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 |
| 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 |
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 |
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 |
| Dutch passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itLight grey, light blue or white, even and one colour | TypePassport | Sourcewww.rijksoverheid.nl |
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 |
| Belgian passport photo size | Background, as the rule words itLight coloured, even and one colour | TypePassport | Sourcewww.ibz.rrn.fgov.be |
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 |
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 |
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 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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