Religious head coverings in passport photos: which countries allow them

The rule almost every country shares

The common thread is visibility, not prohibition. A hijab, turban, kippah, or similar covering worn as part of daily religious practice is accepted in most passport systems as long as your full face shows clearly from chin to forehead, the covering does not shadow your features, and the edges of your face are not obscured. What gets rejected is a covering pulled low or wide enough to hide the hairline, jaw, or facial outline, or one that throws a shadow across the face.

Because the covering has to show you as you normally appear, editing it in or out is not an option. As of 2026 the US, UK, and Canada reject digitally altered and AI-generated photos, so the safe path is a genuine photo taken as you present each day.

Country by country

United States: religious head coverings worn daily are allowed, the full face must be visible with no shadow, and you must submit a signed statement giving the religious reason. United Kingdom: HM Passport Office allows head coverings for religious or medical reasons, with the face fully visible and nothing covering it. Canada: IRCC permits head coverings worn for religious beliefs as long as the full face is visible. Australia and New Zealand: religious and cultural head coverings are accepted when the face is clearly shown. The Schengen area broadly follows the same visible-face principle.

France is the outlier to know about: for its own national passport and identity documents, France requires photos to be taken bareheaded, with no head covering. If you are applying for a French document, plan for a bareheaded photo rather than assuming the general rule applies.

Getting the covering right in the frame

Practical tips carry across every country that allows it. Position the covering so your entire face, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, is uncovered and evenly lit. Use soft, even light to avoid the covering casting a shadow across your cheeks or brow, and keep a plain, light background. Our free checker measures your photo against the official spec for your document, confirms the face is centred and the background is clean, and crops to the exact size. We never edit the image; if a shadow or crop is off, it tells you what to fix before you submit.

Frequently asked questions