ID Photos

ID Photo Background Color Rules: White, Blue, Red or Grey?

White, blue, red or grey? ID photo background rules for the US, UK, Schengen, UAE and China. Preview free — HD download $1, 300-DPI print sheet $2

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White — The Global Default

  • United States: plain white or off-white, no shadows
  • China passport: pure white per GA/T 1162-2014 (33×48mm, glossy paper)
  • UAE (ICP): white, high quality, no shadows or reflections
  • Japan: white or off-white, plain
  • India passport: white or off-white — but note the OCI exception below

Light Grey — UK, Schengen & Australia

The UK accepts a plain light-coloured background, including light shades of white, cream and light grey; photographer guidance recommends 5–10% grey. Schengen visa photos follow the EU Visa Code: plain light background, light grey recommended. Australia asks for plain light grey; New Zealand accepts white or light-coloured with strong contrast to the face.

China's Blue / White / Red System

Chinese domestic ID photos (一寸/二寸) commonly come in three standard backgrounds — blue (#438EDB), white (#FFFFFF) and red (#FF0000) — and which one you need depends on the document.

  • White: passports, ID cards (身份证), driving licences, most government documents
  • Blue: graduation certificates, resumes, work IDs, many exam registrations (国考 accepts blue only)
  • Red: marriage registration, some insurance and union documents
  • Sky blue (天蓝 #CCE9FC): special cases such as 出入境证件 and the national computer rank exam (全国计算机等级考试); 学信网 uses a darker blue (#1A75CF)

Exceptions to Watch

  • India OCI card: officially requires a plain light-coloured background — NOT white
  • Qatar passport: blue background (globally rare), 38×48mm
  • UK: any plain light colour with clear contrast; photographer guidance recommends light grey or cream
  • Canada: plain white or light-coloured, and avoid white clothing that merges with the background

Sources

Sources: U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html), verified 2026-07-17; GOV.UK — Guidance for photographers (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/passport-photos-guide-for-photographers/guidance-for-photographers), verified 2026-07-17; EU Visa Code Reg (EC) No 810/2009 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32009R0810), verified 2026-07-17; UAE ICP (https://icp.gov.ae/en/faq/), verified 2026-07-18; Bureau of Immigration / MHA — OCI Photo Specs (https://ociservices.gov.in/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf), verified 2026-07-18; 中国领事服务网 (https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/), verified 2026-07-17.

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FAQ

What background colour do I need for a US passport photo?
Plain white or off-white with no shadows, patterns or texture.
一寸照片用蓝底还是白底？
取决于用途：护照、身份证、驾照用白底；毕业证、简历、多数考试报名用蓝底；结婚登记等用红底。拿不准时先查办理机构的要求。
Can I change my photo's background colour digitally?
Only where the authority allows digital processing — strict authorities (US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ) ban background replacement. For flexible uses like Chinese resumes and exam registrations, our AI background replacement handles blue/white/red cleanly.