Can You Wear Colored Contacts in a Passport Photo? (2026 Guide)
If you wear colored or cosmetic contact lenses, you might be wondering whether you need to take them out before your passport photo.
Short answer: it’s strongly recommended that you do.
While colored contacts aren’t officially “illegal,” they’re one of the easiest ways to get your passport photo rejected and most people don’t realize that until their application gets delayed.
Here’s what you need to know.
Are Colored Contacts Allowed in Passport Photos?
The U.S. passport office doesn’t list contact lenses as banned. What they do require is that your photo looks like you the real, everyday you.
If your lenses change your natural eye color, make your eyes look bigger, darker, brighter, or “doll-like,” that can raise red flags with the biometric systems used to scan passport photos.
In simple terms:
If your eyes don’t look the way they normally do, your photo might not pass.
Why This Causes Rejections
Your passport photo isn’t just for humans, it’s checked by facial recognition software that looks at:
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Eye spacing
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Iris size and shape
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Natural color contrast
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Facial proportions
Cosmetic lenses (especially circle lenses) can quietly throw these measurements off. Even when your photo looks fine, the system may still flag it.
This is one of the most common reasons families have to redo passport photos.
Which Contacts Are Risky?
| Contact Lens Type | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Clear prescription lenses | Low |
| Light enhancement tints | Medium |
| Cosmetic colored lenses | High |
| Circle or novelty lenses | Very High |
Best Travel Tip
To avoid delays:
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Take out colored or cosmetic lenses before your photo
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Use only clear prescription lenses if you need them
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Make sure your eyes look exactly how they normally do
It’s one small step that can save weeks of frustration.
FAQ
Are colored contacts illegal in passport photos?
No, but they’re one of the most common reasons photos get rejected.
Will they automatically reject my photo?
Not always, but the risk is high if your eye color or shape looks different.
Final Answer
You can technically wear contacts in a U.S. passport photo, but colored and cosmetic lenses often cause rejections. For smooth approval, remove them and use only clear prescription lenses.