Hairstyles, hair colors, hair lengths—all these things change numerous times throughout our lifetime.
But when the time comes to take a passport photo, you start wondering: Are there any passport hair rules?
Do you have to apply for a new passport every time we change our hair? What are the appropriate hairstyles for a passport photo? Find the answers to these and other hair-and-passport related questions below in our article.
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US Passport Photo Rules: Hair
Passport photo requirements are heavily regulated by the US Department of State in many different aspects—and one of them are passport photo hair requirements. However, there is no list of specific hairstyles you can or can’t wear in your passport picture. When it comes to hair in ID photos, the most important thing is that it cannot hide the applicant’s face.
In the rest of the article, we’d like to present you with solutions to situations where US citizens might not be sure if their hairstyle is allowed on a passport photo.
Hairstyles For Passport Photos: What’s Allowed?
First, we should change the narrative from using the word “allowed” to “appropriate” as there are no hairstyles that are forbidden in passport photos. Key biometric characteristics do not include a person’s hair.
The true question is which ones are the best and what to avoid to make sure that your picture gets through the passport application process smoothly. Have a look at some of the possible solutions to specific most common scenarios below.
Can you have bangs in a passport photo?
Short bangs that cover only your forehead, without obscuring your eyes or eyebrows, are acceptable. If your bangs are longer and cover your facial features, you should keep them off your face with a small bobby pin (headbands aren’t allowed).
As a general rule, the more visible your face is, the better.
Want to look at passport photo examples or learn more? Check these:
Can You Smile in a Passport Photo?
Guide on the Appropriate Dress Code for a Passport Photo
Does your hair have to be down for a passport photo?
Many wonder if they should keep their hair up or down for a passport photo. According to the regulations, both are allowed. If you have long hair, you can wear it down, just make sure it doesn’t obscure your face.
Buns and ponytails are also acceptable passport hairstyles, as long as the hair fits in the photo’s frame (it should be fully visible).
Does the hair have to be behind the ears in passport photos?
You don’t have to put your hair behind your eyes for a passport photo but it’s not wrong if you do. The more your face is generally visible the better for your passport application.
Can I have colored hair in my passport photo?
As long as your hair doesn’t cover any of your facial features, the color doesn’t matter. However, you shouldn’t dye your hair just for the passport pic. It might be seen as an attempt to change your appearance.
Can you wear a wig in a passport photo?
Yes, you can have a wig in your passport photo as long as you wear it normally (e.g., due to an illness). Wigs aren’t allowed if you wear it specifically for the photo, as the authorities will suspect you’re trying to disguise your normal appearance.
With Your Proper Hairstyle, You Can Now Take a Passport Photo
Once you know which hairstyles are good for passports, you can proceed with taking your perfect passport picture. At this point you might start wondering which type of passport photo service to choose.
Well, as times are changing and the world becomes more and more digitalized, even passport photos can be tuned online. There are now online passport photo converters available—tools that don’t require to leave a house to take a passport photo.
From all the passport services currently available, we strongly recommend PhotoAiD.
PhotoAiD® is a passport photo converter that double-checks new passport photos in terms of official regulations. The compliance check is first performed by an AI, and then by a human expert to ensure a nearly 100% success rate.
The program is friendly and very easy to use—even for the less technologically advanced people. PhotoAiD® works very fast—users only need 3 seconds to convert their ordinary images into impeccable passport photos.
Passport Photo Requirements for Hair: Recap
Technically, no hairstyle is strictly forbidden for a passport photo. As a rule of thumb, your hair in a passport photo shouldn’t obscure your facial features: eyes, eyebrows, or the oval of your face (both sides). It’s best to tuck your hair behind the ears and keep bangs off the face.
This way, you’ll ensure the photo gets accepted during the application and avoid unnecessary delays.
FAQ
In this section, we’ll answer a few common questions about hair in a passport photo.
