Can You Wear Glasses in a Passport Photo?
Eyeglasses are not allowed in a U.S. passport photo unless a signed medical statement documents a genuine need to keep them on.
Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: No, not for a U.S. passport, unless you have a signed medical statement. The State Department's "No Eyeglasses Policy," in place since November 2016, requires you to remove eyeglasses and sunglasses for the photo. The rare exception is a documented medical need, such as recent eye surgery.
In this guide
- Why the No Eyeglasses Policy exists
- The medical exception, and what the statement needs to say
- What counts as "resting on your head"
- Sunglasses, tinted and transitions lenses
- Contact lenses
- Rules for children
- Passport photos with glasses in other countries
- Checklist
- FAQ
Why the No Eyeglasses Policy Exists
Before November 2016, glasses were a leading cause of rejected or delayed passport photos: glare on the lenses obscured eye color, frames shadowed the eyes, and refraction distorted facial features enough to complicate identity verification. The State Department's fix was blanket removal rather than case-by-case judgment calls at the photo counter.
The Medical Exception, and What the Statement Needs to Say
Glasses may be worn only when they can't be removed for a documented medical reason — for example, recent ocular surgery, where wearing glasses is necessary to protect the eyes, or a severe visual impairment. In that case:
- A statement signed by a medical professional or health practitioner must be submitted with the application.
- Even with the exception approved, the photo must still meet these conditions: frames don't cover any part of the eyes, no glare on the lenses, no shadows from the frames, and no refraction that obscures the eyes.
Most existing guides stop at "you need a doctor's note" without detailing what has to be true even after that note is accepted — the four conditions above still apply, and a photo that fails any of them can still be rejected even with a valid medical exception on file.
What Counts as "Resting on Your Head"
This detail is missing from almost every consumer-facing guide on the topic, but it's called out directly on the official photo help page: a photo can be rejected because the glasses are resting on top of the head rather than being fully removed. If you normally push your glasses up when not wearing them, take them off completely and set them aside for the photo — pushed-up glasses are treated as a rejection reason on their own, separate from the no-glasses rule itself.
Sunglasses, Tinted and Transitions Lenses
Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not permitted under any circumstances, including for medical reasons — the medical exception applies to clear prescription glasses, not tinted ones. If you wear photochromic (transition) lenses, they should be in their clear state; a lens that's visibly darkened counts as tinted for this purpose.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses, including colored or cosmetic ones, are not addressed as a restricted item in the official rules. Since they don't sit in front of the eye the way frames or lenses do, they don't trigger the glare/shadow/refraction concerns the No Eyeglasses Policy exists to solve, and applicants routinely wear them without issue.
Rules for Children
Children are generally held to the same no-glasses standard as adults, including the medical exception process — a signed medical statement is required if a child's glasses genuinely can't be removed for the photo (for example, following eye surgery). There is no separate, more lenient standard for minors.
Passport Photos With Glasses in Other Countries
Guidance is not uniform, and this is an area where sources for the same country sometimes disagree:
| Country/authority | Glasses allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No, except signed medical statement | Frames, glare, shadow, and refraction rules apply even with an exception |
| United Kingdom | No, except medical exception | GOV.UK guidance mirrors the U.S. standard closely |
| Some EU/other sources | Guidance varies | A small number of country-specific sources describe glasses as acceptable if they don't obscure the eyes — always verify against that country's official passport authority, not a retailer's blog |
Because this is one of the more contradicted topics online, treat the destination country's official government photo page as the deciding source, not a general eyewear retailer's guide.
Passport Photo Glasses Checklist
- Glasses fully removed, not pushed up or resting on your head
- No sunglasses or tinted/photochromic lenses in a darkened state
- If wearing glasses under a medical exception: no glare, no frame over the eyes, no shadow, no refraction
- Signed medical statement included with the application if applicable
- Same standard applied for children as for adults
- Contact lenses are not restricted
FAQ
Can I wear glasses in my U.S. passport photo? Generally no. Since November 2016, the State Department requires glasses to be removed unless a signed medical statement documents a genuine need to keep them on.
Can I wear glasses if I just push them up on my head instead of taking them off? No — the official guidance specifically lists glasses resting on the head as a rejection reason, separate from the no-glasses rule itself.
Are sunglasses allowed with a doctor's note? No. The medical exception covers clear prescription lenses only; sunglasses and tinted lenses are never permitted.
Do contact lenses count as glasses? No. Contact lenses aren't restricted under the No Eyeglasses Policy since they don't create the glare, shadow, or refraction issues the policy addresses.
Do children have to remove glasses too? Yes, the same standard applies, including the option of a signed medical statement if glasses genuinely can't be removed.
Do other countries allow glasses in passport photos? Most major countries, including the UK, follow a similar no-glasses standard with a medical exception. A few sources describe more lenient rules for specific countries, so always check the destination's official page.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Passport Photos: travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/photos.html
- U.S. Department of State, Photo Frequently Asked Questions: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/frequently-asked-questions.html.html
About the Author
Emma Richardson
Senior ICAO Photo Compliance Expert, PhotoOmni
Emma Richardson is the Senior ICAO Photo Compliance Expert at PhotoOmni. With 12+ years of experience in passport and visa photo verification, she has helped applicants achieve 820,000+ successful photo approvals across 100+ countries and territories. She specializes in global passport photo requirements, ICAO-compliant photo standards, and biometric image verification.