Passport Photo Clothing Guide: What to Wear (and What to Avoid)

ICAO Doc 9303 does not prescribe a specific clothing colour, but it sets the technical conditions that clothing must not violate:

• No uniforms. Military, police, fire service, emergency services, and other official uniforms are prohibited. Civilian dress must be worn.
• No white or near-white tops. White clothing blends into the white background, preventing automated systems from cleanly detecting the body outline and head position.
• Clothing must not obscure the face or chin. High necklines that cover the chin or jaw are a rejection risk.
• No reflective clothing or accessories near the face that create glare or hotspots in the image.

The mandatory white or off-white background means clothing colour significantly affects how well the subject separates visually from the background.

Recommended colours:

• Navy blue, mid-blue, or cornflower blue
• Mid-grey or charcoal (not pure black)
• Dark green or forest green
• Burgundy, rust, or other medium-warm tones
• Muted earth tones (brown, tan, olive)

Colours to avoid:

• White, cream, ivory, or very pale grey — blends with the background.
• Very dark colours (pure black) — can lose definition against dark image edges in underexposed photos.
• Neon or fluorescent colours — may cause colour bleeding under artificial lighting.

Heavily patterned fabrics — bold stripes, large florals, complex graphic prints — can distract from the face and, in some automated systems, interfere with edge-detection algorithms that calculate head position and head-to-frame ratios.

A plain, solid-coloured top is always the safest choice. Small, subtle patterns (fine herringbone, micro-check) are unlikely to cause issues, but a solid colour eliminates the risk entirely.

• Crew neck, V-neck, boat neck: Ideal. Clear chin and jaw definition.
• Open collar (shirt or blouse): Fine. The chin and neck are clearly visible.
• Turtleneck / polo neck: Technically allowed under ICAO rules, but they partially cover the chin. Some passport offices may reject these as the chin line is unclear. Use a standard neckline if in doubt.
• High-necked collars or scarves (non-religious): Avoid. Any non-religious item covering the chin or throat is a rejection risk.

Jewellery is permitted under ICAO rules. However, certain types can create problems:

• Large reflective earrings — chandelier or hoop earrings close to the face can create glare points that automated quality checks may flag as obstructions near the eyes or cheeks.
• Small stud earrings and simple rings — unlikely to cause any issues.
• Necklaces — fine as long as they sit below the chin line and do not obscure the jaw or neck area.

The same clothing rules apply to children, but there are practical considerations for very young children:

• Avoid white babygros or onesies. They blend with the white background and prevent clean background separation. A simple coloured vest or sleepsuit (not white) solves this.
• No school uniforms. The uniform prohibition applies to children as well as adults. School uniforms count as uniforms for passport photo purposes.
• Avoid very large bibs or collars that obscure the chin or neck.