A passport photo is one of the most important things when you apply for a passport. According to the United State Department, if your passport photo doesn’t fit the official passport requirements, your passport application will be rejected. Therefore, make sure that what you wear meets the criteria of a passport photo. Maybe someone has a problem with whether my passport photo will be rejected by the government or not if they wear beards, mustaches, or other facial hair when taking a passport photo. It is normal for men to keep beards in their life. In this article, we will help you figure this out whether you need to shave your facial hair in the passport photo.
Can I Keep My Facial Hair in A U.S. Passport Photo?
Fortunately, the answer is yes. If you don’t want to shave your beard in your passport photo, just keep it on your face. According to passport photo requirements, there are no clear and specific rules that mention that you need to shave any beard and facial hair for the passport photo. This means that you don’t need to have a clean-shaven look in the passport photo.
Having your beard cut is entirely up to you. None of the government requirements force you to shave your facial hair, so you can just keep your current beard as usual. Although it is permitted to keep your beards in the passport photo, it is recommended that you keep your beards as part of your daily appearance. Whether you keep a long, thick beard or not, remember to keep the same biometrics of your face when you cross international borders.
How to Take A Passport Photo with A Beard
If you have a beard in your passport photo, remember to follow the following rules to obtain a valid compliant photo.
- You must take a current photo that is no older than six months.
- You need to take a photo that can show your whole head and face and clear facial features. Nothing else covers your eyes, ears and mouth.
- You need to take a picture without a shadow. Make sure there is enough and even light on your face.
- You need to make a natural expression, with no other decoration on your face.
According to official U.S. standards, it’s allowed to take a passport photo with your facial hair, such as a beard, mustache, or even a goatee. No matter how thick or long your beard is, you can keep it in your passport photo. But if your beard and mustache hide your mouth, you’d better manage to take care of it.
Do I Need to Shave My Beard for A Passport Photo?
The answer is definitely no. According to the official requirements of most countries, applicants do not need to shave their beard for a passport photo. If your beard is a part of your daily appearance, you can leave it as you go. In some cultures, it is important to keep mustaches for men. However, it is always suggested that you should check the specific criteria of your country.
Something You Need to Avoid in Passport Photos
Although you are allowed to have a beard in your passport photo, you need to avoid them growing out and covering our important facial features, such as ears and mouth. It’s good to trim your beard before you take a photo by yourself or a photographer so as not to get your passport photo refused. Because they need to make sure that what you show in the passport photo can prove who you are when you travel.
Am I Allowed to Have Fake Beards in My Passport Photo?
The answer is no. You are not allowed to have fake beards on your face when you take a passport photo. According to the official requirements, you must reflect the real you in the passport photo. Otherwise, you will be refused your passport. And when you enter the border, you are not allowed to have fake beards as well, in case you are refused entry into the country by the officer.
Should I Apply for a new passport if I no longer keep my beard？
The answer is no. You don’t have to apply for a new passport if you have shaved your beard when you go abroad. According to U.S. regulations, you are allowed to change the appearance of minorities, such as face and hair, wearing prescription glasses. Of course, you can’t keep looking the same as three or four years ago. Therefore, even if you have a passport with a beard photo, you still keep the basic biometric look after you cut your beard. The border officers will carefully check your appearance before allowing you to enter the country. Therefore, if your appearance hasn’t changed drastically, you don’t need to take a new passport photo or apply for a new passport.
How Do I Know If My Beard Matches the Passport Photo Requirements?
If you’re uncertain whether your beard is okay in your passport photo, you can shave it at first for a better look. But if you keep your beard all the time, you can take a photo at home and upload this to AiPassportPhotos, an AI professional online passport photo editor to help you check if your passport photo is compliant or not. Or you can take a passport photo by photo shop to have a professional photographer help you get a passport-compliant photo.
Conclusion
All in all, you can feel relaxed now when you take a passport photo. Tell your father, brother, boyfriend, and husband to keep their handsome beards if they don’t want to trim them before they take a passport photo. Because there are no clear restrictions on shaving your beard when you take a passport photo. You just need to make sure that your total facial features can be shown in the passport photo. Just get ready to get your passport and start your trip.
Dolores Xiao