Passport photo white background
Passport photo white background rules are strict, and a grey wall in a phone photo is the usual problem. Move the lighten slider to push light greys towards white, then fit your photo and download.
Choose the document
US passport: 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 in), head 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown.
Add your photo
Include your head and shoulders. A plain light wall behind you works best.
Add a photo and it appears inside the frame, ready to drag.
Crown line 8.3 mm from the top. Chin between 33.3 and 43.3 mm.
Fit your head to the lines
Lighten the background
This pulls light greys towards white. It does not remove a busy background, so stand in front of a plain wall.
Check and download
- Look straight at the camera.
- Keep a neutral face with your mouth closed.
- Keep your eyes open and clearly visible.
- Nothing covering your face, and no hair across your eyes.
- No glasses glare. Take glasses off if you can.
- Plain, light background behind you.
- Even lighting, with no shadows on your face or the wall.
- Take off glasses and anything that hides your face.
- Use a colour photo taken in the last 6 months.
The State Department asks you not to change your photo with software, apps, filters or AI. We only crop, size and lighten it, so keep the lightening gentle.
Take your glasses off. The photo must be recent, taken in the last 6 months.
We size and crop your photo to the official measurements. The passport office decides if it is accepted, so check it against their rules.
How to take a white background passport photo at home
- 1
Take a clear photo
Stand facing a window with a plain light wall or sheet behind you. Hold the phone at eye height, or prop it up. Keep your face straight, mouth closed and eyes open. Include your head and shoulders.
- 2
Fit it to the lines
Choose US passport, add the photo, then drag and zoom until the top of your head touches the red crown line and your chin sits between the dashed lines. The frame is 51 x 51 mm.
- 3
Download and print
Press Download photo for the single file, or Download print sheet for a 6x4 inch sheet. Print the sheet at any photo kiosk at full size and cut along the thin lines.
White background passport photo size and rules
| Document | United States passport |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 in) |
| Head height, chin to crown | 25 to 35 mm |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, with no shadows, texture or lines. |
| Digital file we make | 1200 x 1200 px JPG. Square JPG. |
| Copies on a 6x4 inch sheet | 6 |
These figures come from the official guidance. Check the official rules before you apply.
Questions
Which passports need a white background?
The US asks for white or off-white. Canada asks for white or light-coloured. Australia and India ask for white or light. The UK asks for cream or light grey for printed photos.
Can you remove my background?
No. We do not remove backgrounds. The slider lightens light greys, so stand in front of a plain light wall or sheet to start with.
Why does my wall look grey?
Phones expose for your face, so a white wall often looks grey. Face a window, keep the wall evenly lit and stand away from it so you cast no shadow.
Will the lightening change my face?
A little, if you push it too far. Keep it gentle, and avoid it if the country asks for an unaltered photo, such as the US.