AUSTRALIA PASSPORT PHOTO REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Follow these key rules to make sure your photo is accepted.
DIMENSIONS
Photo size: 35 × 45 mm
Head size: 32 – 36 mm
FACE POSITION & SIZE
Keep your head centered with even space around.
BACKGROUND
Important Note
Photos must be recent (taken within last 6 months) and accurately represent your current appearance. Glasses, hats, and heavy shadows are not allowed.
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Quick reference: Australia passport photo specifications
Before submitting your application via Passport Portal or paper, ensure your photo meets these exact parameters.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size (Paper) | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
| Digital resolution | 827 × 1063 px @ 600 DPI |
| Face height | 32 – 36 mm (71–80% of total height) |
| File format & size | JPEG, 70 KB – 3.5 MB |
| Background colour | Light Gray |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses policy | Not permitted (Medical exception only) |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Official Australia passport photo dimensions
For online passport applications lodged via Passport Portal (the primary submission method for over 99% of applicants), Australian Home Affairs specifies a preferred digital resolution of 1200 × 1600 px (35 × 45 mm at 300 DPI) and a JPEG file size between 70 KB – 2 MB. Your face from chin to crown must occupy 71–80% of total vertical height (32 – 36 mm).
If you are required to submit a physical paper application form in person at an AVAC, Home Affairs guidance accepts printed photos between 35 mm and 40 mm wide by 45 mm to 50 mm high. The standard cropped size of 35 × 45 mm sits squarely within this paper specification range.
Common Misconception (Paper Lodgements)
Many third-party sites incorrectly quote paper photo height as 40 mm. The official paper minimum height is 45 mm (range: 45–50 mm). Note that this physical paper rule only applies if you submit a paper application form at an AVAC — online Passport Portal applications only require the 1200 × 1600 px digital upload standard above.
Australia passport photo size in mm, cm, and inches
| Unit | Width | Height | Face height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 35 mm | 45 mm | 32 – 36 mm |
| Centimetres (cm) | 3.5 cm | 4.5 cm | 3.2–3.6 cm |
| Inches (in) | 1.38 in | 1.77 in | 1.26–1.42 in |
| Pixels (px @ 300 DPI) | 827 px | 1063 px | 755–850 px |
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Digital Passport Portal vs. physical paper lodgements
Over 99% of Australian passport applications are lodged online via Passport Portal, which requires a single digital JPEG file upload. Physical printed photos are required only in the rare instance that you lodge a paper passport application form at an Australian Passport Application Centre (AVAC). The facial biometric and background rules are identical for both methods; only the file format differs.
| Aspect | Print (paper form) | Digital (Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm | 827 × 1063 px |
| Format | Colour print on photo paper | JPEG (70 KB – 3.5 MB) |
| Background | Light Gray | Light Gray |
| Resolution | Min 600 DPI | 827 × 1063 px (600 DPI) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed | Neutral, mouth closed |
Background requirements for Australia passport photos
The background must be neutral or light grey, plain, and evenly lit with no shadows, patterns, gradients, or objects. It must contrast clearly with your face, hair, and clothing. Do not use a white wall with visible texture, a coloured wall, or a background removed and replaced digitally — retouching of any kind is not permitted.
Some passport-centre and Passport Portal checklists describe the background as white or light, while Home Affairs citizenship guidance specifies neutral or light grey. Either a very light grey or plain white is generally accepted in practice, but check the exact wording in your portal before submitting.
Face position, expression, and lighting requirements
Your face must be centred in the frame, looking directly into the camera lens. Ears do not need to be visible, but the edges of your face from chin to crown and temple to temple must be clear and unobstructed. Hair should be kept away from your eyes and face outline. Eyes must be fully open with no hair covering them. Your mouth must be closed with a neutral, relaxed expression — no smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows.
Lighting must be uniform. There should be no shadows on your face, under your chin, or on the background. Your natural skin tone must be correctly represented, with no areas that are overly bright or dark. Avoid direct flash, which causes red-eye and harsh highlights. Use diffused natural window light or two balanced artificial sources at equal height on each side of your face.
Glasses policy for Australia passport photos
Glasses are not permitted in Australian passport photos under current Home Affairs policy. The only exception is a verified medical reason — if you cannot remove your glasses, you must provide a signed certificate from a registered medical practitioner that includes the practitioner's full name, registration number, practice address, and phone number.
