Can I wear glasses for a US visa or passport photo?

No. The US Department of State banned eyeglasses in visa and passport photos on November 1, 2016. The only exception is a documented medical condition that prevents removal, which requires a signed statement from a medical professional submitted with the application. This rule also applies to the USCIS OPT/EAD card (Form I-765).

Are thin or rimless frames OK?

No. In countries that ban glasses, any frames count — rimless, thin wire frames, reading glasses, and prescription sunglasses are all prohibited. The rule is about the glasses being present and potentially obscuring or reflecting over the eyes, not about how visible the frames are.

What if I can’t see without my glasses?

You do not need to see for a photo — you only need to face the camera with your eyes open for a moment. Take the glasses off for the few seconds of the shot, or switch to contact lenses. Keep them on only if a medical condition genuinely prevents removal, and then attach the required medical documentation.

My country says glasses are allowed if there’s no reflection — should I keep them on?

It is safer to remove them. The Schengen Area, Japan, and Korea’s K-ETA technically allow clear glasses with no glare, but the even, front-facing lighting a compliant photo requires almost always produces some reflection on the lenses. Lens glare is one of the most common rejection causes in exactly these countries, so removing the glasses eliminates the risk.

How does the medical exception work?

If you cannot remove glasses for a documented medical reason, you generally must include a signed statement or letter from a medical professional with your application. The exception is narrow — it is for genuine medical necessity, not convenience — and without the signed document the photo is treated as non-compliant.

Home / Blog / Glasses in visa photos

Can you wear glasses in a visa or passport photo?

Published 2026-05-30 · Advisory only; verify against the official source on each country page before you submit.

The short answer: almost always no

Since around 2016, the global trend has been to prohibit glasses in biometric photos. The United States and Canada ban them outright. The UK, China, and Australia do not allow them for online submissions. The few places that technically still permit them — the Schengen Area, Japan, and Korea’s K-ETA — only do so if there is no glare, no tint, and the frames never touch the eyes, which a real photo rarely achieves. In practice, the safe answer everywhere is: take the glasses off.

Why the rule exists

Visa and passport photos feed facial-recognition systems at borders and consulates. Lenses reflect light, tinted lenses hide the eyes, and frames can obscure facial landmarks the algorithms rely on — so the eyes must be fully visible and unobstructed. That is also why glare on the lenses, not just the glasses themselves, is a frequent rejection cause in the countries that still allow them.

The rule, country by country

🇺🇸 United States: Prohibited since November 1, 2016, for visa and passport photos (and the OPT/EAD card). The single most common US photo rejection reason. Medical exception only, with a signed statement.
🇨🇦 Canada: Prohibited since July 1, 2016 to align with biometric standards. Medical reasons only, with a signed letter from a medical professional.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Even prescription glasses are not allowed for online passport and visa photo submissions. A doctor’s note may be required if they genuinely cannot be removed.
🇨🇳 China: Even clear-lens prescription glasses are not allowed. Medical necessity requires supporting documentation.
🇦🇺 Australia: Prescription glasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses are all prohibited. Documented medical necessity only.
🇪🇺 Schengen Area: Technically permitted only if the frames cover no part of the eyes, lenses are untinted, and there is no reflection. In practice reflections are hard to avoid, so consulates recommend removing them.
🇯🇵 Japan: Allowed only if worn daily, with clear (untinted) lenses, no glare and no reflection. Recent embassy guidance increasingly aligns with the no-glasses rule — remove if in doubt.
🇰🇷 South Korea (K-ETA): Prescription glasses permitted only with no glare, reflection or tint obscuring the eyes. K-ETA enforces this strictly — even thin frames are commonly rejected for minor reflections.

The two traps people fall into

“My frames are thin, so it’s fine.” In a ban country, any glasses are out — rimless, thin wire frames, reading glasses, prescription sunglasses. Thinness is irrelevant.
“My country allows them if there’s no glare.” True for Schengen, Japan, and K-ETA — but the even front lighting a photo needs almost guarantees a reflection. The conditional permission is a trap; the reliable move is to remove them.

The medical exception

Every ban country keeps a narrow exception for a documented medical condition that prevents removing glasses. It requires a signed statement or letter from a medical professional submitted with the application — and it is for genuine medical necessity, not convenience. If you qualify, attach the document; without it the photo is treated as non-compliant.

What to do

Take the glasses off for the few seconds of the shot — you don’t need to see, only to face the camera with your eyes open.
Switch to contact lenses if you have them.
Keep them on only for documented medical necessity, and include the signed statement.

Common questions

Can I wear glasses for a US visa or passport photo?: No. The US Department of State banned eyeglasses in visa and passport photos on November 1, 2016. The only exception is a documented medical condition that prevents removal, which requires a signed statement from a medical professional submitted with the application. This rule also applies to the USCIS OPT/EAD card (Form I-765).
Are thin or rimless frames OK?: No. In countries that ban glasses, any frames count — rimless, thin wire frames, reading glasses, and prescription sunglasses are all prohibited. The rule is about the glasses being present and potentially obscuring or reflecting over the eyes, not about how visible the frames are.
What if I can’t see without my glasses?: You do not need to see for a photo — you only need to face the camera with your eyes open for a moment. Take the glasses off for the few seconds of the shot, or switch to contact lenses. Keep them on only if a medical condition genuinely prevents removal, and then attach the required medical documentation.
My country says glasses are allowed if there’s no reflection — should I keep them on?: It is safer to remove them. The Schengen Area, Japan, and Korea’s K-ETA technically allow clear glasses with no glare, but the even, front-facing lighting a compliant photo requires almost always produces some reflection on the lenses. Lens glare is one of the most common rejection causes in exactly these countries, so removing the glasses eliminates the risk.
How does the medical exception work?: If you cannot remove glasses for a documented medical reason, you generally must include a signed statement or letter from a medical professional with your application. The exception is narrow — it is for genuine medical necessity, not convenience — and without the signed document the photo is treated as non-compliant.

Not sure if your photo passes?

PhotoCheck flags glasses and lens glare along with seven other criteria, against your destination’s official rules. Free, no signup — the photo is processed in memory and discarded when the result returns.

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Related: the most common rejection reasons and the photo size by country.