Can you wear a white shirt in a passport photo?
No official rule bans a white shirt, but Canada says to avoid light-coloured clothing because it can blend into the background, and India’s portal asks for dark clothing. The US, UK and Australia don’t mention clothing colour.
Rules checked on · official sources only
What each country says
| Country | Answer | Official quote | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not stated by the US Department of State. | — | travel.state.gov | |
| United Kingdom | Not stated by HM Passport Office. | — | gov.uk | |
| Canada | Not recommended. Canada says to avoid light-coloured clothing because it can blend into the background and may get your photo rejected. | Avoid wearing light-coloured clothing. It can blend into the background and may result in your photo being rejected. |
canada.ca | |
| Australia | Not stated by the Australian Passport Office. | — | passports.gov.au | |
| India | The portal says the background should be plain white and clothing (dress) should be dark coloured; white shirts are not specifically mentioned. | Background of the photograph should be plain white and the dress should be in dark colour |
passportindia.gov.in |
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Answers quote the official pages linked above. Not affiliated with any government. Final acceptance is up to the issuing authority.