If medically exempt, glasses must be untinted (unless medically required), frames must not obscure the eyes, and there must be no lens reflections or glare in the photo. Note that poor eyesight alone is not an acceptable medical reason.
Australia passport photo checklist: do's and don'ts
Double check these common pitfalls to ensure your photo isn't delayed or rejected.
Do
- Use a neutral or light grey plain background that clearly contrasts with your face
- Ensure your face is centred, forward-facing, and fully visible from chin to crown
- Keep your eyes fully open and looking directly at the camera
- Maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed
- Use even, natural lighting with no shadows on the face or background
- Include the tops of your shoulders and upper chest
- Ensure hair does not cover the edges of your face or obscure your eyes
- Use a JPEG file between 70 KB – 2 MB for online Passport Portal submission
- Have the photo taken within the last 6 months
- Wear everyday clothing appropriate for the season
Don't
- Wear glasses (unless you have a verified medical reason with a signed certificate)
- Smile, tilt or turn your head, or close your eyes
- Use a coloured, patterned, or dark background
- Retouch, filter, or digitally alter the photo in any way
- Submit a scan or a photo of a printed photo
- Upload a file under 70 KB or above 2 MB
- Wear hats, beanies, or fashion headwear (religious coverings excepted)
- Allow hair, jewellery, or clothing to cover your eyes or face edges
- Use a photo older than 6 months
- Use a black-and-white or heavily compressed image
How to take a correct Australia passport photo at home (step-by-step)
Following these six steps will produce a photo that meets the official requirements for both paper and digital submissions without needing to visit a professional studio.
Choose the right background
Stand or sit in front of a plain neutral or light grey wall. Ensure the surface is evenly lit so there are no shadows behind you. The background must clearly contrast with your skin tone and hair.
Set up lighting
Use natural daylight from a large window positioned to the side. If indoor, place two light sources at equal height on either side of your face. Avoid direct flash — it causes red-eye and harsh highlights.
Position yourself correctly
Face the camera directly. Keep your head upright, not tilted or turned. Your face should fill the frame with shoulders visible at the bottom. Stand roughly 45–60 cm from the camera.
Take the photo
Open your eyes fully and look straight into the lens. Keep a neutral expression — mouth closed, no smile or frown. Remove glasses before shooting. Ask someone else to take the photo if possible.
Crop and size the image
For Passport Portal online submissions (standard method), resize to 1200 × 1600 px (35 × 45 mm) and export as a JPEG between 70 KB – 2 MB. If lodging a physical paper application form at an AVAC, crop to 35–40 mm wide by 45–50 mm high (commonly 35 × 45 mm).
Check before submitting
Verify face height is 32 – 36 mm from chin to crown, background is plain and shadow-free, no glasses, eyes open, neutral expression, and the JPEG file is within 70 KB – 2 MB.
Common Australia passport photo rejection reasons in 2026
Home Affairs automated processing checks photo dimensions, face position, and file quality automatically. These are the most frequent causes of rejection or return for applicants:
Wrong crop height
Cropping to 35 × 40 mm instead of using the official 45–50 mm height range (for paper forms) or 1200 × 1600 px (for Passport Portal digital uploads).
Scan of a printed photo
Uploading a scanned print or a phone picture taken of another photo fails quality checks. The digital file must be the original digital export.
File size out of range
Files below 70 KB are over-compressed; files above 2 MB will fail to upload. Check file size before submission.
Incorrect background colour
Coloured, patterned, or dark backgrounds are rejected. Use a neutral or light grey surface with no shadows.
Glasses in the photo
Glasses are not permitted unless you hold a signed medical certificate. Even clear frames with lens glare cause rejection.
Non-neutral expression
Smiling, open mouth, raised eyebrows, tilted head, or closed eyes all trigger rejection by automated face-check software.
Photo older than 6 months
Australian Home Affairs requires a recent likeness. Use a photo taken within the past 6 months.
Hair or accessories obscuring the face
Hair covering the forehead, temples, or eyes, and large earrings creating shadows, are common rejection triggers.
Australia passport photo requirements for babies and children
Children of all ages — including newborns — need their own passport photo and cannot share a photo with a parent or guardian. The child must be photographed alone, with no other person, hand, toy, pacifier, chair back, or object visible in the frame.
For infants under 3 years of age, an open mouth is acceptable because it is difficult to close. For children aged 3 and over, the standard requirements apply: mouth closed, eyes open, neutral expression. If photographing a newborn who cannot support their own head, lay them on a white or light grey sheet from above to keep hands out of frame.
