In one of our previous blog posts, we showed you how to take a passport photo with an iPhone. You no longer need a professional studio to capture and edit passport photos. Thanks to high-definition mobile cameras and free online photo editing tools, you can get standard passport photos for free, right at your home.

Certain mandatory requirements apply to passport photos. The top priority is having a clear white background, but it is not always possible to capture a photo with a clear background.

To resolve this issue and get a clear white background for your passport photo, you can use a free background remover tool, like Sketch My Pic.

 

Why Have a White Background for Passport Size Photos?

Although some countries allow off-white or greyish shades as background colors, most countries mandate a clear white background for passport photos.

Here are some reasons why a white background is the best when submitting passport photos.

1. Improved clarity of facial features - A clear white background helps officials recognize a person’s facial features clearly when observing them face to face. White backgrounds enhance visibility and clarity for all skin tones and colors.
2. Aids Face-recognition tools - Image processing tools scan facial features by differentiating them from the background. A clear and white background helps software tools read and process passport photos clearly without confusion.
3. Universal Acceptance - passport photos with a white background can be used for several purposes, such as job applications, ID card photos, banking, etc.
4. Proper contrast and accuracy - a white background prevents any imbalance in color contrast and saturation of a photo. Thus, your facial features get the perfect highlights without glares or dullness.

 

How to make White Background for Passport Photo

Whether you use a desktop or a smartphone, several online apps help you to remove existing background and get a clear white background. We also came across how one can get a transparent background with the familiar MS Paint.

Sketch My Pic provides an easy method to change the background to white for a passport photo online. Its smart image processing algorithm accurately outlines the focused object (or the passport face) and replaces the existing background with clear white.

Follow these simple steps to instantly get a white background for your passport photo.

1. Open your preferred browser from your desktop or mobile device and open our Sketch My Pic website.
2. Choose the Background Remover menu option at the top menu.
3. Click on “Upload Image” and choose the required passport photo from your file folders. Ensure the chosen image follows the 2x2 sizing requirements and other mandates of your country’s passport photo rules.
4. View the processed image and download the resulting photo.

 

FAQs

Can the SMP Background Remover convert any picture to a passport photo?

No. Passport photos have strict mandates with respect to sizing, facial feature display, background, etc. One must manually verify and perform these checks while using any photo editing tool.

When do we remove the background from a passport photo?

Please refer to the article on how to take a passport photo and learn the prerequisites and steps. Once you have captured the required photo, you can upload it to the SMP Background Remover tool, and get a clear white background.

Is editing allowed on Passport photos?

Ideally, no! You must capture passport photos in the right dimensions without any filters or background effects. However, the background remover tool does not affect or change the original image clarity. So, it is okay to edit your passport photo to get a white background.

How do you get a white background for a passport photo offline?

While tools like SMP help in background removal online, you can use tools like MS Paint, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, etc., on your phone or desktop to get white background for passport photos.