Official error · US online passport renewal
US passport renewal photo error: “Glasses detected”
“Glasses detected” means the US online passport renewal found eyeglasses in your photo. US passport photos must be taken without glasses, including tinted glasses and sunglasses, unless you can't remove them for documented religious or medical reasons. Take them off and retake the photo; don't remove them with editing software.
The exact message
Glasses detectedWhat the message says
Remove your glasses and add your new photo without them on.
The online renewal rule behind it: “Remove anything covering your face (including eyeglasses) unless for documented religious or medical reasons.” For paper applications the State Department words it as “Take off any eyeglasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses” and asks for a signed note from your doctor if you can’t remove them for medical reasons.
Why it happens
- You wore your glasses in the photo, or rested them on your head.
- The check can also be triggered by a frame-like shadow or reflection near the eyes, but in most cases it’s real glasses.
How to fix it
- Take your glasses off completely; don’t push them up into your hair.
- Retake the photo in even daylight, looking straight into the lens with both eyes open.
- Upload the new photo as the camera took it. Don’t remove glasses or reflections with an app: editing the photo is not allowed.
Before you try again
IDPlain asks you to confirm glasses yourself instead of guessing, and checks your head position, light and background against the US rule, on your device, before you upload.
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IDPlain is not affiliated with the US online passport renewal. Messages are quoted so you can recognise them; the official system has the final say.