Passport photo background colour by country
Most passport rules ask for white, but not all. France forbids white and asks for light blue or grey, India's OCI form forbids it too, and the UK and New Zealand ask only for a light colour. Here is every rule we have read, quoted from the authority, with a link to each country's tool.
What background does each country ask for?
Each rule below is quoted from the authority's own page, with the date we read it. The groups are ours; open a country's page for its size and the rest of its rules.
White only
The rule names white and no other colour.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| India passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white | TypePassport | Sourcewww.passportindia.gov.in |
| Brazil passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypePassport | Sourcewww.gov.br |
| Nepal passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white, without borders | TypePassport | Sourcenepalpassport.gov.np |
| Malaysia passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite, without shadow | TypePassport | Sourcewww.imi.gov.my |
| Indonesia passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypePassport | Sourcewww.kemlu.go.id |
| Japan visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite only; dark or patterned backgrounds are not accepted | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.in.emb-japan.go.jp |
| Singapore passport and IC photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypePassport | Sourcewww.ica.gov.sg |
| South Korea passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white, with no border | TypePassport | Sourcewww.passport.go.kr |
| Italian passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite, under even lighting | TypePassport | Sourcewww.poliziadistato.it |
| Spanish passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite, uniform and plain | TypePassport | Sourcewww.boe.es |
| Polish passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite, evenly lit, with no shadows and no decorative detail | TypePassport | Sourcewww.gov.pl |
| Vietnam e-visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceevisa.gov.vn |
| UAE visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcesmartservices.icp.gov.ae |
| Saudi visa photo size for the e-visa | Background, as the rule words itWhite, with no pattern and no shadows | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcevisa.visitsaudi.com |
| Argentina visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.cancilleria.gob.ar |
| Hong Kong visa and passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.immd.gov.hk |
| Chinese passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypePassport | Sourcecs.mfa.gov.cn |
| CSC civil service exam photo size and name tag | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypeExam or job application | Sourcecsc.gov.ph |
| SPA Malaysia photo size for MyResume | Background, as the rule words itWhite | TypeExam or job application | Sourcemyresume.spa.gov.my |
White or off-white
White, or very nearly.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| US passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white or off-white | TypePassport | Sourcetravel.state.gov |
| US visa photo size for the DS-160 | Background, as the rule words itPlain white or off-white | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcetravel.state.gov |
| DV Lottery photo size and requirements | Background, as the rule words itPlain white or off-white | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcetravel.state.gov |
| China visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite or close to white, with no border | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceus.china-embassy.gov.cn |
White or a light colour
White is one of several light colours allowed.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| India visa photo size for the e-Visa | Background, as the rule words itPlain light coloured or white | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceindianvisaonline.gov.in |
| Canada passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white or light-coloured | TypePassport | Sourcewww.canada.ca |
| Irish passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain light grey, white or cream | TypePassport | Sourcewww.ireland.ie |
| Australian passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white or light grey | TypePassport | Sourcewww.passports.gov.au |
| Japanese passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain, white recommended; the older pale blue is accepted, with no gradient or shadow | TypePassport | Sourcewww.mofa.go.jp |
| Indonesia passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite or grey | TypePassport | Sourcekemlu.go.id |
| Singapore passport and IC photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain white, or light grey if your hair is white | TypePassport | Sourcewww.ica.gov.sg |
| Turkey passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite with no pattern and no shadows; the passport instruction prefers mid-tone grey for light hair | TypePassport | Sourcewww.nvi.gov.tr |
| Netherlands visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite or light-coloured | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.netherlandsworldwide.nl |
| Spain visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itUniform and light, normally white or light grey | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.exteriores.gob.es |
| Dutch passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itLight grey, light blue or white, even and one colour | TypePassport | Sourcewww.rijksoverheid.nl |
| Colombia visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itWhite; blue only for people with no hair or white hair, or wearing a light-coloured religious habit | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.cancilleria.gov.co |
Light, white not named
Any plain light colour. White is not mentioned either way.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain light-coloured | TypePassport | Sourcewww.gov.uk |
