Most countries require passport photos with a plain, light-coloured background — usually white. A trip to a photo studio costs ₹200-500, and even a quick stop at a passport photo booth costs ₹100-200. But you can take the photo at home and fix the background yourself using remove-bg.io.
The catch is getting the background colour right. Here's what each country actually requires, plus how to avoid the most common rejection reasons.
Important: Requirements change. Always verify your country's current passport photo specifications on the official government website before submitting. The information below is accurate as of early 2026 but should be double-checked.
Background Requirements by Country
Most countries require a plain white or light-coloured background for passport photos, though the exact shade and dimensions vary by country.
India
The Passport Seva (MEA) requires a white background. The full specs:
- Photo size: 2x2 inches (51x51mm) — standard for Indian passport applications
- Face should cover 50-60% of the photo
- Face centred, ears visible
- No shadows on face or background
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Neutral expression, both eyes open
- No sunglasses; clear spectacles are generally acceptable but check the latest guidelines
United States (US Visa)
The U.S. State Department requires a white or off-white background.
- Photo size: 2x2 inches (51x51mm)
- Head height: 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches from chin to top of head
- No shadows on face or background
- Neutral expression, both eyes open
United Kingdom (UK Visa)
The UK accepts a plain white or light grey background.
- Photo size: 35x45mm
- No shadows, no texture in the background
- Head must face forward, mouth closed
European Union (Schengen Visa)
EU member states each set their own specs, but most follow the ICAO standard:
- Light-coloured, uniform background (white, light grey, or light blue depending on the country)
- Photo size: 35x45mm
- Face height should be roughly 70-80% of the photo height
Canada
- White or light-coloured background
- Photo size: 50x70mm
- Neutral expression, mouth closed
- Glasses are generally not permitted
Australia
- Plain light-coloured background (white or light grey)
- Photo size: 35x45mm
- No glasses
Taking the Photo
You can use any smartphone — the cameras on modern phones are more than good enough. A few things that matter:
Lighting is the most important factor. Stand facing a window so natural light falls evenly on your face. Avoid overhead room lights (tubelights create harsh shadows). If you can see shadows on your face in the phone's preview, adjust your position.
It doesn't matter what's behind you. Stand in front of any wall — you're going to remove the background anyway. A solid-coloured wall makes the AI's job slightly easier, but it works on any background.
Have someone else take it. Selfies are technically usable, but it's hard to keep your arm out of frame and get the framing right. Use a timer or ask someone.
Shoulders visible, face centred. Most passport offices want to see your shoulders. Don't crop too tight.
Replacing the Background
Upload your photo to the Background Remover. Once the background is removed, switch to the Background tab and select the appropriate colour:
- White for Indian passport, US visa, and most countries — use the White Background tool for a one-step process
- Light grey for UK visa — use Change Background Colour and pick a light grey
- Light blue for some EU countries — same tool, different colour
Download the result in full resolution. No watermarks, no account needed.
Why Passport Photos Get Rejected
The most common rejection reasons are shadows on the background, wrong background colour, poor face lighting, incorrect dimensions, and wearing glasses in countries that prohibit them.
Shadows on the background. This is the #1 issue. If your original photo has shadows cast on the wall behind you, AI background removal eliminates that entirely.
Wrong background colour. Pure white when the country wants light grey (UK), or off-white when they want pure white (India, US).
Poor lighting on the face. Uneven lighting, harsh shadows under the nose. No amount of background editing fixes this — retake the photo with better lighting.
Wrong dimensions. Each country has specific size requirements. Crop your photo to the correct aspect ratio before printing.
Glasses. Australia and Canada no longer accept photos with glasses. India is more lenient, but clear frames without glare are best.
Printing
Once you have your digital photo with the correct background:
- At home: Print at the required size on photo paper. For Indian passports, print at 2x2 inches on a 4x6 photo sheet (you can fit multiple copies). Use 300 DPI or higher.
- At a photo shop: Most shops near passport offices accept digital photos on USB or WhatsApp. Bring your edited image and ask for the correct print size.
- Online services: Some online printing services accept passport photo uploads and deliver to your doorstep.
For a family of four, doing this at home saves ₹800-₹2,000 compared to a photo studio — and you can retake as many times as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my passport photo be accepted? Background removal gives you a clean, compliant background. But passport compliance also depends on face positioning, expression, lighting, and dimensions.
What resolution do I need? Most passport authorities require at least 600x600 pixels. Modern smartphone photos are typically 3000x4000 pixels or higher, so resolution is rarely an issue.
Can I use a selfie? Technically yes, but front-facing cameras are lower resolution and it's hard to frame correctly. A rear camera photo taken by someone else gives better results.