Quick Summary
Official Irish Passport Photo Clothing Rules
The DFA's official guidance on passport photo clothing is straightforward. According to the Passport Office, you should:
- Not wear anything that covers your face — your full face must be visible from chin to forehead
- Not wear tinted glasses — clear prescription glasses are allowed if there's no glare
- Not wear a hat or head covering — unless for religious or medical reasons
That's technically all the guidance states. But there's a lot more to consider if you want your photo accepted first time. The background for Irish passport photos is plain white, which means your clothing choice matters more than you might think.
Best Colours to Wear for a Passport Photo
The right colour creates clear contrast against the white background and makes your photo look professional. Here are the best choices:
The #1 recommended colour. Provides excellent contrast, looks professional, and works for everyone.
Great contrast and flattering on most skin tones. A popular alternative to navy.
Provides strong contrast and adds warmth. Works well against the white background.
A safe, professional choice. Provides clean contrast without being too bold.
Pro tip: A plain, solid colour is always safest. If you must wear a pattern, choose something subtle like fine pinstripes rather than large prints or logos.
Colours to Avoid
White / Off-White
Will blend into the white background completely. Your shoulders will disappear and the photo will almost certainly be rejected.
Very Light Colours (Pastel Yellow, Light Pink, Cream)
Can wash out against the background and create insufficient contrast. The camera may struggle to define where your clothing ends and the background begins.
Bright Neon Colours
Can cause colour cast on your skin, making your skin tone appear unnatural. Bright orange or fluorescent yellow are particularly problematic.
Busy Patterns, Logos, or Text
Large patterns, graphics, or text on clothing can be distracting and may affect photo processing. Stick to plain, solid colours.
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Glasses Rules for Passport Photos
You CAN wear glasses in an Irish passport photo, but there are strict conditions:
- The lenses must be clear — no tinted, coloured, or transition lenses
- There must be no glare or reflection from the lenses
- The frames must not cover your eyes — both eyes must be fully visible
- The frames must not cast shadows on your face
Our recommendation: Take your glasses off. While glasses are technically allowed in Irish passport photos, glare and reflections are the #2 reason photos get rejected. It's much easier to just remove them.
Jewellery & Accessories
There are no specific rules banning jewellery from passport photos, but there are practical considerations:
✓ Generally Fine
- • Small stud earrings
- • Simple necklaces (below neckline)
- • Wedding rings (not visible)
- • Small nose studs
✗ Best to Remove
- • Large dangling earrings
- • Facial piercings that cast shadows
- • Chunky necklaces near the face
- • Headbands or hair accessories
- • Headphones or earbuds
The key rule: nothing should obscure any part of your face or cast shadows on it. If in doubt, remove it — you can always put it back on after taking the photo.
Hair Rules for Passport Photos
The DFA doesn't have strict rules about hairstyles, but your hair must not cover your face:
- Your full face must be visible — hair should not cover your eyebrows, eyes, or cheeks
- Both ears don't need to be visible — it's fine if your hair covers your ears, as long as your face is clear
- Fringes/bangs are fine — as long as they don't cover your eyebrows or eyes
- Natural hair volume is fine — afros and voluminous hairstyles are perfectly acceptable
Tip: If your hair tends to fall across your face, pin it back or tuck it behind your ears before taking your photo. You can style it normally afterwards.
Makeup Tips for Passport Photos
Yes, you can wear makeup for a passport photo. The key principle is that your photo must look like you in your everyday appearance. Here's what works and what doesn't:
Natural, Everyday Makeup
Foundation, concealer, light blush, mascara, and subtle lip colour are all fine. The goal is to look like yourself.
Matte Foundation Over Glossy
Matte foundation prevents shine and reflections, which can cause issues with photo processing. Set with translucent powder if needed.
Heavy Contouring or Highlighting
Heavy contouring can alter the appearance of your facial structure. Strong highlighter can create unwanted reflections.
Dramatic Eye Makeup or False Lashes
Bold smoky eyes or theatrical false lashes can alter your eye shape enough to cause recognition issues. Keep eye makeup subtle.
Coloured Contact Lenses
Coloured or patterned contact lenses that change your eye colour are not allowed. Clear prescription contacts are fine.
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Religious & Medical Headwear
The Irish Passport Office allows head coverings in passport photos if they are worn for religious or medical reasons. This includes:
- Hijabs, headscarves, and other religious head coverings
- Turbans and patkas
- Kippot / yarmulkes
- Medical head coverings (e.g., for hair loss conditions)
Requirements when wearing a head covering:
- Your full face must be clearly visible — from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead
- The head covering must not cast any shadows on your face
- No part of the covering should obscure your facial features
What Should Children & Babies Wear?
The same clothing rules apply to children as adults, but there are a few additional considerations:
- Avoid bibs — remove bibs before taking the photo
- No hats or headbands — even cute ones need to come off
- No dummies/pacifiers — remove before taking the photo
- Simple, solid colours — avoid clothing with characters or large graphics
- Dark colours work best — same as for adults, darker clothing provides better contrast
For babies, it can help to dress them in a plain, dark bodysuit or vest. Don't worry too much about the outfit — the main thing is that their face is clearly visible with no obstructions.
See our complete guide to baby passport photos for more tips on getting a great photo of your little one.
Complete Do's & Don'ts Checklist
✓ DO
- Wear dark, solid colours (navy, dark green, burgundy)
- Wear a crew neck, V-neck, or collared shirt
- Keep makeup natural and subtle
- Pin hair back if it tends to fall forward
- Remove glasses to avoid glare issues
- Remove large jewellery and accessories
✗ DON'T
- Wear white or very light colours
- Wear busy patterns, logos, or graphics
- Wear hats or non-religious head coverings
- Wear headphones or earbuds
- Use heavy contouring or dramatic makeup
- Wear strapless tops (your shoulders should be clothed)