Background color requirements by document type
| Document | Required Background | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Passport | White | Plain white, no shadows or gradients |
| US Passport | White | Off-white or light grey also acceptable |
| UK Passport | Light grey or cream | Not pure white — check latest guidance |
| Schengen Visa | White or light grey | Varies by country within Schengen |
| China Visa | White | Strictly white, well-lit |
| SSC/UPSC/NEET Exams | White | Most Indian exam portals require white |
| Professional LinkedIn | Any clean color | Solid, non-distracting backgrounds preferred |
Why background color matters
Automated verification systems on passport and visa portals check for consistent background color. If your photo has shadows, gradients, or the wrong shade, the system may reject it automatically — even if the photo looks fine to you.
Common reasons for rejection include: visible shadows behind the head, yellowish tint from indoor lighting, textured wallpaper visible in the background, and gradual color shifts from uneven lighting.
How to change background color with our tool
- Upload your photo. Any JPG, PNG, or WebP image up to 25MB.
- Click on the current background. This tells the algorithm which color region to replace.
- Choose your target color. Pick from preset colors (white, light blue, red) or use the custom color picker for exact hex values.
- Adjust tolerance. If your background has slight color variations, increase the tolerance to capture the full area.
- Download. Get your photo with the new background, ready to submit.
Tips for a clean result
- Start with a solid-ish background. The closer your original background is to a single color, the cleaner the replacement will be.
- Watch for hair and edges. Our algorithm uses edge blending for smooth transitions, but very fine hair strands against complex backgrounds can be challenging.
- Check the preview carefully. Zoom in on edges around ears, chin, and shoulders to verify the blend looks natural.
- Use good lighting. Even lighting reduces shadows that can create dark patches in the background.
Background removal vs color replacement
Need a transparent background instead of a colored one? Use our Remove Background tool. It uses the same flood-fill algorithm but outputs a transparent PNG instead of replacing the background with a solid color.