Short answer: wear what you normally wear, in a colour that stands out from a light background. HM Passport Office accepts bare shoulders and military or school uniforms as a personal choice, and only rejects clothing that hides your face, such as a high scarf over your chin (GOV.UK: HM Passport Office photo standards (examiner guidance, March 2026)).
GOV.UK's photo rules and HM Passport Office's photo standards checked on 3 November 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the linked GOV.UK page before you pay.
| Advice | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Top | A mid or dark colour; avoid white or cream | The photo must be in clear contrast to the plain light background |
| Neckline | Anything, including bare shoulders | Accepted as a personal choice |
| Collars, hoods, scarves | Keep them below your chin | Clothing that hides your face is rejected; a hood up to ear level is fine if the face is clear |
| Uniform | Fine | Military and school uniforms are accepted |
| Earrings and piercings | Small and matt | Reflections from piercings get photos rejected |
| Glasses | Take them off if you can | Only if you have to, never tinted |
| Hats | No | Only religious or medical head coverings |
| Hair | Off your eyes | No hair in front of your eyes |
Sources: GOV.UK: Get a passport photo, GOV.UK: HM Passport Office photo standards (examiner guidance, March 2026).
More on each: earrings · make-up · glasses · hijab and turban · smiling
Picproved checks the contrast with the background, head size, eyes, expression and light before you save. If a white top blends into the background, it tells you. HM Passport Office still makes the final decision.
Or make it at home. Picproved costs £5.99 (free while we launch) for one person's photo in every size you need, and it checks the size, background, head size and face rules before you save. The office still makes the final decision. Make your United Kingdom Passport (online) photo
