Does a songkok count?

It is head gear, so the dark-colour rule applies. A black songkok is fine; eyes and full face must show.

Can the tudung cover my ears?

ICA's guideline does not require ears to be visible; its rules are eyes, full face, shoulders and hair. Singapore's driving licence is the one local document that demands both ears and both eyebrows.

Will the photo be refused if my tudung is dark but patterned?

ICA's own ✓ example is a dark patterned tudung. Pattern is fine; light colour is not.

Can I wear a tudung or hijab in a Singapore passport photo?

TL;DR Yes — and it must be dark. ICA's guideline image says "head gear/attire must be dark in colour against white background", with a pale pink tudung as the ✗ example and a dark patterned one as the ✓. Eyes must be fully visible, so the covering cannot cross them.

The two rules that apply

Colour. A light-coloured tudung against ICA's required white background loses its edge — the guideline shows exactly that as a failure. Dark blue, black, deep green, maroon or a dark pattern all pass; white, cream, blush or pastel do not.

Eyes. The "eyes must be fully visible" rule has three ✗ examples, and one of them is a tudung worn low over the brow. Wear it back off the eyebrows.

What this tool does with a head covering

It keeps it. In testing, the pipeline kept the covering in every attempt, including when told to remove it — so it will not "fix" a tudung into hair, and it will not lighten or recolour it. If you upload a light tudung, you get a light tudung on a white background, which ICA will refuse. Change before you photograph, not after.

The documents a covering rule applies to here

Document	Size	Head in frame (as we compose it)	Background	Max age	Source
Singapore passport	35 × 45 mm	56–78%	pure featureless white	3 months	www.ica.gov.sg
Singapore nric	35 × 45 mm	56–78%	pure featureless white	3 months	www.ica.gov.sg
Malaysia passport	35 × 50 mm	60–75%	pure white only	6 months	www.kln.gov.my
Singapore driving licence	35 × 45 mm	56–78%	pure featureless white	3 months	www.police.gov.sg

A real case

A first-time applicant's photo in a cream tudung was refused. She rephotographed in a navy one, everything else identical, and it was accepted. The tudung was never the issue — the colour was.

Common questions

Does a songkok count?: It is head gear, so the dark-colour rule applies. A black songkok is fine; eyes and full face must show.
Can the tudung cover my ears?: ICA's guideline does not require ears to be visible; its rules are eyes, full face, shoulders and hair. Singapore's driving licence is the one local document that demands both ears and both eyebrows.
Will the photo be refused if my tudung is dark but patterned?: ICA's own ✓ example is a dark patterned tudung. Pattern is fine; light colour is not.

Sources

Read on the issuing authority's own pages on the dates shown on each document page:

Singapore passport: www.ica.gov.sg (read 2026-09-06)
Singapore nric: www.ica.gov.sg (read 2026-09-06)
Malaysia passport: www.kln.gov.my (read 2026-09-02)
Singapore driving licence: www.police.gov.sg

SGfoto is independent — not affiliated with or endorsed by any government or issuing authority — and does not guarantee acceptance. Requirements change; the authority's page is the one that counts. Rebuilt 2026-09-06.