As of November 1st, 2016, customers applying for or renewing their passport must remove all eye-glasses or eye-wear for their passport photo.
Last year, more than 200,000 passport customers submitted poor quality photos which we couldn’t accept. The #1 problem was eye-glasses and/or eye-gear. We had to put their passport applications on hold because we couldn’t clearly identify them from their photo.
If the photo of you in your unexpired passport has eye-glasses or eye-gear, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to get a new passport now. Next time you renew your passport, though, you’ll have to take your eye-glasses or eye-gear off.
This policy change helps us and it helps you. We can see you more clearly now and you will experience fewer passport application delays and can move faster through U.S. ports of entry. Don’t get us wrong, we love your eye-glasses or eye-gear, but take them off for your passport photo.*
For more information on passport photos, check out our photo requirements.
*If you must wear eye-glasses or eye-gear for medical reasons, you’ll need to obtain and submit a signed statement with your passport application from a medical professional or health practitioner.
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