Can You Wear Earrings, Nose Rings or Other Jewelry in a Passport Photo?
US passport photo rules allow jewelry and facial piercings if they do not hide your face. Learn how to avoid shadows and glare.
Short answer: yes. For a U.S. passport photo, you can wear jewelry and keep your facial piercings in, as long as they don't hide your face. What gets photos rejected is usually not the jewelry itself, but the shadows, glare or blocked features it causes.
This guide covers what the State Department actually says, how to apply it to earrings, nose rings and other piercings, and the mistakes to avoid.
This article covers U.S. passport photo rules. Other countries have their own requirements.
What the State Department Says About Jewelry
The State Department's passport photo page has one rule about jewelry: it's allowed, and facial piercings can stay, provided they don't hide your face.
A few related rules matter just as much:
- Nothing can cover your face. Anything blocking your face has to come off, apart from documented religious or medical head coverings.
- No shadows. Your face and the background must be free of shadows, and lighting must be even.
- No headphones or wireless hands-free devices in or on your ears.
- No editing. You must submit the original, unedited photo. No filters, retouching or apps, and the State Department checks for digital changes.
- The photo must be recent. It has to be taken within the last 6 months and look like you today.
The page does not include example photos for earrings, nose rings or other jewelry, and it doesn't define how large is "too large." The guidance below is practical advice based on the official rules, not additional official requirements.
What "Doesn't Hide Your Face" Means in Practice
Ask three questions about anything you're wearing:
- Does it cover any part of your face? Eyes, nose, mouth, chin and the outline of your face must all be visible.
- Does it cast a shadow on your face or neck? Large dangling pieces and big nose rings can do this.
- Does it reflect the flash or light? Glare can wash out part of your face or look like a lighting problem.
If the answer to all three is no, the piece is very unlikely to be a problem.
Jewelry Type by Type
| Jewelry | Generally fine? | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Stud earrings | Yes | Check for glare on shiny stones. |
| Small hoops | Yes | Make sure they don't touch or cover your jawline. |
| Large dangling or statement earrings | Risky | Can cover the jaw, neck or cheek, or cast shadows. Take them off. |
| Nose stud | Yes | Keep it small and non-reflective if possible. |
| Nose ring (hoop) | Usually | Large hoops can cast a shadow on your cheek or lip. |
| Septum ring | Check carefully | If it hangs in front of your mouth or lip, flip it up or take it out. The State Department doesn't address this specifically. |
| Lip ring, eyebrow ring, cheek piercing | Usually | Fine if it doesn't hide your face or create a shadow. |
| Tongue piercing | Yes | Your mouth must be closed in the photo anyway. |
| Necklaces and chains | Usually | Keep them from covering your chin or collecting shadows. |
| Ear gauges and large plugs | Usually | Treat like any other jewelry: they shouldn't hide your face. |
| Headphones, earbuds, wireless hands-free devices | No | Explicitly not allowed. |
The "Generally fine?" column is practical guidance. If a piece is large, shiny or sits near the face, the safest move is to remove it for the photo or to choose a smaller one.
Hearing Aids and Cultural or Religious Jewelry
- Hearing aids: the State Department's photo page bans headphones and wireless hands-free devices, but it doesn't speak to hearing aids specifically. If you wear one every day, contact the National Passport Information Center before you apply to confirm what you need to submit.
- Forehead jewelry, hair chains and similar pieces: the page doesn't address them directly. Follow the same test: your face has to be fully visible, with no shadows. If a piece is worn daily for religious reasons and you're unsure, contact the National Passport Information Center before you apply.
Don't Edit Jewelry Out of the Photo
If a piece of jewelry causes glare or a shadow, you can't fix it with an app or photo editor. The State Department requires an original, unedited photo and checks for digital changes. If you retouch the picture to remove a piercing, erase glare or smooth a shadow, the photo can be rejected.
If there's a problem, take the jewelry off or adjust it and shoot a new photo.
Should You Take Your Piercings Out?
Not necessarily. Your photo should look like you do every day, so you don't need to remove jewelry you normally wear. Taking out a fresh piercing can also let it close, which isn't worth it for a photo.
One more point: the State Department says you don't need a new passport for small changes such as growing a beard, coloring your hair or normal aging. But adding or removing many large facial piercings or tattoos is listed as a major change that means applying for a new passport. If your current passport photo shows you with piercings you no longer have, or the reverse, check whether you can still be clearly recognized from it.
What About Babies and Children?
The State Department's baby and toddler section doesn't mention jewelry. The same principle applies: nothing may cover the face, and there should be no shadows. Keep it simple, with no hair bows, large accessories or anything near the face, and remember a pacifier that blocks part of the face is listed as unacceptable.
Quick Checklist Before You Shoot
- Remove oversized, dangling or very shiny jewelry.
- Check that nothing touches or covers your jawline, mouth, nose or eyes.
- Flip up or remove any septum ring that hangs in front of your mouth.
- No headphones, earbuds or wireless devices in or on your ears.
- Use even lighting from the front so metal doesn't cast shadows or reflect glare.
- Take a test shot and zoom in on every piece of jewelry.
- Submit the original photo. No editing and no filters.
FAQ
Can I wear earrings in a passport photo? Yes, as long as they don't hide your face or create shadows. Small studs and small hoops are the safest choice.
Can I wear a nose ring in a passport photo? Yes. Facial piercings can stay in. Just make sure a larger ring doesn't cast a shadow or cover part of your face.
Can I wear a septum ring? There's no specific rule, but anything hanging in front of your mouth or covering part of your face is a risk. Flip it up or remove it for the photo.
Can I edit jewelry or glare out of my photo? No. The State Department requires an original, unedited photo.
Do I have to remove my piercings? No. You can keep them in. The photo should reflect how you normally look.
Are earbuds or headphones allowed? No. Headphones and wireless hands-free devices in or on your ears are not allowed.
Get It Right the First Time with PhotoOmni
Jewelry is easy to get right when you plan the shot. Use PhotoOmni to prepare a passport photo that follows the official size and framing rules, ready to print or upload. Check your piercings and earrings at full size before you submit, fix any problem, and avoid the delay of a rejected photo.
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Official Sources
Official guidance checked on October 16, 2026. Follow the current application instructions before submitting.
About the Author
PhotoOmni Editorial Team
The PhotoOmni Editorial Team explains official passport, visa and identity-photo requirements, with practical guidance on taking photos, preparing files and printing. This guide draws on the official sources listed above. The issuing authority sets the application requirements and makes the final acceptance decision.