Hair, Beard & Jewelry Rules for Passport Photos 2026

Hair rules in passport photos are minimal. The core requirement is that hair must not cover the face or eyes.

• Any natural or dyed hair colour is permitted. Pink, blue, platinum, red, dark — ICAO rules do not mention hair colour at all. The only rule is that the face must be clearly visible.
• Hair must not cover the face. Fringe (bangs) covering the eyes or eyebrows, or hair covering the cheeks in a way that obscures the face outline, must be pushed back or styled away from the face for the photo.
• Hair accessories that sit on top of the head — such as a small clip or hairband — are not prohibited by any ICAO rule, as long as they do not cover any part of the face. Fashion hats and caps are banned.
• Natural hairstyles (afro, locs, braids, coils) are fully permitted. The full face — from the top of the forehead to the chin — must be clearly visible, but natural volume, texture, and style are not restricted.

Religious headwear (hijab, turban, kippah, tichel) is always permitted under the ICAO standard, provided the full face is visible from the hairline to the chin. Fashion hats, baseball caps, and beanies are not permitted.

The likeness principle applies to beards: the photo must reflect your everyday appearance. If you normally wear a beard, keep it for the photo. If you normally shave, shave for the photo. The photo must match how you look at the time of application — not a tidier or cleaner version of yourself.

There is no ICAO rule that explicitly prohibits jewelry. The applicable principle is that nothing should obscure the face or distort the perception of facial geometry.

Facial piercings are visible in passport photos and are generally not prohibited. The same underlying principle applies: the face must be fully and clearly visible.

• Small nose studs, lip rings, eyebrow piercings: These are visible but do not obscure the face. Fully permitted.
• Septum rings: A standard-sized septum ring is generally accepted. A very large septum ring that significantly obstructs the nose area may be questioned.
• Large ear gauges: Standard sizes are fine. Very extreme gauges that visually distort the face outline may raise questions, though there is no specific prohibition.
• Multiple visible piercings: There is no limit on the number of piercings — they must simply not obscure the face.

The ICAO authenticity principle states that the photo must reflect the applicant's natural, everyday appearance. Makeup that you normally wear is permitted — makeup that significantly alters your facial appearance is not.

• Natural everyday makeup (foundation, powder, blush, mascara, lipstick): Fully permitted. The ICAO standard does not restrict cosmetics that are part of daily appearance.
• Heavy contouring or stage makeup that significantly reshapes the perceived facial structure (creating extreme shadows, drastically altering nose or cheek shape): Not permitted. This can affect biometric matching accuracy.
• Coloured contact lenses that change your natural eye colour: Not permitted. Clear contact lenses are allowed.
• Permanent makeup (tattooed eyebrows, lip liner): Permitted, as it is part of your permanent, everyday appearance.