Can You Smile in a Passport Photo? Expression, Glasses, Jewelry & More (2026)

Yes, you can smile in a US passport photo. The U.S. Department of State allows a neutral expression or a natural smile, as long as your eyes are open and your mouth is closed. The UK and Canada are stricter: both ask for a plain, neutral expression with no smile and the mouth closed.

Can you smile in a US passport photo?

According to the U.S. Department of State, you can smile in your passport photo, but your eyes must be open and your mouth must be closed. In practice that means a relaxed, natural smile with your lips together. A neutral expression is equally acceptable, so there is no need to force a smile if you would rather not.

What the State Department does not describe as acceptable is a wide, open-mouthed grin, squinting, or any exaggerated expression. A big smile often narrows the eyes and changes the shape of the face, which works against the purpose of the photo: letting an officer, and facial recognition systems, match the photo to your face.

Can you show your teeth in a passport photo?

Not if you want to stay safely within the rules. The U.S. Department of State says your mouth must be closed, and a toothy smile requires an open mouth. The UK and Canadian rules both explicitly require a closed mouth too. A closed-mouth smile is the most you should aim for, and only for a US application.

Smiling rules: US vs UK vs Canada

Why can't you smile in UK and Canadian passport photos?

GOV.UK tells applicants to have a plain expression with the mouth closed, and the Government of Canada says your mouth should be closed and you should not be smiling or frowning. A neutral face gives the most consistent reference for comparing your photo against your face at a border or an automated gate. If you are applying for a UK or Canadian passport, or for a visa that follows similar standards, keep your expression completely neutral.

Do your eyes have to be open in a passport photo?

Yes, in all three countries. The U.S. Department of State asks that the colored portions of your eyes be clearly visible and not covered by hair. GOV.UK says your eyes must be open and visible, and Canada asks that your eyes be open, clearly visible and looking straight at the camera. Blinking, half-closed eyes and heavy squinting are common reasons a photo is not usable.

Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?

For a US passport, no. The U.S. Department of State says to take off eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses and not to rest them on your head. If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, include a signed note from your doctor with your application.

The UK and Canada are a little more flexible. GOV.UK says not to wear glasses unless you have to, and if you do, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames or by glare, reflection or shadow. Canada accepts glasses if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses, but not sunglasses or tinted lenses, including tinted prescription lenses.

Can hair cover your face in a passport photo?

Your hair can be worn however you normally wear it, but it must not cover your eyes. The U.S. Department of State says your hair may extend past the edges of the photo as long as your entire head is shown at the right size and your eyes are not obstructed by hair. GOV.UK says you must not have hair in front of your eyes, and Canada asks that hair be kept off the face so the edges of the face are visible. If you have long bangs or a side fringe, pin or sweep it away from your eyes before the photo.

Can you wear earrings, jewelry or piercings in a passport photo?

For a US passport, yes. The U.S. Department of State says you can wear jewelry and keep facial piercings in, as long as they do not hide your face. Small studs and everyday earrings are generally not a problem.

UK guidance for photographers is more cautious. HM Passport Office advises removing piercings where possible, because multiple facial piercings can make it harder to capture the outline of facial features, and photos can be rejected where piercings cause reflections. If you keep them in, make sure they do not shine or catch the light.

Do tattoos or makeup matter in a passport photo?

None of the official US, UK or Canadian photo pages we reviewed set specific rules for tattoos or everyday makeup in the photo itself. The rules that matter are the general ones: your face must be clearly visible, and the U.S. Department of State says you must not change your photo using software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence to alter your appearance. Your normal makeup is fine; a beauty filter or skin-smoothing edit is not.

Tattoos and piercings do matter once you already have a passport. The State Department lists adding or removing many large facial piercings or tattoos as a significant change in appearance, alongside significant facial surgery or major weight change, that can mean you need to apply for a new passport.

Can you have a beard in a passport photo?

Yes. None of the three governments prohibit beards or facial hair. The U.S. Department of State treats growing a beard or coloring your hair as a small change that does not require a new passport, as long as you can still be identified from your photo. Just make sure your full face, including your jawline, is visible and not hidden by shadow.

Can you wear a hat or head covering?

Only for religious or medical reasons. For a US passport, submit a signed statement that the head covering is religious attire worn daily in public, or a signed doctor's statement for medical use. The State Department also asks that your full face be visible with no shadows, and that the covering be one color without patterns or small holes. The UK and Canada apply the same religious or medical exception, and Canada additionally says the item must be worn daily and your full face must be clearly visible.

Quick checklist before you take your photo

• US: neutral face or a natural closed-mouth smile. UK and Canada: neutral face, no smile.
• Mouth closed, no teeth showing.
• Eyes open, looking straight at the camera, not covered by hair.
• Glasses off for a US passport (unless you have a doctor's note).
• Jewelry and piercings only if they do not hide your face or cause glare.
• No hats unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
• No filters, beauty modes or retouching that change your appearance.

Check your photo before you submit it

If you are unsure whether your expression, glasses or hair will pass, you can run your photo through our free passport photo checker before you apply. It flags common issues such as an open-mouth smile, glasses or a tilted head, so you can retake the photo if needed. When you are ready, our passport photo tool crops your photo to the correct size for your country. You can preview it free and pay $2.99 only if you want the final file. Either way, the official government guidance is the final word, so read it for your country before you submit.