Religious head coverings in Australia passport photos
Religious head coverings are permitted provided they meet all of the following conditions: the covering must be plain material with no patterns (including small patterns); your full face must remain visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead; both sides of the face — including the outer eye corners — must be visible; and the covering must cast no shadows on your face or the background.
Fashion hats, beanies, caps, and headwear worn for non-religious reasons are not permitted.
Official sources
These pages are the authoritative references for Australian passport and citizenship photo requirements. Always cross-check against the portal or appointment checklist specific to your passport subclass.
Frequently asked questions: Australia passport photo 2026
What is the Australia passport photo size requirement in 2026?
For online submissions through Passport Portal (the standard digital path for almost all applicants), upload a JPEG file between 70 KB – 2 MB, with a preferred resolution of 1200 × 1600 px (35 × 45 mm). Your face from chin to crown must measure 32 – 36 mm (71–80%). If submitting a paper application form in person at an AVAC, physical printed photos must measure between 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high.
Is a 35 × 45 mm photo accepted for an Australia passport?
Yes. A 35 × 45 mm crop is the standard practical size and sits squarely within the official paper-photo range of 35–40 mm wide by 45–50 mm high. For Passport Portal online uploads, this corresponds to 1200 × 1600 pixels.
What is the Australia passport photo size in cm and inches?
The physical photo range is 3.5–4.0 cm wide by 4.5–5.0 cm high (approximately 1.38–1.57 inches wide by 1.77–1.97 inches high). The standard 35 × 45 mm crop is 3.5 × 4.5 cm (1.38 × 1.77 inches).
What is the Australia passport photo size in pixels?
Australian Home Affairs specifies a preferred resolution of 1200 × 1600 px (35 × 45 mm @ 300 DPI) for Passport Portal digital uploads. Ensure the JPEG file size is between 70 KB – 2 MB.
Can the Australia passport photo background be white?
Official Home Affairs and citizenship guidance specifies a neutral or light grey background. Some passport-centre and Passport Portal checklists describe it as white or light. In practice, plain off-white or light grey is accepted.
Are Australia tourist passport and student passport photo requirements different?
The core specifications are identical across most passport subclasses (subclass 600, 500, working holiday, etc.): recent colour JPEG photo, 1200 × 1600 px digital resolution, neutral expression, no glasses, plain background. Always check your portal checklist for subclass-specific instructions.
Do I need a 2×2 inch photo for an Australia passport?
No. A 2×2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square format is a US passport standard. Australian passport photos use portrait format: 35 × 45 mm (or 1200 × 1600 px digital).
Should an Australia passport photo be matte or glossy?
Australia passport applications submitted online via Passport Portal are digital-only, so paper finish is not applicable. In the rare case where you are instructed to submit physical paper photos at an AVAC, heavy-weight glossy paper with dye-sublimation printing is recommended.
What should I wear for an Australian passport photo?
Wear everyday clothing that contrasts with the light background. Avoid white or very pale tops that merge with the background, uniforms, camouflage, or anything that obscures the face or neck. Modest religious dress is allowed provided the face from chin to crown remains visible.
Can babies have an open mouth in an Australia passport photo?
Yes. For infants under 3 years of age, an open mouth is acceptable. No other person, hand, toy, or object should appear in the frame. The infant must still be photographed against a plain background.
Can I wear glasses in an Australia passport photo?
No. Glasses are not permitted in Australian passport or passport photos under current guidance. The only exception is a verified medical reason supported by a signed certificate from a registered medical practitioner.
Can I smile in an Australia passport photo?
No. You must maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes fully open. Facial expressions, including smiling, are detected by automated face-recognition software and will trigger rejection.
How recent must an Australia passport photo be?
The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. It should reflect your current appearance.
Can I use an online photo maker for an Australia passport?
You can use an online tool to crop, resize, and check the file specifications. Always verify the output matches your Passport Portal portal checklist.
What is the file size limit for an Australia passport photo uploaded to Passport Portal?
The file must be a JPEG between 70 KB – 2 MB. Files below 70 KB are likely over-compressed and will be rejected. Files above 2 MB will fail to upload.
Are religious head coverings allowed in an Australia passport photo?
Yes, provided the covering is plain material without patterns, casts no shadow on the face or background, and your full face from chin to forehead — including both side edges — remains visible. Ears do not need to be visible.
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