What to Wear for a Singapore Passport or IC Photo

Short answer: ICA doesn't publish a dress code for passport or IC photos. What it does require is a plain white background, the top of your shoulders clearly shown, and no headgear unless you wear it for religious or racial reasons (and then not in white), according to the ICA passport photo rules. So wear a plain, darker top that shows your shoulders, and keep anything white away from your head.

This guide separates what ICA actually writes from practical tips. Every rule below was checked against ICA's own pages and forms in November 2026. Anything that is only our advice is labelled as a tip.

What does ICA actually say about clothing?

ICA's written rules don't mention clothing colour, collars, uniforms, jewellery or make-up. The text we checked on the ICA photo guidelines page, the passport application page and the passport form covers these points instead:

Rule	What ICA says
Background	Plain white; light grey if your hair is white
Framing	Full face, head straight, both edges of your face and the top of your shoulders clearly shown
Head coverings	Only those habitually worn for religious or racial custom, and not in white
Glasses	Frames must not cover your eyes; no reflection; no tinted glasses or sunglasses
Hair	No hair across or covering your eyes
Expression	Neutral, looking at the camera, mouth closed
Age of photo	Colour, taken within the last 3 months
Editing	Don't alter or enhance the photo, change facial features or use filters

Sources: ICA form IMME 11 OS (passport application, overseas), ICA photo guidelines, ICA passport page.

ICA says its requirements follow International Standards Organisation (ISO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) specifications. The photo guidelines page also shows a "Dos and Don'ts" graphic. If you are unsure about a specific outfit, look at that graphic before you take the photo.

What should you wear for the photo?

Because the background must be plain white and your shoulders must show, your top does most of the work. These are tips, not ICA rules:

1. Pick a plain top in a mid or dark colour. Navy, black, grey, maroon or green all stand out from a white background. Tip.
2. Avoid white, cream or very pale tops. They can blend into the white background, so the edge of your shoulders becomes hard to see. ICA requires the top of your shoulders to be clearly shown. Tip based on ICA's framing rule.
3. Show your shoulders and neckline. A collared shirt, blouse or simple T-shirt works. Avoid high scarves, hoodies pulled up or thick collars that hide your neck and jaw. Tip.
4. Skip big logos and busy patterns. They don't break a written rule, but they pull attention away from your face. Tip.

If you are making one photo for both your IC and passport, ICA says on Ask.gov that you can use the same photo if it was taken within 3 months of the application date. So it is worth getting the outfit right once.

Can you wear a headscarf, turban or cap?

You can wear a head covering only if you habitually wear it for religious or racial custom. ICA's passport form adds that it "should not be in white". That matters because the background itself is white. A white tudung or turban can merge into it.

Your face still has to be fully visible: head straight, eyes open, and both edges of your face clearly shown. Caps, hats, hoodies and fashion headbands are not religious or racial head coverings, so take them off.

For visa applications handled by ICA, the visa photo answer on Ask.gov says religious or racial headgear is acceptable but must not hide your facial features.

What about hair, jewellery and accessories?

ICA's written rule on hair is short: no hair across or covering your eyes. Tie long hair back or move your fringe so both eyes are clear. Hair can fall over your shoulders as long as the top of your shoulders still shows.

ICA's text doesn't mention earrings, necklaces or hair clips. A practical tip: keep them small and matte. Shiny jewellery can reflect light, and a big necklace or collar pin draws the eye away from your face.

Can you wear glasses or make-up?

Glasses are allowed if the frames don't cover any part of your eyes and there is no flash or light reflected off the lenses. Tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed. Our guide on glasses and smiling in IC photos goes into more detail.

The ICA pages we checked don't mention make-up. The rule that does apply is about the photo itself: ICA's photo guidelines say you must not alter or enhance it, which includes modifying facial features or using photo filters. Everyday make-up is not covered by that rule, but beauty filters and face-smoothing apps are. Practical tip: keep make-up close to how you normally look, because ICA officers carry out facial verification against your photo when you collect your passport.

Check before you submit

Run through this list before you upload:

• The background is plain white (light grey only if your hair is white).
• The top of your shoulders and both edges of your face are clear.
• Any head covering is religious or racial, not white, and doesn't hide your face.
• No hair over your eyes, no tinted lenses, no glare on glasses.
• No filters, beauty mode or face edits.
• The photo is in colour and less than 3 months old.
• For online submission, the file is 400 x 514 pixels, in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG, and no larger than 8 MB. See our ICA photo size guide for the other forms.

Don't take a selfie: ICA says on Ask.gov that a selfie image will be flipped, so ask someone to take it. If your photo doesn't meet the requirements, ICA's passport page says processing may take up to 4 weeks instead of around 1 to 2 weeks, and ICA will notify you by post or email if you need to submit a new photo. For the full list of rules, see our Singapore IC photo requirements guide.

How IC Photo Singapore can help

Once you have a photo taken in the right outfit against a plain wall, IC Photo Singapore (icphotosingapore.com) can size it to ICA's published spec of 400 x 514 pixels. You upload your photo from a phone or computer, check a watermarked preview, and download the digital file after checkout. It doesn't replace ICA's own checks: ICA still reviews every photo. IC Photo Singapore is an independent service and is not affiliated with ICA.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official dress code for Singapore passport photos?

No. The ICA text we checked has no dress code. The rules that affect clothing are the white background, visible shoulders, and the limits on head coverings.

Can I wear a white shirt for my passport photo in Singapore?

ICA doesn't ban white tops in its written rules. But the background must be plain white, so a white top can make your shoulder line hard to see. A darker top is the safer choice.

Can I wear a white tudung or turban?

ICA's passport form says religious or racial head coverings are allowed but "should not be in white". Choose a coloured one for the photo.

Can I wear make-up for my passport photo in Singapore?

ICA's pages don't mention make-up. What ICA forbids is altering or enhancing the photo, including filters and changes to facial features.

Can I wear my school or work uniform?

ICA's text doesn't mention uniforms. A uniform is fine under the written rules if your shoulders show and you aren't wearing a cap or non-religious headgear.

Can I use the same photo for my IC and passport?

Yes, if it was taken within 3 months of the application date, according to ICA on Ask.gov.

Requirements were checked against ICA's photo guidelines, passport page, passport form and Ask.gov answers in November 2026. Check the official photo guidelines before you submit.