Passport photo background: what the rules say

Plain white or off-white, with no shadows, texture, objects or lines. That is the State Department's rule for U.S. passport photos, and U.S. visa and green card photos need a white or off-white background too. Don't change the background with an app: fix the wall and take a new photo.

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How to get a good background at home

  1. Use a plain white or off-white wall.No texture, objects or lines. The State Department's examples reject a white brick wall, because it has texture and lines.
  2. No white wall? Hang a white sheet.The State Department suggests covering a non-white wall with a white blanket or sheet.
  3. Stand several feet away from the wall.That is the official advice, and it keeps your shadow off the background.
  4. Light your face evenly.Avoid a light straight above you or a lamp far off to one side. Both cast shadows.
  5. Don't stand in front of a window.The State Department's examples reject a photo taken in front of a window: the background is not plain and not white.

Babies and wheelchair users

  1. Babies: use a white sheet.Lay your child on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with the sheet and sit your child in it. No other person can be in the photo.
  2. Wheelchair users: the head support may show.The State Department says it's okay if part of the head support is in the photo. Include a note with your application explaining that the background is not completely white because you are in a wheelchair. In PicPassed, tap "My wheelchair's head support shows".

Don't replace the background with an app

The State Department says: “Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters. We check all photos to ensure they were not digitally enhanced or altered.” Its examples mark a photo whose background was cut out with a retouching tool as unacceptable, because that changes the outline of the head, face and neck. For a photo with the wrong background, it says to fix your lighting and background and take a new photo.

That's why PicPassed never touches the background. The camera checks that the wall behind you is bright, white or grey rather than coloured, and even, and takes the photo only when it passes. It can't see every texture, such as white brick, so check that yourself.

Questions

What color should a passport photo background be?

White or off-white. Other colors, such as blue, are not accepted for a U.S. passport photo.

Is off-white okay?

Yes. The rule is white or off-white, as long as the background is plain and has no shadows.

Can I use an app to make the background white?

No. Edited photos are not accepted, and the State Department checks for digital changes. Take a new photo in front of a white wall or a white sheet.

What background does a U.S. visa or green card photo need?

A U.S. visa photo needs a plain white or off-white background. The Form I-485 instructions ask for a white to off-white background for green card photos.

Sources: Passport photos (U.S. Department of State, updated March 24, 2026); Upload a digital photo for online renewal (U.S. Department of State, updated May 4, 2026). Official rules can change; check them before you apply.

More help: How to take a passport photo at home · Passport photo with glasses · Passport photo rejected · Passport photo examples, measured · DS-160 photo upload error

Check your photo: U.S. passport photo checker · Digital passport photo for online renewal · Baby passport photo · Green card photo checker · DS-160 photo checker

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