Can you wear glasses in a passport photo in the UK?
5 March 2026
The short answer: GOV.UK’s passport photo rules say you shouldn’t wear glasses in your photo unless you have to. If you genuinely can’t take them off, you can keep them on, as long as they aren’t sunglasses or tinted glasses and your eyes are fully visible, with no glare, reflection or shadow from the frames or lenses.
This guide is for:
- anyone applying for a new passport or renewing one, online or on paper
- people who wear prescription glasses every day and aren’t sure what to do at the photo booth
- parents getting passport pictures taken for their children
UK passport photo rules on glasses
GOV.UK is the government’s official site for passport applications, and its advice is simple: don’t wear glasses in your photo unless you have to. The rule is the same for digital and printed photos, and it applies whether you wear eyeglasses for distance, reading or both.
The reason is security. Your photo is used to confirm your identity, so your eyes need to be clear and fully visible. Glasses can:
- reflect the camera flash or booth lighting back off the lenses
- cast shadows across your eyes and cheeks
- cover part of your eyes with the frame
- make your eyes look bigger or smaller, depending on your prescription
Any one of these can get your photo rejected and your application delayed.
Can you keep your glasses on if you need them?
Yes, if you genuinely can’t take them off. GOV.UK doesn’t list specific reasons, but you might have just had eye surgery, or your eyesight without glasses might make it unsafe to sit for the photo. If you keep your eyewear on, the GOV.UK rules say:
- You can’t wear sunglasses or tinted glasses, including tinted prescription glasses.
- Your eyes must not be covered by the frames.
- There must be no glare, reflection or shadow over your eyes.
A few tips from our opticians (these aren’t GOV.UK rules, but they help):
- Choose slim frames over thick ones, since they cast less shadow.
- Leave photochromic lenses at home if you can. GOV.UK doesn’t mention them, but they darken in daylight and can look tinted in the photo.
- Ask the booth or shop to check the photo before you leave. It’s quicker than waiting for a rejection.
A quick example: you wear prescription glasses for distance but can see fine up close. The camera is less than a metre away, so you take them off for the shot and put them straight back on afterwards. That’s what most glasses wearers will do.
If you’re disabled, GOV.UK offers help with passport photos for disabled people.
Avoid in your passport photo:
Glasses, unless you can’t take them off
Sunglasses or tinted lenses
Photochromic lenses (they can look tinted)
UK passport photo requirements: digital vs printed
The rules depend on how you apply. You’ll need a digital passport photo to apply for a passport online, and printed photos for a paper application.
| Rule | Digital passport photo (online) | Printed photos (paper form) |
|---|---|---|
| How many | One digital file | Two identical prints |
| Size | At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, file between 50KB and 10MB | 45mm high by 35mm wide, with your head 29mm–34mm from crown to chin |
| Background | Plain light-coloured background | Plain cream or light grey background |
| Framing | Head, shoulders and upper body if taken on your own device. Don’t crop it, as GOV.UK crops it for you | Close-up of your full head and upper shoulders |
| Quality | Clear, in focus, in colour, unaltered by software | Professionally printed in colour on plain white photo paper, no border, no creases or tears |
| Where to get one | Photo booth or shop (ask for a photo code), or your own device during your application | Photo booth or shop |
Both types must have been taken in the last month. You also need a new photo for every new passport, even if you look exactly the same. According to the GOV.UK printed photo rules and digital photo rules, every photo must show you:
- facing forward and looking straight at the camera
- with a plain expression and your mouth closed, so no smiling
- with your eyes open and visible, and no hair in front of them
- in clear contrast to the background, with no other people or objects in shot
- with no shadows on your face or behind you
- with no head covering unless it’s for religious or medical reasons, and no red eye
Common reasons passport photos get rejected
If your photo doesn’t meet the rules, your application will be delayed while you retake and resubmit it. That’s the last thing you want with flights already booked. Photos often get sent back for:
- glare or reflections on glasses lenses
- shadows across your face or on the background
- eyes half-closed or hidden by hair or frames
- a background that’s patterned, too dark or not in clear contrast with you
- a blurry or low-resolution digital photo under 600 x 750 pixels
- a photo that’s been edited, filtered or cropped
Can you take a passport photo at home?
Yes, for online applications. You can take a digital passport photo on your own device during your application, but you’ll need someone to help, so a quick arm’s-length selfie won’t work. GOV.UK says photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than ones taken at home.
If you do take it at home:
- Stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall.
- Face a window so daylight falls evenly across your face.
- Take your glasses off, unless you can’t.
- Ask your helper to hold the camera at eye level and include your upper body.
Prefer a booth or shop? Choose the option to get a photo code, then enter the code during your online application and your photo is added for you.
Choosing glasses for a passport photo
If you have to keep your glasses on, the frames make a real difference. Slim, lightweight frames sit closer to your face and cast less shadow than chunky ones. It’s the same trade-off you weigh when you compare full-rim, semi-rimless and rimless glasses: less frame around the lens means less to shadow your eyes. Titanium glasses are a good place to start.
An anti-reflective lens coating also cuts down the reflections that bounce off your lenses. The photo still needs to show no glare at all, though, so check it before you submit.
Want to see how slimmer frames look on you first? Our free Home Trial lets you try up to four frames at home for seven days, with free delivery and returns.
And if you don’t need your glasses for the photo, the simplest fix still wins. Take them off, and you avoid glare, shadows and a retake in one go. Safe travels.
FAQs: Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?
Can you wear your glasses in a passport photo?
Only if you have to. If you keep them on, they can’t be sunglasses or tinted glasses, and your eyes must be fully visible with no glare, reflection or shadow.
Can you wear sunglasses or tinted glasses in a passport photo?
No. GOV.UK doesn’t allow sunglasses or tinted glasses in passport photos, even if they have your prescription.
Can you wear glasses for a passport photo after eye surgery?
If you can’t safely take them off, you can keep them on. Make sure the lenses are clear, your eyes aren’t covered by the frames, and there’s no glare in the photo.
Can children wear glasses in passport pictures?
The same glasses rule applies to children. Children under six don’t have to look straight at the camera or have a plain expression, and babies under one don’t need their eyes open.
Can you wear contact lenses in a passport photo?
GOV.UK’s photo rules don’t mention contact lenses. Clear contact lenses don’t cover your eyes, so if you already wear them, they’re an easy way to see clearly without glasses in the shot. We’d avoid coloured or patterned lenses, since they change how your eyes look.
Can you smile in a passport photo?
No. You need a plain expression with your mouth closed.
Do you need a new photo to renew your passport?
Yes. You need a new photo for every new passport, even if your appearance hasn’t changed, and it must have been taken in the last month.
What happens if my passport photo is rejected?
Your application will be delayed until you send a photo that meets the rules, so you’ll need a retake.
