Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?
Quick answer
It depends on the country. The US passport and US visa allow glasses only for medical reasons with a signed statement, the DV lottery does not allow them, and Australia only if they cannot be removed for medical reasons; many others, such as the Schengen visa, Canada and the Netherlands, accept clear glasses if your eyes are fully visible with no glare.
Updated October 4, 2026
Glasses rules differ more than almost any other photo rule. Some countries ban them, some say "only if you have to", and many accept them as long as your eyes stay clearly visible.
Where glasses are not allowed
- US passport: not allowed, except for medical reasons with a signed doctor's statement.
- US visa: not allowed since 1 November 2016, except in rare medical cases with a signed medical statement.
- US DV lottery: not allowed.
- Australian passport: not allowed unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons; vision impairment alone is not accepted.
- UK passport: do not wear glasses unless you have to.
- Indian passport (applications abroad): take glasses off to avoid reflections. Japan recommends removing them.
Where clear glasses are accepted
The Schengen visa, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, China, Türkiye, Singapore and South Korea accept glasses if the rules below are met. The UAE accepts medical (prescription) glasses only.
Russia asks people who always wear glasses to be photographed in them, with clear lenses, for the passport for travel abroad.
If you keep your glasses on
These are the conditions the rules repeat most often:
- your eyes are fully visible and the frame does not cover any part of them
- no reflection, glare or shadow on the lenses
- no tinted lenses and no sunglasses
- no heavy or thick frames (China, Italy, New Zealand and the UAE say so)
- no coloured or circle contact lenses (Japan and South Korea)
Glasses rules by document
Summarised from each document's official source; open a document for its full rules and source link.
| Document | Glasses |
|---|---|
| US Passport Photo | Not allowed (only with signed doctor's statement for medical reasons; frames must not cover eyes, no glare) |
| US Visa Photo | Not allowed since 1 Nov 2016 except rare medical cases with signed medical statement. |
| US DV Lottery Photo | Not allowed. |
| UK Passport Photo | Do not wear unless you have to; no sunglasses/tinted; eyes not covered by frames, glare, reflection or shadow. |
| Schengen Visa Photo | Allowed only if eyes clearly visible: no tinted/sun lenses, no reflections, frame must not cover the eyes. |
| Canada Passport Photo | Allowed if eyes clearly visible and no glare on lenses; no sunglasses or tinted lenses. |
| Australia Passport Photo | Not allowed unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons (vision impairment alone not accepted); then frames must not obscure eyes and no lens reflection. |
| Ireland Passport Photo | Transparent glasses allowed if frames don't cover any part of the eyes and no glare/shadows; no sunglasses/dark glasses. |
| New Zealand Passport Photo | Prescription glasses OK if not tinted or thick-framed, clear gap between eyes and frame, no glare; no sunglasses. |
| India Passport (applying abroad) Photo | Glasses to be taken off to avoid reflections. |
| China Visa Photo | Allowed only if lenses are not tinted and there is no glare, shadow, or frame obscuring the eyes; heavy frames rejected. |
| Japan Passport Photo | Removing glasses is recommended. If worn: no tinted lenses, no reflections or shadows, frames must not cover the eyes; sunglasses/non-prescription tinted glasses not acceptable unless medically required. No coloured contacts or circle lenses; no red-eye. |
| South Korea Passport Photo | No cosmetic/colour/circle lenses, tinted glasses or sunglasses; no reflection on glasses; frames must not cover the eyes; no red-eye; catchlights allowed only if they don't affect pupil shape/colour. |
| UAE Passport Photo | Hats and sunglasses not allowed; only medical (prescription) glasses permitted, provided they do not cover the eyes. No tinted lenses, no flash reflection on lenses; frames must not cover any part of the eyes; avoid heavy frames. |
| Netherlands Passport Photo | Allowed (applicant's choice): eyes fully visible, fully transparent lenses, no disturbing reflection, no shadow. |
| Italy Passport Photo | Allowed: eyes clearly visible, no flash reflection on lenses, no coloured lenses (sunglasses), no heavy frames, frame must not cover any part of the eyes. |
| Poland Passport Photo | Corrective glasses allowed if eyes well visible, frames do not cover eyebrows and no light reflection; contact lenses OK if they don't change natural eye shape/colour; dark glasses only for congenital/acquired vision defects with a disability certificate attached. |
| Türkiye Passport Photo | Clear prescription glasses allowed; no tinted lenses or sunglasses; no reflections on lenses; frame must not cover eyes or be so thick it covers them. |
| Singapore Passport Photo | Spectacles must have clear, untinted lenses with eyes clearly visible; wear only non-coloured contact lenses; no red eye. |
| Russia International Passport (5-year) Photo | Those who always wear glasses: photographed in glasses without tinted lenses; frame must not cover eyes; no colour-changing lenses (if colour photo); dark glasses/eye patch only on medical grounds (MID) |
Questions
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No, unless you cannot remove them for medical reasons; then you need a signed statement from a doctor. The frames must not cover your eyes and there must be no glare.
Can I wear glasses in a UK passport photo?
Only if you have to. GOV.UK says not to wear glasses unless you need to; then no sunglasses or tinted lenses, and your eyes must not be covered by the frames, glare, reflection or shadow.
Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?
Yes, if your eyes are clearly visible: no tinted or sun lenses, no reflections, and the frame must not cover your eyes.
Are coloured contact lenses allowed?
Japan and South Korea rule out coloured and circle lenses, and Poland and Singapore only allow contact lenses that do not change the natural look or colour of your eyes.
Make your photo at home
The Ovalight Studio guides you to the right shot, crops your photo to the exact size and checks it against the rules for your document.