Our photos are compliant and accepted for every type of document, worldwide. ICAO 9303 compliant.
Passport photo rules · Background
What is the background colour for a passport photo?
It depends on the country. Plain white or off-white for the US, Canada, India, China and Australia. Light grey or cream for the UK. Light grey for Schengen visas and most EU passports. Never coloured, patterned or shadowed.
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Free preview · ICAO 9303 · digital file + printable sheet with 6 photos
Background colour by country
United States
Plain white or off-white. Uniform, no shadows behind the head.
United Kingdom
Light grey or cream. White is not accepted for UK passports.
EU / Schengen
Light grey. Some consulates accept white — check locally.
Canada, India, Australia
Plain white or very light background, uniform and shadow-free.
Background rules — universal
US / Canada / India / AUPlain white or off-white
United KingdomLight grey or cream
Schengen / EULight grey (or plain white)
UniformityNo gradient, no texture
ShadowsNone behind head or shoulders
ObjectsNothing visible behind the head
Ready in 30 seconds, from home
Wrong background? Upload any selfie — our AI replaces it with the exact colour your country requires.
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Frequently asked questions
What colour background is a US passport photo?+
Plain white or off-white. The US Department of State requires a completely uniform background with no shadows, patterns or objects behind the head.
What colour background does the UK passport require?+
Plain light grey or cream. HM Passport Office does not accept white backgrounds — they cause shoulder-blend and edge-detection problems.
What background does a Schengen visa photo need?+
Light grey background, uniform, without shadows. Some Schengen consulates also accept plain white — check with the consulate you are applying at.
Can I use a coloured wall as a passport photo background?+
No. Every ICAO 9303 country requires a plain, uniform light background — white, off-white or light grey depending on the country. Coloured or patterned walls are always rejected.
How do I get a white background at home?+
Stand about 40–50 cm in front of a plain white or off-white wall, with soft daylight from the side to avoid shadows behind you. Or upload any selfie to IDReady.ai — our AI replaces the background with the exact colour your country requires.
Does IDReady.ai fix the background automatically?+
Yes. Our AI removes the original background and replaces it with the correct colour (white for US/Canada, light grey for UK/EU) based on the country you select.
