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No plain background at home — it's one of the most common ID-photo problems. Your wall has a pattern, the lighting throws shadows, and hunting for a proper spot to shoot is a hassle.
The good news: the background can be fixed after shooting. With mynaphoto's background removal, a photo taken anywhere is automatically replaced with a compliant plain background.
ID photo backgrounds must be a plain, light color.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basic rule | Plain (no patterns or gradients) |
| Recommended color | White, or a light color such as light blue |
| Not allowed | Furniture/objects behind you; shadows; dark colors |
My Number Card and passport photos accept a plain white or light-colored background. Objects or shadows in the background are a leading rejection cause.
There are three reasons:
If you want to get the background right in-camera, these are the usual options.
| Method | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tape a plain white sheet or cloth to the wall | From ¥100 | The simplest fix |
| Use a white door or bare wall | Free | If you already have a suitable surface |
| Buy photographic backdrop paper | ¥500–5,000 | Frequent shooters |
| Use automatic background removal | No prep | If you don't want to be tied to a location |
If you use cloth, a quick press with an iron keeps creases from showing. If you use a wall, pick a spot where door handles and nameplates stay out of frame, and light yourself from the front so no shadow falls behind you.
The uploaded photo is analysed to separate you from the background, the background is replaced with a compliant plain color, and the image is resized to spec automatically.
Shoot anywhere, regardless of your wall
Just upload to mynaphoto.jp and background removal, sizing, and official spec checks run automatically. Choose the background color for your use, across 19 formats including My Number Card and passport.
A common worry: "will it be rejected if I didn't set up a plain background myself?"
The My Number Card face-photo checkpoints state the photo must be 「正面、無帽、無背景のもの」 — front-facing, no hat, no background — and list "shadows in the background", "patterned background" and "a chair or similar visible behind you" as defects.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets the same condition in its passport photo specifications: no background, with white recommended.
What both rules test is that the photo you submit has a plain background — not what the wall behind you looked like when you took it.
Editing your facial features or outline is a different matter entirely. Enlarging eyes or slimming your jawline causes rejection. See why My Number Card photos get rejected for detail, and check the issuing authority's rules if you are unsure.
A little care while shooting improves the cutout quality.
For lighting and background technique, see studio-quality ID photos at home.
Leave the background to us — shoot anywhere
Just upload your phone photo. The background is automatically removed and replaced with a compliant plain color.
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This article reflects official requirements as of August 2026. Background-color rules can vary by issuing authority. Please verify the latest requirements on each authority's official site.
A plain, light color. My Number Card and passport photos accept white or a light color such as light blue. The key is no objects or shadows behind you.
To keep the outline of your face clear and make identity checks reliable. Japanese official documents such as the My Number Card and passport formally require a plain, light background.
Yes. The background is automatically removed and replaced with a plain color, so your wall's color or pattern doesn't matter. You can shoot anywhere.
You can tape a plain white sheet to the wall or shoot in front of a white door. Alternatively, an automatic background-replacement service removes the need to prepare anything.
Yes. The requirement is that the submitted photo has a plain background with no shadows or patterns. Replacing the original background with a single plain color meets that condition.
Yes. Besides white and light blue, several background colors are available depending on use. For official documents, white or a light color is safest.
Yes. Because the background is replaced with a plain color, background shadows are removed. Shadows falling on your face are best avoided when shooting.