Visa Photo Background Rules by Country

There is no single background color that works for every visa and passport photo. Many authorities ask for plain white or a light color, but France forbids white for passport photos, and UK printed passport photos must be cream or light grey. Check the rule for your exact document, because one country can have different rules for different documents.

Official background rules, compared

This table comes directly from the rules we have read on official pages. Each row links to its source.

What these rules have in common

Almost every rule in the table asks for the same three things, even when the color differs:

• Plain: no patterns, textures, objects or lines behind you.
• Light: white, off-white, cream, light grey or another light color. The exact choice varies.
• In contrast with you: you must stand out clearly from the background. The UK and Australia say this directly.

Many also mention shadows. The US asks for a background free of shadows, and Germany asks for one plain color without shadows.

Where the rules differ most

France: white is forbidden

For a French passport photo, the official Service-Public page says a white background is forbidden. France Titres gives light blue and light grey as examples of what to use. A habit that works elsewhere will get this photo refused.

France also requires this photo to come from a licensed professional or an approved booth, so you cannot make it yourself. See our France page.

United Kingdom: digital and printed differ

For a digital UK passport photo, GOV.UK asks for a plain light-colored background that contrasts with you. For a printed one, it asks specifically for plain cream or light grey. A white wall may suit one and not the other, so read the rule for the format you are using on our UK page.

Germany: missions may differ

Germany's official sample chart asks for one plain color without shadows, and its template prefers light grey. For visas, we did not find a central rule. The German mission in London asks for white or off-white, while the mission in Warsaw asks for one bright color and suggests neutral grey. Follow the page of the mission handling your application. See our Germany page.

United States: white or off-white

The US accepts plain white or off-white for both visas and passports. The State Department shows blue backgrounds and textured walls as unacceptable. See our United States page.

Singapore: an exception for white hair

Singapore's form asks for plain white, or light grey if your hair is white. See our Singapore page.

Schengen: no single rule

The European Commission's guide asks for a plain light-colored background, but each consulate sets the details. Check the page of the country you are applying to. See our Schengen page.

Can you change the background on a computer?

Often, no. Some authorities are direct about this:

• The United States lists a background replaced with a retouching tool as unacceptable for passport photos, and says to take a new photo instead.
• Australia's visa help page says the background should not be removed, and its passport page lists an edited background among its examples of bad photos.
• The United Kingdom says photos must not be altered by software.

Other sources do not mention background editing at all. That is not the same as permission. If you are not sure, assume it is not allowed and ask the authority.

Our tool has an optional background remover, but we switch it off wherever the rules we have read forbid changing the photo. Where it is available, check the official rules before you use it. Read more in Can You Edit or Resize a Visa Photo?.

How to get the background right the first time

The safest method is to get the background right when you take the photo, so that you do not need to change it later. These suggestions are practical tips from us, except where a source is named.

1. Use a plain wall of the right color. If your wall is not suitable, the US State Department suggests covering it with a white blanket or sheet. Use a sheet of the right color for your document, and smooth out the creases so it stays plain.
2. Stand away from the wall. The US State Department suggests several feet. This helps to stop your shadow from falling on it.
3. Light the wall and your face evenly. Avoid a single overhead light or a light far to one side. Both can cast shadows.
4. Remove anything behind you. Pictures, door frames, plants and furniture all break the plain background rule.
5. Check the result on a large screen. Faint shadows and marks are easy to miss on a phone.

Common mistakes

• Assuming white is always correct. It is forbidden for French passport photos, and it is not the stated color for UK printed ones.
• Using a patterned or textured wall. Even a faint pattern can count against the plain rule.
• Ignoring your shadow. A shadow on the wall behind you makes the background uneven.
• Blending into the background. If you have very light hair or clothing against a white wall, the contrast may be too low.
• Reusing one photo for every application. A photo that suits one document may not suit another.

Before you apply

Rules change, and offices may apply their own. Use the table above as a starting point, then open the linked official page for your document. You can see every rule for your country on our country pages.