Hair, Beards, Piercings and Tattoos in a UK Passport Photo
Beards, moustaches and tattoos are accepted. Hair across your eyes and multiple facial piercings are where photos fail. Here is exactly what HM Passport Office's examiner guidance says about your hair, face and body jewellery.
By Helal · Last updated
Do hair, beards, tattoos and piercings affect a UK passport photo?
Some do and some do not, and the split is not what most people expect. HM Passport Office's examiner guidance is unusually direct about it: beards, moustaches and permanent tattoos are accepted, while hair across your eyes and multiple facial piercings are where photos get rejected.
The underlying principle is the same in every case. A passport photo is used for facial recognition, so the question is never whether something is allowed in principle. It is whether your face, and in particular the outline of your eyes, nose, mouth, chin and cheekbones, can still be read clearly.
This guide covers each of them in turn, with the exact wording from the guidance.
Hair
The rule is on GOV.UK's photo page: you must "not have hair in front of your eyes." The examiner guidance lists "hair across one or both eyes" as a ground for rejection.
It is the most common reason for a rejected photo among people with fringes, long hair or curls, because hair falls forward as soon as you look down at the camera or move your head.
There is no rule about hairstyle, colour or length. What matters is whether your eyes and the rest of your face are clearly visible. So:
- Move it away from your eyes. If a fringe falls forward, pin it back or tuck it behind your ears before you take the photo.
- Check the sides too. Hair that partly covers the edge of your face makes the outline harder to read, even if your eyes are clear.
- Take the photo standing straight. Tilting your head down sends hair forward. Chin level, eyes on the lens.
That is practical advice rather than a quoted rule, but it addresses the cause. If you are unsure whether a style is acceptable, take the photo, look at it at full size, and ask whether both eyes are completely clear.
Beards and moustaches
The examiner guidance says: "HM Passport Office will accept: beards, moustaches."
That answers a very common worry. You do not have to shave for a passport photo. What matters is that your facial features are clearly visible and your expression is plain. A full beard does not change the rules, and you do not have to trim it.
The real question is your mouth. The requirement is a plain expression with your mouth closed, so a moustache that hides your lips is worth checking in the photo. If you cannot see where your mouth is, an examiner may not be able to tell whether it is closed. The expression rules are covered in why smiling gets your passport photo rejected.
If you change your look substantially between photos, for example shaving off a beard you have had for years, you may need to show that you are the same person. A renewal where your appearance has changed enough that you cannot be recognised from your existing passport can also need a countersignature, which is covered in who can countersign your passport photo.
Tattoos
The guidance is short: "HM Passport Office will accept: a permanent tattoo."
A tattoo on your face or neck is not a reason to reject a photo. The same reasoning applies as for beards: it is part of what you look like, and a passport records what you look like.
Piercings
This is the area with real nuance, and the guidance splits it in two.
Multiple facial piercings can be a problem. The examiner guidance says: "Multiple facial piercings make it difficult for the system to capture the outline of the customer's eyes, mouth, nose, chin and cheekbones." The concern is technical: the facial recognition system has to read the shape of your face.
Piercings that cause reflections are rejected. If jewellery reflects the flash or a light and creates glare on your face, that photo will be rejected.
Some piercings are acceptable. The guidance says: "We may accept body piercings, such as: lip rings, eyebrow piercings, nose rings." Note the word "may." It is a judgement, not a guarantee.
The practical approach is simple. If you can take a piercing out for the photo, do. A plain photo with no jewellery on your face removes the question entirely. If you cannot or do not want to, take the photo in even light, check for any glare or reflection, and make sure the outline of your face is clear. If a piercing cannot be removed, say so in the additional information section of your application rather than leaving the examiner to guess.
Earrings, glasses and other things on your face
The specific guidance above does not cover every accessory, so the general principle applies: nothing should cover your face. GOV.UK lists "not have anything covering your face" among the rules. Large earrings hanging near your jaw, chunky glasses frames and chains near your neck are worth removing if they could hide or distract from the outline of your face.
Glasses have their own detailed rules. GOV.UK says you should not wear them "unless you have to." If you have to, they must not be tinted, and there must be no glare or frames covering your eyes. The complete picture is in can you wear glasses in a UK passport photo.
If a medical condition affects your appearance
Where a condition affects your hair, face or skin, the examiner guidance allows discretion. If you cannot meet a rule because of a medical condition or disability, submit the best likeness you can and explain it. What can be waived and how to explain it is covered in passport photos with a medical condition or disability.
A quick pre-photo checklist
Before you take the photo:
- Hair off your eyes, and clear of the sides of your face.
- Piercings removed where you reasonably can, or checked for glare.
- Nothing covering your face, and no reflective jewellery near it.
- Facing forwards, chin level, with a plain expression and mouth closed.
- Even light, with no shadows on your face or behind you.
Then look at the result at full size before you use it. If you want a second opinion before you submit, the passport photo checker will check the photo against the main requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to shave for a passport photo?
No. HM Passport Office says it will accept beards and moustaches. Make sure your face and mouth are clearly visible.
Are tattoos allowed in a passport photo?
Yes. The examiner guidance says HM Passport Office will accept a permanent tattoo.
Can I wear my nose ring or lip ring?
You may. The guidance says HM Passport Office "may accept body piercings, such as: lip rings, eyebrow piercings, nose rings." Multiple facial piercings, or any that cause reflections, can lead to rejection.
Why was my photo rejected for hair?
Most likely because hair was in front of your eyes. GOV.UK's rule is to "not have hair in front of your eyes." Pin it back or tuck it away and retake the photo.
Do I need to remove my earrings?
There is no specific rule on earrings, but nothing should cover your face. Remove anything that hangs near your jaw or could cause a reflection.
What about a big change in my hairstyle since my last photo?
Hairstyle is not restricted, but if your appearance has changed so much that you cannot be recognised from your existing passport, you may need a countersignature on a renewal.
Sources
- HM Passport Office, Photo standards (accessible)
- GOV.UK, Get a passport photo
- GOV.UK, Countersigning passport applications