medical reason, supported by a signed statement from a doctor. That applies to clear prescription lenses too. If your document is in this group, remove your glasses before you take the photo. There is no setting or edit that can make a photo with glasses acceptable.
Where glasses are allowed with conditions
Many countries, including Ireland, allow glasses when certain conditions are met, and the United Kingdom accepts them when you have to wear them. The conditions are similar wherever you apply:
- The lenses must be clear, not tinted. Sunglasses are never accepted, and tinted prescription lenses are usually refused too.
- There must be no glare or reflection on the lenses. A white patch of reflected light over the eye is one of the most common reasons for a refusal.
- The frames must not cover any part of your eyes. Thick or heavy frames that sit across the eye line can be a problem.
- Your eyes must be fully visible and looking at the camera.
Some authorities go further and recommend removing glasses even where they are allowed. HM Passport Office, for example, asks you not to wear glasses in the photo unless you have to. Following that advice removes every risk listed above in one step.
How to avoid glare if you keep them on
If you need to wear your glasses, for example because you cannot see the camera without them or because you wear them all the time, a few adjustments make glare much less likely:
- Face a window, with the light coming from in front of you but slightly to one side, rather than from a lamp directly ahead.
- Tilt the glasses very slightly downwards at the arms, which angles reflections away from the camera without changing your head position.
- Never use the camera flash. Flash bounces straight back off the lenses.
- Clean the lenses first. Smudges catch the light and blur the eyes.
- Check each photo by zooming in on your eyes. If you see any white reflection over the eye, adjust the light and try again.
Photochromic and tinted lenses
Lenses that darken in daylight are a particular trap. Indoors they may look clear, but next to a bright window they can tint slightly, and the tint is enough to cause a refusal. If your lenses react to light, take your glasses off or move further from the window.
What about contact lenses?
Clear contact lenses are not mentioned in most photo rules and are normally fine. Coloured or patterned lenses that change the appearance of your eyes are a different matter, as they alter your appearance in the photo. If you usually wear coloured lenses, take the photo without them.
Expression matters too
The table also shows the expression rule for each document. Most ask for a neutral expression with the mouth closed, while a US passport photo may show a natural smile with the mouth closed. When you remove your glasses, people often squint slightly at the camera; relax your face, look into the lens and take several shots so you can pick the clearest.
Check before you pay
When you upload your photo, PhotoPass ID sizes it to your document and checks the measurable rules, such as head size and position, before you pay. The digital file costs £6.99. If your document does not allow glasses, retake the photo without them first.
For US documents, where glasses are not allowed at all, start here instead: Take my US Visa (DS-160) photo