Remove your eyeglasses for your passport photo.  The U.S. Department of State changed the rule November 1, 2016.  Too many pictures with eyeglasses were rejected due to glare or blocking a portion of the face.  This applies to new passport applications and renewals.  Existing passports are exempt.  Passport photos with eyeglasses will result in a processing delay.  Recall The Money Skinny™ mission is to save you time and money.  Save both time and money removing eyeglasses for your passport photo, calling ahead to schedule a passport appointment and applying early.

Passport Photo Exemption for Serious Medical Conditions

For a serious medical condition requiring eyeglasses, you may wear eyeglasses in a passport photo.  Include a medical exemption request with a statement from your doctor with the passport application.

Wearing glasses in your current passport photo?

Not a problem.  If you have an existing passport wearing eyeglasses in the photo, it does not need to be replaced.  Instead, update the photo without eyeglasses when renewing the passport.

More passport info

For more passport information, including the medical exemption request, is available at travel.state.gov.  Do you need to take off your eyeglasses when passing through a security screening?  Not yet but perhaps in the future.

Additional passport Photo Tip

May I add one final money saving nugget?  Snapping the passport photo at Sam’s Club, Walgreens or CVS is cheaper than having the post office or Passport Acceptance Agency take the picture.  BYOP – Bring Your Own Picture.

The Money Skinny™ Passport Tips

Planning to saunter into the local post office to apply for a passport at your convenience?  Oh, heck no.  Call to make an appointment.  You’ll be glad you did.  Additionally, mark your passport’s expiration date to your calendar.  Include a three month warning to avoid an expediting fee.  That sixty bucks stings.  Overnight delivery of $20.66?  Stop the madness.

Reduce other travel costs with The Money Skinny™ Trimming Vacation Travel Expenses and Save Vacation Cash with a Commuter Train.