While it is allowed to wear a hoodie, opting for a more formal outfit is suggested if possible. However, if a hoodie is your preference or only option, follow these guidelines:
- Keep the hood down so it does not cover your head.
- Choose a well-fitted hoodie to prevent facial features from being obscured by excessive bagginess.
- Avoid hoodies with vibrant colors or prominent patterns, which may hinder easy identification.
Consider the following tips when selecting a hoodie for your passport photo:
- Opt for neutral colors such as black, navy blue, or gray.
- Avoid hoodies with conspicuous logos or designs.
- Ensure a proper fit, avoiding excessively loose options.
- If you have long hair, tie it back to prevent it from covering your face.
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Here at Visas for Future, we make getting a passport photo for your application stress-free and simple. Our service ensures your photo meets all the requirements. Just follow our guidelines, take a picture of yourself, send it to us, and we’ll edit it. We’ll then send your passport photos to you by mail with free shipping, serving Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. If you’re outside these countries, we can email your passport photos for you to print at home.
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand 5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred, but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits of using an online passport photo service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo, but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate and check your passport photo to ensure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why choose us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Guidelines for wearing hoodies in passport photo
When it comes to wearing a hoodie in a passport photo, it’s not strictly forbidden by the rules. However, there are some important things to keep in mind:
- Keep the Hood Down:
- Make sure your face and neck are seen in the photo.
- Avoid Glare or Shadows:
- Check for any glares or shadows on your face and neck, as these can make the photo less clear.
- Uncovered Head, Unless Religious Reasons:
- Generally, your head should not be covered unless you have religious reasons for wearing something on your head.
- Avoid Flashy Clothing:
- Your clothes should not be too flashy or look like a uniform. Keep it neutral and simple.
- Contrast with Background:
- Choose clothing that stands out from the background. For example, a black shirt works well if the background is white.
What clothes to wear in the passport photo?
While there’s technically no official dress code for passport photos, there are some guidelines and recommendations to ensure your photo gets accepted and reflects your best self. Here are some key points to remember:
What to Wear:
- Wear solid, darker colors: This creates a good contrast with the white background and makes your facial features stand out. Opt for black, navy blue, dark green, etc.
- Choose casual or semi-formal attire: Stick to what you’d typically wear on a travel day or for an interview. Suits and dresses are also acceptable, but avoid extremes like athleisure or overly revealing clothing.
- Keep it simple: Avoid busy patterns, excessive jewelry, or hats (unless for religious or medical reasons). Glasses are usually not allowed, either.
- Show your neckline: Choose a collared shirt, sweater, or dress to ensure your shoulders and neckline are visible in the final photo. Tank tops or plunging necklines might get cropped out.
What not to Wear:
- Wear white, off-white, or gray: These blend in with the background, making your photo invalid.
- Go for uniforms, camouflage, or anything resembling religious attire (unless worn daily): These are specifically against regulations.
- Cover your face with hair, scarves, or headwear (except for religious purposes): Your full face needs to be visible.
- Look sloppy or unkempt: While casual is fine, aim for a neat and tidy appearance that represents you well.
Below are the recommended attire for the passport photo.1
Additional tips:
- Consider the longevity of your photo. You’ll have this passport for potentially ten years, so choose something you won’t cringe at later.
- If you wear glasses for medical reasons and need them in the photo, ensure they don’t have tinted lenses and don’t create glare.
- Double-check specific requirements for your country, as guidelines might vary slightly.
Remember, following these guidelines increases your chances of getting your photo accepted on the first try.
Guidelines for Attires in Passport Photos
Here are general guidelines for selecting attire for passport photos:
- Cover Your Shoulders: Don’t wear tops like tank tops that leave your shoulders exposed. This helps avoid looking too bare in the final photo, especially when they cut it to fit the specific size for a UK passport.
- Avoid Light Colors: Please avoid clothes that are too light because they might blend in with the background. And if you’re wondering about the best colors, go for darker ones like black, navy blue, or even red.
- Avoid Prints and Bright Elements: While you have flexibility in choosing colors, be mindful of the material and prints on your outfit. Avoid loud prints or shiny materials like sequins. A plain outfit in your desired color (excluding white) is ideal.
- Steer Clear of Turtlenecks and High-Collar Shirts: Even though the suggestion is to go for a casual look, if you’re torn between a smart-casual turtleneck and a simple T-shirt, opt for the T-shirt. Turtlenecks and high-collar shirts can obscure your facial features, so choose clothes that clearly show your face and neckline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear a turtleneck in a passport photo?
No, turtlenecks aren’t recommended. This piece of clothing is likely to obstruct your neck and even a part of your face, both of which must be fully visible in passport photos.
Can I wear a scarf in the passport photo?
Yes, you are permitted to wear a scarf or head covering in your passport photo if it is worn daily for religious reasons, as long as it does not obscure any part of your face.
Can I wear lipstick in a passport photo?
Yes, you can wear lipstick in your passport photo. However, it’s important to keep in mind that your photo should be a true representation of your appearance, so it’s recommended to choose a natural-looking shade that won’t alter your appearance too much.
What is the best hairstyle for a passport photo?
For a passport photo, it’s best to choose a hairstyle that keeps your hair away from your face and shows your entire face clearly. A simple, classic style such as a low bun or ponytail can work well, as can a neat, short haircut.
- Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore. (13 May 2015). Attire and Decorum. philippine-embassy.org.sg. Retrieved February 23, 2024, <https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/pages/ad/> [↩]
Ask a question
If you still have a question about this topic after reading the article, let us know and we'll update the article. Include your email if you want us to reply to you.
Written by
James Abel Diego 
James Abel Diego is a content writer at Visas for Future who is an expert in travel and visa policies for Turkey, India, Colombia and Egypt. He is an Education graduate who is inclined with passion in writing informative content. He has been in several training sessions making him more of value in content and fulfilling customer orders efficiently. James maintains his understanding of visa processing by executing real visa orders once per quarter.
Managed by Glen Vidania
Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
Published by Visas for Future
Visas for Future strives to help you virtually, so that your research is complete in one visit. Our articles are informative, complete and to-the-point. We write in an accessible way, so that non-native English speakers will understand. Our website is accessible for the visually impaired. We have full oversight of our articles and are unbiased in writing. Check our editorial guidelines.
Send fan mail
We love to hear from you! If our article helped you in anyway, let us know and we'll share it with the team on our Friday meetings.
Cite this article
MLA Style
Diego, James Abel. "Can I wear a hoodie in a passport photo?." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/can-you-wear-a-hoodie-in-a-passport-photo/. Accessed on 24 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Diego, James Abel. "Can I wear a hoodie in a passport photo?." Visas For Future. September 24, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/can-you-wear-a-hoodie-in-a-passport-photo/.