Can you wear a hijab or head covering in a passport photo?

The statement you need

• Religious: a signed statement that the head covering is religious attire worn daily in public
• Medical: a signed doctor’s statement that you wear it for medical purposes

You send the statement with your application; it isn’t part of the photo.

Rules for the head covering

• Your full face must be visible
• It must not cast shadows on your face
• It should be one colour, without patterns or small holes

Visa and DV lottery photos

For a US visa photo, a head covering is allowed only if you wear it daily for religious reasons, and it must not cover your face or cast shadows on it. The DV lottery follows the same rule.

What the statement should say

The passport form instructions for the DS-11 and DS-82 give the wording. The statement must verify that the covering is recognized, traditional religious attire. It must be customarily or required to be worn continuously in public.

For a medical reason, you need a signed doctor’s statement verifying its daily use for medical purposes.

How to apply with a head covering

1. Write and sign the statement

   Say that the covering is religious attire you wear daily in public, then sign it.

2. Take the photo

   Wear the covering as you do every day. Your full face must be visible, with no shadows or parts of your face blocked.

3. Check the covering

   It should be one color, with no patterns or small holes.

4. Send both together

   Include the photo and the signed statement with your DS-11 or DS-82 application.

Face coverings and veils

A head covering is allowed with the statement. A face covering is not. The passport page says to take off any face covering or medical mask, because your full face must be visible.

The example photos show a woman in a head covering with her face fully visible as acceptable. A head covering or scarf that blocks part of the face is unacceptable.

Who the religious exception covers

The rule is not limited to hijabs. The Foreign Affairs Manual applies the same rule to all hats and head coverings, including turbans, scarves and large skullcaps.

Religious headwear must be worn in connection with a sincerely held religious belief, and worn continuously in public. A baseball cap or similar hat is not religious attire.

Online renewal

You can also renew online with a head covering. The upload page says to remove anything covering your face, unless it is for documented religious or medical reasons.

Its acceptable example shows a woman in a religious head covering. Her full face is visible, with no shadows or clothing blocking it.

Visa photos: what’s different

The visa photo FAQ says to remove hats or head coverings that hide your hair or hairline. Religious coverings are the exception. The visa photo pages don’t ask for a signed statement.

Religious clothing worn daily is also an exception to the rule against uniforms in visa photos.

For the DV lottery, the instructions warn that a photo that doesn’t fully meet the rules can make you ineligible.

Questions