You will never take a more important photo than your passport picture. It is also the least glamorous. You are not posing in a rooftop. Palermo. You’re in the bathroom or pharmacy aisle with a fresh haircut, staring at a background of white, and wondering whether this shirt is going to follow you for the next ten years. First-time passport applicants may feel that the photo is just a small part of the excitement surrounding going abroad. You’re remembering that semester you spent in Barcelona The honeymoon in BaliIt’s not about the color of your shirt collar. The passport photo will be scrutinized more often than any other photograph you take. It’s scrutinized at an average of six checkpoints per international trip—departure check-in, security, gate boarding, arrival immigration, hotel registration, and departure verification.
If you’re an average American, who makes four international trips per year, then that’s about 240 stares in the lifetime of your passport. That doesn’t include visa applications, police encounters or random document checks at European train stations. If you get it wrong, you could be denied a passport. While the U.S. Department of State has implemented a new system for online passport renewal that allows Americans to upload their photos and complete the process digitally starting in October 2025. stricter passport photo requirementsThe new standards align them with the biometric standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which are now being followed by 191 nations. This enforcement impacts approximately 22 million applications for passports processed each year. Selfies and AI enhancements are the main culprits. You can avoid weeks of delays and thousands in rebooking charges by getting it right on the first try.
Dress Codes: What they mean
Seppe Tirabassi is a New York fashion stylist who has stood in passport lines at airports from LAX and Linate. His prescription? His prescription? Avoid patterns, logos or prints.The rules prohibit uniforms and anything that looks like a uniform, as well as camouflage patterns. The rules also apply to vintage army surplus jackets, flight attendant scarves from Tokyo and your Halloween post worker costume. Tirabassi warns, “I have heard people being rejected because of a simple epaulette on a jacket.” “Anything that looks vaguely militaristic is asking for trouble.”
The color dilemma causes more rejections that you might think. Although white shirts technically are allowed, they may create an effect of floating heads against the required white background. Tirabassi suggests that you dress as if you were going to pose for a portrait on a white seamless piece of paper. You need contrast to show where your end and the background begin. Dark solids work best—navy for understated professionalism, burgundy for warmth without distraction, forest green or charcoal for timeless sophistication. Travel in neon pinks and Hawaiian prints. Save band tees. Neckline is important because the photo will be cropped from shoulder level up. Tirabassi has been styling executives’ corporate headshots with the same principles. “Even modest strapless shirts can be flagged due to the crop making them look bare-shouldered.” High-necked tops, collared tops and simple crews are all ways to eliminate any ambiguity. This strapless sundress, or that deep-V, can create the unfortunate illusion of nudity. It’s not the first impression that you want recorded at customs.
Glasses, Accessories and the Situation
Remove your glasses or sunnies. Submit a signed medical statement if they are worn for medical reasons. If you’ve been wearing prescription lenses every day for 20 years and have a documented medical need, you can still remove them for the picture. Many photos are rejected due to glare, shadows and other issues. Subtle jewelry is acceptable. If your nose ring is small and you wear it every day, that’s fine. Just make sure they don’t hide facial features. Gold chandelier earrings? You’ll probably get rejected because they create shadows or glare. When in doubt, minimal wins. Remove your hat or other head covering. You must submit a statement signed by you stating that it is religious clothing worn in public every day. This statement can be written by you; however, it must be signed and attached to your application. The baseball cap is out, but the turban remains. It is not allowed to wear headphones or hands-free wireless devices. AirPods and all other wireless devices must be removed.
Hair, make-up, and facial expression
Hair should not obscure the face. Your hair can be worn up, down, or in a bun or ponytail. Bangs shouldn’t cover your eyes or eyebrows. Pin back your bangs if they are on the borderline. As long as your oval face is not obscured, you don’t have to show your ears in a passport picture. It’s important to have a full view of your face, and not just certain features. While the makeup requirements for passport photographs are relatively liberal, it is important to avoid any excessive or reflective makeup which may alter your natural facial features. Avoid lipliners and fake eyelashes, as well as contouring. The best makeup is natural makeup which reduces shine and balances the skin tone. Face recognition software won’t like your dramatic smoky-eye look for a night out. Your expression is important. Make sure that your eyes are wide open and that your mouth is shut in the photo. State Department accepts now a slight smile with a closed mouth. However, a neutral expression is the best bet. Think Mona Lisa. Not a contestant from The Price is Right.
Get your photos taken in these places
Walgreens offers passport photos at the majority of its locations, while CVS provides it in select stores. Contact the store ahead of time to confirm. Walgreens usually takes less than an hour to deliver photos, while CVS typically delivers them in minutes. Both offer digital copies and prints without appointment. Walmart (limited locations), FedEx UPS, and USPS acceptance centers that process passports are all budget alternatives. Independent photo studios and print shops often offer better personalized service. They will take shots again until you’re happy, adjust lighting to your skin tone, know what rejection triggers are, and they have experience. Smaller operations are better at handling difficult subjects such as squirmy children or photos that require religious headwear. Some offer digital and print versions, without the usual chain store upsell techniques. New York City residents can find a variety of photo services. Gothamist recently featured a particularly popular Chinatown operation.
Tips for DIY success
Preparation is key when taking your own photos. The first thing to do is abandon the notion of taking a self-portrait. The awkward angle, the arm visibility, and the inability to see your arms are surefire ways of failing. Use a tripod and a timer instead, or ask someone else to be the photographer. It’s more important than you realize to pay attention to the background. Cameras can magnify subtle texture variations, nail holes or color variations on most home walls. The best backdrop is a white sheet that has been stretched taut, evenly lit and is evenly lit. Position yourself far enough away—at least three feet—so the background reads as uniformly white rather than showing every wrinkle or shadow.
