Can we ask students to remove facial coverings to verify their identity?

For religious or cultural reasons, some female members of staff and students may wear a facial covering. Many higher education institutions (HEIs) have a policy of verifying the identity of staff and students, for example in order to allow access to premises or to take an examination. This is usually done by carrying out a visual check against photographic ID issued by the HEI.

In order to verify the identity of a female member of staff or student with a facial covering, it may be appropriate to have a female member of staff made available to perform the visual check in a private room.

The same member of staff or student may similarly be uncomfortable having their photograph taken for their ID card. In this situation, it may be appropriate to have a female member of staff available to take the photo in a private room (if available). If a female photographer is not available, an alternative may be that the member of staff or student with a facial covering provides a a passport photo, which is verified by a female member of staff in a private room and this photo is scanned onto the ID card.