| UK visa and ETA photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain light-coloured | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.gov.uk |
| New Zealand passport photo requirements | Background, as the rule words itPlain light-coloured | TypePassport | Sourcewww.passports.govt.nz |
| Australia visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itNeutral or light grey, contrasting with your face | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Germany visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itOne colour and bright, ideally neutral grey, contrasting with the face and hair | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcedigital.diplo.de |
| Austrian passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itOne light colour, ideally grey, with no pattern and no shadow | TypePassport | Sourcewww.bmi.gv.at |
| Denmark passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itOne even light colour, for example light blue or light grey, with no pattern | TypePassport | Sourcepoliti.dk |
| Sweden driving licence photo size | Background, as the rule words itLight and without shadows | TypeDriving licence | Sourcewww.transportstyrelsen.se |
| France visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain and light coloured | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcefrance-visas.gouv.fr |
| Italy visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itPlain and light coloured | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceambastana.esteri.it |
| Belgian passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itLight coloured, even and one colour | TypePassport | Sourcewww.ibz.rrn.fgov.be |
| Russia visa photo size for the e-visa | Background, as the rule words itPlain light-coloured, with no shadows | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceevisa.kdmid.ru |
Light, but not white
These rules forbid white outright.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCI photo size and signature | Background, as the rule words itPlain light colour, not white | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceociservices.gov.in |
| French passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itOne colour and light, such as light blue or grey. White is forbidden | TypePassport | Sourcewww.legifrance.gouv.fr |
Grey
The rule names grey and no other colour.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itGrey, on a lab print | TypePassport | Sourcewww.epassport.gov.bd |
One colour that contrasts
No colour is named, only that it contrasts with your face and hair.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| German passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itOne colour, shadow free, contrasting with the face and hair | TypePassport | Sourcewww.gesetze-im-internet.de |
| Japan visa photo size | Background, as the rule words itNot named on the form; the eVISA asks for plain and untextured | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.mofa.go.jp |
| Thailand visa photo size for the e-Visa | Background, as the rule words itNot stated by the portal | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.thaievisa.go.th |
| Thailand visa photo size for the e-Visa | Background, as the rule words itNot stated on the form | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceimage.mfa.go.th |
No rule stated
The form gives a size and says nothing about the background.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia visa photo size for the e-visa | Background, as the rule words itNot stated on the form site, which leaves it to each mission | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcevisa.kdmid.ru |
| Hong Kong visa and passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itNot stated on the form | TypeVisa or other form | Sourcewww.immd.gov.hk |
Plain, no colour named
The rule asks for a plain background and says nothing about its colour.
| Document | Background, as the rule words it | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi visa photo size for the e-visa | Background, as the rule words itPlain, no colour named | TypeVisa or other form | Sourceksavisa.sa |
Which countries forbid a white background?
France does. Its rule asks for one light colour, such as light blue or grey, and says white is forbidden. A photo made for Italy or Spain, where the rule asks for white, is the one France refuses.
India's own forms disagree with each other. The passport booklet asks for plain white. The OCI card's FAQ asks for a plain light colour, not white. So a photo made for an Indian passport is the wrong photo for the OCI card.
Does Germany require a light grey background?
Several guides say so. The German rule we read asks for one colour, free of shadows, that contrasts with your face and hair. It names no colour at all.
A German passport photo is also made by a service provider or by the passport office itself, so it is rarely something you prepare at home. The German passport photo page has the rest.
Is light grey fine for a US passport photo?
The State Department asks for white or off-white, and names no grey. Off-white means very nearly white, not a grey wall. The same rule covers the US visa and the DV Lottery photo.
Can one photo work for several countries?
A white background meets every rule in the first three groups above. The fourth asks for a light colour and does not mention white either way. The fifth forbids white outright.
The sixth asks for grey. That is the print a child under 6 brings for a Bangladesh passport.
The last group names no colour at all. Hong Kong's visa forms give only a size, while its passport asks for white, so a white photo made for the Hong Kong visa and passport photo page suits both.
The size matters as much as the colour. Most of these countries ask for 35 x 45 mm, but not all, and the documents list shows each one's size beside its source.
How do I get the right background?
Take the photo against the right wall. A plain wall a step behind you, lit evenly from the front, gives a flat background with no shadow behind your head.
This site's tools crop, resize and set the file size for each country. They do not repaint a background, so the wall is the part to get right.
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