U.S. passport photo guidelines often dictate that people should not wear head or face coverings that could obscure the biometric data. But for many Muslim women in the U.S., leaving their heads bare does not align with their religious beliefs. As such, they may wish to wear a hijab in passport photo. Is this possible? Let’s find out:
Can I Wear a Hijab for a Passport Photo?
If you read the U.S. passport photo guidelines, you will notice the emphasis on the lack of head and facial coverings in passport photos. The guidelines even ban headbands. As such, you might ask, “Can I wear hijab for a passport photo?”
U.S. passport offices allow head coverings for religious reasons if the face remains visible, thus complying with the key passport photo guidelines. However, while you can wear a hijab in passport photo, you must observe additional measures to ensure your passport photo is acceptable.
How to Wear a Hijab in Passport Photo
When you take a passport photo with a hijab, ensure your facial features are visible for biometric data processing. Here is how to do this:
- Ensure you have good lighting: Photos with glares or shadows are unacceptable. As such, avoid using harsh lights or a flash and instead use natural lighting.
- Introduce some contrast: Wearing clothes that contrast with your hijab makes it easier to make out your facial features and ensures the picture passes the U.S. photo guidelines.
- Comply with all the other U.S. photo guidelines: Besides ensuring your face is visible with no shadows or glares, you should also ensure that your face and neck are centered, the picture has good quality, and the background is plain and white.
And just like that, you can wear your hijab in passport photo!
Can You Take a Passport Photo with a Niqab or Burka?
While the U.S. passport photo guidelines allow you to wear a hijab in passport photo, part of your head must be visible in the photo. As such, you must remove your burka or veil when taking the picture.
