Passport Photo Hair Rules: Bangs, Hair up and Down & Hairstyles

As you’re about to file a passport application, it’s normal that you want to look your best in your new photo. You can’t smile, makeup options are also limited. But can you at least do your hair as you like for a passport photo?

That’s what you’ll find out today.

Let’s examine how to wear your hair for a passport photo (and how not to do it) to meet official regulations and still make you feel your best.

Here’s what you’ll learn today:

Not every day is a good hair day! Don’t settle for a photo you don’t like just because you had to go to a photographer’s that day. Instead, take your own passport picture when you look your best—with Passport Photo Booth App for iOS or Passport Photo Maker App for Android.

Wanna dive in deeper? Give these articles a read before you take your new passport photo:

• Passport Photo Requirements—Beard and Other Facial Hair
• Guide to Taking a Passport Photo with an iPhone
• Expert Tips From Makeup Artists: Best Makeup for Passport Photos
• What to Wear for a Passport Photo?

Passport Photo Hair Rules: Key Takeaways

Pressed for time? Here’s a rundown of the essential passport photo hair requirements:

• You can’t wear headbands or any other hair accessories except head coverings worn for religious or medical reasons.
• You can have bangs in a passport photo, but your eyes and eyebrows must be fully visible.
• You can wear your hair up in a passport photo. Ponytails, braids, and buns are allowed.
• It’s also allowed to keep long hair down in a passport photo. Your ears don’t need to be visible.
• If you normally wear a wig (e.g., for medical reasons), you can keep it. Wigs worn only for a passport photo won’t be accepted.
• Colored hair are accepted for passport photos as long as it’s your everyday look.

What Are the Official Passport Photo Hair Requirements?

Official US passport photo requirements include a long list of guidelines you must follow when applying for your travel document. They don’t, however, explicitly mention which hairstyles for passport photos are acceptable.

Is it to say you can style your hair just about however you like? No.

The guidelines mentioned do provide several crucial tips on what you can and cannot do with your hair in passport photos. Let’s look at those passport photo rules for hair and examples of acceptable hairstyles.

Bangs

According to the requirements, your eyebrows must be fully visible. So, bangs in passport photos are allowed so long they don’t cover any part of your eyebrows. If you wear curtain bangs, you may want to pin them up or move them to the sides.

Here’s an example of a good and bad passport photo with bangs.

Hair down

Long hair can be worn down in passport photos. But remember to pull it away from your face so that all the important facial features are clearly visible.

Pro tip: Ideally, your ears should be visible in passport photos. Although not a strict rule, you may want to tuck your hair behind your ears to avoid having your passport picture rejected.

Hair up

You are technically allowed to wear your hair up in a passport picture as long as your whole head (including the hair) fits in the frame. But to be safe, it’s recommended you avoid high-up and messy buns or ponytails.

These are examples of acceptable hairstyles for passport photo:

Colored hair

Passport photos must reflect your natural look, but the officials understand that people can make hair changes for various reasons.

Dyed hair in passport photos is acceptable under the condition that you didn’t change the hair color specifically for the picture to disguise your identity.

Pro tip: It’s all right if your hair color differs from the one in your current passport photo. Only a significant change in your look would call for a new passport submission, and hair alterations don’t fall into this category.

Hair accessories

Head coverings are unacceptable (except religious headgear) as they detract attention from your face. So, in the same vein, you can’t wear a headband or any decorative hair accessories in your passport photo. If you need to put up your bangs, opt for non-eye-catching hairpins.

Hair Done? Snap Your Best Passport Photo Yet!

You looked in the mirror today and thought: If my hair looked like this in my passport photo, I’d show it off at the airport with a smile! But—

Will your hair look this great on the day you drive to a photo studio or a photo booth to take a passport photo?

You can capture the moment you feel your best and use it for your application. Pick your best hairstyle for a passport photo and snap a pic—now, at home! Here’s how to do it with Passport Photo Booth App for iOS or Passport Photo Maker App for Android:

1. Take your DIY passport photo and upload it to the app.
2. Our passport photo experts will ensure your new passport photo meets all official guidelines.
3. Done. You’ll get your digital image straight into your inbox and high-quality prints sent to you within 2–3 business days.

That’s it! It’s as simple as snapping a selfie, which we take, on average, 450 a year. All you need to do is follow the passport photo rules. And don’t worry if you don’t get it right—you’ll get professional help and feedback from us. Or, you can learn how to take perfect passport photos at home upfront.

FAQs

Go through these frequently asked questions about hair for passport pictures to quickly get your answers.

Hair for Passport Photos: Recap

Photos for official documents are notorious for being disliked. But your next passport photo doesn’t have to be that way!

Passport photo requirements for hair allow enough freedom to find the best hairstyle that suits you. Here are a few examples of acceptable hairdos for passport photos:

• Ponytails, buns, braids
• Dyed hair
• Bangs

Long hair or short—there are many modest and elegant hairstyles to pick from. Remember to follow passport photo hair requirements and our tips, and your passport application process will go smoothly.

Sources

• [1] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html
• [2] https://tsg.phototool.state.gov/photo

Sylwia Green

Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.