Russia has officially allowed women to wear hijabs and headscarves in passport and other official identification photographs. The new policy applies to passport applications, citizenship documents, and other government-issued ID cards.
According to the updated rules, the Russian Interior Ministry has expanded this permission to also include foreign nationals who are applying for Russian citizenship. This means women can now keep their religious head coverings in official ID photos during the application process.
Officials said that Russian citizens were already allowed to wear religious head coverings in certain official documents such as passports, driving licenses, and work permits. The latest update extends and clarifies these rules to ensure consistency across different types of identity documents.
The decision is seen as a step toward respecting religious practices while maintaining official identification standards. Authorities have not indicated any change to other requirements for ID photographs, such as clear visibility of the face.
The policy update reflects how some countries are adjusting administrative rules to accommodate religious and cultural diversity in official documentation.
The announcement has drawn attention internationally, particularly among communities where headscarves and hijabs are commonly worn for religious reasons.
Officials have not provided further details on whether additional changes to identification rules are being considered in the future. However, the current update confirms that religious head coverings are now permitted in a wider range of official photo documents in Russia.
The move is being viewed as part of ongoing efforts to balance identity verification requirements with personal and religious freedoms in government documentation processes.
