You want to look your best in a passport photo. And that’s understandable—after all, your travel document is valid for 10 years.
But can you enhance your facial features with makeup? And if so, passport makeup rules are there?
If you’re looking for more details on passport photo makeup rules, you’re in the right place. Here, we will cover the regulations concerning beauty products, makeup tips, and dos and don’ts of your passport photo makeup.
Ensure your passport photo—and your makeup—is 100% compliant with the official requirements. Use our Passport Photo Booth App for iOS or Passport Photo Maker App for Android and get a double verification guarantee!
Makeup is only one part of your passport photo appearance. For other aspects, give these articles a read:
- What to Wear for a Passport Photo?
- Passport Photo Hair Requirements in the US
- Passport Photo Requirements on Beards and Other Facial Hair
- Wearing a Hijab in a Passport Photo
Can You Wear Makeup in a Passport Photo?
Is makeup allowed in passport photos? Yes, you can wear makeup for passport photos as long as it doesn’t hide or change your natural facial features. Generally, you should go for the “no-makeup makeup” look (e.g., neutral eye shadows, a coat of mascara). Avoid bold colors.
Although the US State Department doesn’t mention specific passport photo requirements for makeup, the most important thing to remember is that a biometric picture must reflect your natural, current appearance.
So what kind of makeup will be acceptable for your passport photo? Keep reading to find out!
How to Do Good Passport Makeup: Tips
Although you can have makeup on for passport photos, it can’t be any makeup.
But worry not! Below are five tips for preparing your perfect makeup for a passport photo.
1. Don’t follow trends!
And we can’t stress that enough.
Nowadays, with plenty of TikTok trends running around, it’s easy to find any passport photo makeup tutorial. Unfortunately, most of them will make your picture rejected.
Why’s that?
Authorities use passport photos for easy identification. If you have heavy makeup in your passport photo—which you don’t wear daily—that can cause problems whenever you need to show your document.
Let us show you an example:
Last year, a beauty and makeup creator on TikTok published her passport-size photo makeup tutorial, which instantly went viral. It’s still visible in top-ranking results. However, it’s not the best blueprint for your passport photo look.
Don’t get us wrong—the makeup looks impressive. But it’s far from the natural, everyday appearance of Georgia Barratt, the creator.
2. Go for a natural look
We’d like to connect this tip with the previous one.
That being said—
Keep your passport photo makeup natural and simple. You can still use your favorite products but ensure they don’t alter your facial features or natural skin color.
As for the eye makeup, a common question is: ”Can can wear eyeliner in a passport photo?” Yes, but you can’t use bold and thick strokes. Apply eyeliner if you want to, but ensure the wing is thin and close to your lash line—the less obvious it is, the better.
Remember that your eyes must be fully visible in a passport picture. The same goes for eyebrows that are too thick or dark.
3. Avoid bright colors
Speaking of colors…
Eyeshadows, lipsticks, or even a powder blush is acceptable if used in moderation.
So, pick light, natural colors (like beige or light brown for your eyeshadows) rather than bright, loud, or sparkly products.
4. Drop products with SPF
This tip may sound weird at first, but hear us out.
The SPF is used in creams and foundations to create a barrier against the sun. Consequently, it causes a bit of a white cast on our skin.
If we add to that a bright light in a photographer’s studio or even natural light, it will be visible on our face.
So, even on a sunny day, avoid using high SPF products for your passport photo shoot. After that, you’re free (and advised!) to wear it!
5. Don’t go crazy with lip products
You can wear lipstick in a passport photo, but opt for nude shades close to your natural lip color (avoid bold colors like red lipstick). If you want to use a lip liner, apply it along the edges of your lips and don’t go overboard—your lips may end up looking too unnatural for a passport pic.
If not a lipstick, then can you wear lip gloss in passport photos? Yes, but be careful with how shiny it is. Lip glosses are meant to make lips seen bigger, which might be an issue. Additionally, they tend to reflect light and may cause glare (which is unacceptable in passport pictures).
6. Keep the lashes natural
Is wearing eyelashes in a passport photo okay?
No—
Don’t use fake lashes for your passport photo. Eyelash extensions can diametrically change how your eye looks and even cover part of your eyelids.Instead, use a coat (or two) of mascara. Again, your eyes mustn’t be obscured.
7. Test your makeup beforehand
It’s always good to test things out.
Why not implement this into your passport photo makeup process?
Not only will you find and match products that highlight your natural skin tone, but also you’ll feel more confident with the makeup you already know.
And that’s more than enough to look great in your biometric picture!
Want to check how your makeup looks in a passport photo? Try Passport Photo Online! With unlimited tries, you can test plenty of makeup varieties until you find the perfect passport photo.
FAQs
Can you wear eyeliner in a passport photo?
Can you wear lipstick in a passport photo?
Key takeaway
Let’s say it once again:
Makeup is acceptable in your US passport photos.
However, remember to keep it simple and as natural as possible. Avoid brightly-colored makeup products, resign from fake accessories like eyelashes, and ensure all your facial features are visible.
Roxana is a writer with 3+ years of experience. As a Master in psycholinguistics, she blends her passion for language and communication with insights from diverse cultures, making her content resonate with a broad audience.
