The global background colour standard
There is no single global rule. Most countries require white or off-white, but several — including parts of Asia and the Middle East — accept or require a light blue background. Using the wrong colour is an automatic rejection.
Countries that require a white background
| Country | Background | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India | White | Required for all passport and visa applications |
| United States | White | Must be plain white, no off-white |
| United Kingdom | Light grey or white | Cream or off-white accepted in some cases |
| Canada | White | Required for all passport applications |
| Australia | White | Plain white, no patterns |
| Schengen (EU) | Light grey / white | Varies slightly by country |
Countries that require or accept blue
| Country | Background | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | White | Visa photos may accept light blue |
| Some Southeast Asian countries | Blue | Check your specific country's requirements |
| Some African nations | Blue or white | Varies by country |
When in doubt, white is the safest choice. Almost no country rejects a clean white background.
How to change your photo background colour
If you've already taken your photo against the wrong colour background, you don't need to retake it. Use the Background Color Changer on PhotoResizer.in to swap the background to white, blue, or any required colour in seconds. The tool uses AI-powered edge detection to cleanly separate you from the background.
For more background removal options, see our best free background removers comparison.