Hijab and Religious Head Coverings in U.S. Passport Photos

The U.S. passport photo rules ban hats and head coverings, but they make a clear exception for coverings worn for religious or medical reasons. Hijabs, turbans, kippahs, headscarves and similar coverings are accepted every day. The key conditions are about your face, not about the covering, and about one piece of paper you may need to include.

The official rule

The State Department's photo page says you cannot wear a hat or head covering except for religious or medical purposes. If you wear one for religious purposes and you are applying in person or by mail, it asks for a signed statement that the covering is religious attire worn daily in public. For medical purposes, the statement should come from a doctor and confirm that you use the covering daily for medical reasons.

Form DS-82 (edition 04-2025) uses similar wording: head coverings are not acceptable unless you submit a signed statement verifying that the covering is part of recognized, traditional religious attire that is customarily or required to be worn continuously in public, or a signed doctor's statement verifying its daily use for medical purposes.

How passport specialists apply it

The Foreign Affairs Manual, at 8 FAM 402.1-4, describes how the rule is reviewed. A head covering may be accepted if it is worn in connection with a sincerely held religious belief and is worn continuously in public. A signed statement explaining the religious nature of the covering, how long you have worn it in public, and how removing it would burden your religious practice may be requested in ambiguous cases, for example when your ID does not show you wearing it. Medical coverings, including those worn because of hair loss from medical treatment, may require a statement from a medical professional in ambiguous cases.

• Religious head coveringFace visible from chin to forehead

• Hat or capRemove non-religious headwear

What your photo must show

Whatever covering you wear, these conditions apply:

• Full face visible. The covering must not partly or completely hide the face. That includes the chin and jaw line, which the manual shows as a common problem when a scarf is pinned too low.
• No shadows on the face. The manual says the covering must not obscure the face directly or by shadow. A covering that comes forward over the forehead can shade the eyes.
• Uniform color, no pattern. The manual says permitted religious or medical coverings must be of uniform color with no pattern and no visible perforations, such as lace or open weave.
• All other rules still apply. White or off-white background, facing the camera, eyes open, no glasses, no edits.

Religious head coverings: quick reference

About face coverings

Some applicants ask to be photographed with the face partly covered. The State Department follows the international standard that every passport contains a full-face photo, and the manual says this cannot be waived. A photo with only the eye area visible does not meet the good-likeness requirement in federal regulation. If you have concerns about who views your photo, the manual says requests that only people of the same sex see it are treated respectfully but cannot be accommodated.

Many people who wear a face covering in public choose to have the photo taken privately, by a family member at home, which the rules allow. The State Department does not require a professional photographer.

Writing the signed statement

The State Department does not publish a fixed template on its photo page, so keep the statement short and factual. Based on the wording in Form DS-82 and the manual, include:

1. Your full name and date of birth, as on your application.
2. A sentence that the head covering in your photo is religious attire.
3. That you wear it daily and continuously in public.
4. Your signature and the date.

For a medical covering, the statement should be signed by your doctor and say that you use the covering daily for medical purposes. Enclose the statement with your application. For more about how the State Department handles religious requests in general, see its page on passports and religious accommodations, linked in the sources below.

If you renew online, follow the instructions shown in the online application for any statement it asks for. If you are unsure how to provide it, renewing by mail with Form DS-82 lets you enclose it on paper.

Why photos with head coverings get sent back

Head coverings themselves are rarely the problem. These are the issues that cause most requests for a new photo:

• Missing statement. A mail or in-person application with a head covering but no signed statement may be held while the State Department asks for one, especially if your ID shows you without the covering.
• Chin or jaw covered. A scarf pinned over the chin hides the lower edge of the face.
• Shadow over the eyes. A covering that extends forward shades the forehead and eyes under overhead light.
• Busy pattern or lace. Patterns and open weave can conflict with the uniform-color guidance.
• Covering blends into the background. A white covering on a white wall makes the head outline hard to judge, which can look like a framing error.

Each of these is easy to avoid with a solid-colored covering, careful pinning and soft light from the front.

Photo tips for head coverings

• Choose a solid color that contrasts with white. A white scarf against a white background can make the outline of the head hard to read.
• Pin below the chin, not over it. The jaw line should be visible from ear to ear.
• Pull the front back a little. Keep the forehead and eyebrows clear so no shadow falls on the eyes.
• Use soft, frontal light. Face a window with indirect daylight to light the whole face evenly. See shadows in passport photos.
• Frame the whole head. The top of the covering should fit in the frame with a little space above it. See the head size guide.

For the rest of the rules, see the passport photo requirements and our guide on what to wear for a passport photo.