1. Best Shirt Colors (And Why to Avoid White Tops)
Automated government biometric scanners look for a clear boundary between your shoulders and the #FFFFFF white background. If you wear a white, cream, or very pale pastel shirt, your torso can appear as a 'floating head' and trigger an automated contrast warning.
- Best choices: Navy blue, charcoal grey, black, forest green, maroon, or medium jewel tones.
- Avoid: Pure white t-shirts, ultra-low necklines/strapless tops (which can make the cropped 2×2" frame look bare-shouldered), and high turtleneck collars that hide your chin contour.
2. Strict Ban on Uniforms, Camouflage & Eyeglasses
Both the U.S. State Department and international ICAO Doc 9303 standards prohibit uniforms—including military, law enforcement, airline crew, or camouflage pattern clothing. Everyday casual or business-casual clothing is required. Additionally, always remove eyeglasses before taking your photo.
3. Religious Headwear, Hair & Jewelry Rules
You may wear a hijab, turban, yarmulke/kippah, or habit worn daily for religious reasons, provided the full face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead is visible and no shadows are cast on the face. Long hair does not need to be tied back unless the specific country (such as China, Canada, or Singapore) requires both ears to be fully visible.