Head Coverings in Passport Photos: Guidelines and Religious Exceptions

Wearing headgear in a passport photo is generally not allowed, except for religious or philosophical reasons that permit specific headwear.

Headgear, or a head covering, is a piece of clothing worn on the head. There are headwear for general use, for domestic use, and for professional use. In addition, there are headwear that are associated with status, religion, or a particular country.

Well-Known Headwear

Some of the most well-known headwear are:

Cap: a headwear with a visor only at the front.
Hat: a headwear that comes in various shapes and sizes.
Beanie: a woolen or fur-made headwear without a visor, that protects against the cold.
Kippah: a headwear worn by Jewish men, usually secured with a hairpin.
Headscarf: a cloth worn as a garment on the head. Some headscarves cover only the hair, while others cover the face or leave only the eyes visible.
Nightcap: a long knitted cap worn to keep warm at night.
Crown: a headwear with many jewels, made of gold or silver, worn by kings and emperors.
Wig: a headwear made of hair, nylon, or other fibers, designed to enhance one's appearance.
Toupee: a small wig worn by men to conceal baldness.
Helmet: a sturdy headwear used to prevent head injury from a fall or falling object.
Turban: a rolled-up scarf worn by men in certain religions.

Rules for Using Headgear on Passport Photos

In general, for aesthetic headwear such as caps, hats, and beanies, they are not allowed. A wig or toupee is allowed if it is worn in daily life. The most important aspect of a passport photo is that it should be a true likeness and the person should be easily recognizable.

However, there are exceptions for religious or philosophical reasons, such as the headscarf or turban.

There have been cases of people trying to wear unusual headwear on their passport photos, such as a colander or goat horns, citing religious reasons, but these have been rejected in most cases.