Passport Photo Background Color for 18 Countries Including US, UK, India, Australia and Brazil

Country Passports are the most widely required document for identification of any being in the world. A key element of the passport as a means of requirement and identification is the passport photo background color. Very few countries now accept black and white photos for passports and photographs are now starting to be gathered by many countries in digital forms so that it can be used for computerized detection for required background color. This form of digitally acquired passport photograph is validated against the actual background color required for the visual verification at the time the passport collection and processing. The background color requirement varies from country to country but still it plays a vital role in determining the acceptance of the passport photo. As each country has its own set of rules and regulations defined by their governmental bodies responsible for Passport Services, there is always a need of a more general and clear understanding of the requirements asked for the legal acceptance of your passport. It is a worse feeling to be rejected for a minor requirement like this so a much more pedantic understanding about your passport photo background color must not be overlooked in any circumstances. So, let’s learn about the specific and official requirements needed for the background color in some of the most used passports in the world. Here are the countries and their background color requirements for passports summarized from the official government sites.

United States of America

The background color of the photo must not obscure the face or appearance of the person. The background must be uniform, plain white or off-white. Both are acceptable. It must not have any shadows.

United Kingdom – Britain

In UK guidance for passport photo requirements, the background color must be in plain cream or light grey (5% to 10% grey is recommended). Both are equally acceptable. Your photo must be in clear contrast to the background. No shadows and uniform lighting.

Nepal

For the country of Himalayas, the background color requires that the applicant’s passport photo to be taken against a very plain white or off white color. No shadow within the photo and a very sharp focused high resolution photo without any borderlines showing a clear appearance of the applicant’s visage is acceptable according to the official regulations.

France

The French requirement for the background is either white or a very light color. Anything else than a plain white background is unacceptable and leads to rejection.

Australia

For the land of Kangaroos, the passport photo must be taken against a plain white or light grey background that contrasts with your face.

Russia

Similarly, the Russian Passport photo requires that the background is either plain white or light color. Any patterned background in your passport photo leads to rejection.

Singapore

For the Singaporean Passport Photo, the photo must be taken against a white background without shadows. However if your hair, hat or head covering is white, the background must be light grey.

Italy

If you are planning to apply for an Italian passport then your passport photo must show the frontal view of your visage with a white background. You must wear dark colored clothes.

Brazil

For the Brazilian passport photo, the photo requires the frontal view with light gray or off white background.

India

The Indian passport photo requirements states that the background should be plain white colored without borders with contract colored clothes and not white clothes. Photos with dark, busy or patterned backgrounds shall not be accepted. No shadows on the face or on the background.

Germany

In German Passport photo requirements, the background should be one color and bright ideally a neutral grey color and in a contrasting color to the face and hair. In case of light colored hair, a medium-grey background is suitable whilst a light-grey background is suitable for dark hair. The background should not have any pattern. No shadows must be shown on the background.

Spain

White backgrounds are specified for Spanish Passport photos. In color, a uniform white background and printed on photo quality paper with high printing resolution. It must be taken against a light background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.

Honk Kong

In Honk Kong Passport photos, the background should have a plain white background showing the applicant’s face straight ahead, with head centered in the frame and ears exposed.

South Korea

In South Korea passport photos, the photos must be clear, well defined and taken against a plain white or light colored background. Shadows are not acceptable and uniform lighting across face, ears and shoulders with a clear difference between face and the background.

Indonesia

About the Indonesian Passport photos requirements, the rules have been changed a little for background color. Now the Indonesian Authorities require a white background and NOT red as before. And there should be enough contrast between the background and traits or clothing.

Canada

The Canadian Passport photos must be taken against a plain, uniform white or light-colored background to ensure that the applicant’s facial features and edge of the face are clearly visible. As such for someone in wheelchair, the photo be taken with a plain white blanket placed behind the applicant’s head. Shadows are not acceptable and uniform lighting across face, ears and shoulders with a clear difference between face and the background.

Malaysia

The Malaysian Passport (Polycarbonate) photo requirements says that a white or off white background with no shadows. But for the Attaché Immigration Offices in overseas issued Malaysian Passport without Polycarbonate film bio data pages, the applicant must be photographed with a light blue background. Effectively from 21 October 2013, new Malaysia passport application will require White Color Background photo.

Philippines

A new photo requirement for the issuance of a Philippian Passport, the passport photo should be taken against a plain white color background instead of a royal blue background. This new requirement is updated fact by August 2016.