{"id":16605,"date":"2024-10-17T08:18:23","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T13:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepassportoffice.com\/blog\/?p=16605"},"modified":"2026-10-09T11:42:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T16:42:29","slug":"what-to-wear-for-a-passport-photo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepassportoffice.com\/blog\/what-to-wear-for-a-passport-photo\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Wear for a Passport Photo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wear everyday clothes in a dark, solid color, like navy, black, or gray. Take off your glasses and any hat, and skip uniforms, camouflage, and headphones. Those are the State Department’s passport photo rules<\/a> for clothing, and the right outfit helps your photo pass the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The photo you send in is a key part of your passport application. If it doesn’t follow the rules, it can be rejected, and your travel plans can slip by weeks. Here’s what to wear, what to avoid, and how to get the photo right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dressing for success: what to wear for your passport photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Picking the right outfit can make a big difference. A few pointers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose dark, solid colors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Darker shades like navy, black, or gray contrast nicely against the white or off-white background. Your face stands out, which is exactly what you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip white or very light colors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The background will be white or off-white. White clothing isn’t banned, but it can blend into the background and make the photo look washed out. We suggest a darker top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep it simple and neat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There’s no need for a fancy outfit. Casual, everyday clothing is right. For a polished look, make sure it’s clean and free of wrinkles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you should avoid wearing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some items are against the rules, and others just make a rejection more likely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n