Adhering to Australian passport photo requirements is a must in passport application. There have been many cases where passport applications have been rejected or canceled because of invalid photos, which causes your work to be delayed and time-consuming.
This article will provide you with information about the Australian passport photo guidelines so you can prepare a satisfactory application. When it comes to requirements for Australian passport photo, you need to pay attention to the following basics:
- Passport photo size
- The quality of passport photo
- Posture and facial expression
- Outfit and accessories
Requirements for Australian passport photo
Below are detailed requirements compiled from The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian government.
| Requirement | Specifications | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Size | 35mm to 40mm wide by 45mm to 50mm high | |
| Head Size in Photo | 32mm to 36mm (bottom of chin to crown of head) | Crown of head is the top of your skull |
| Print Quality | High-quality color gloss prints, recent ( <6 months) | No inkjet prints |
| Background | Plain white or light grey | Must contrast with your face |
| Facial Expression | Neutral (not smiling, laughing, or frowning) | Easiest for border systems to match you |
| Eyes | Open, clearly visible | No red-eye |
| Glasses | Not permitted (unless medically necessary) | Must have medical certificate if worn |
| Headwear | Not permitted (unless for religious purposes) | Must show full face |
| Lighting | Uniform, no shadows or reflections | Should show natural skin tone |
| Image Alterations | No retouching allowed | Scars, moles, etc. must remain visible |
Australian passport photo size
The size of an Australian passport photo must be between 35mm and 40mm in width and between 45mm and 50mm in height. Photo size is one of the Australian passport photo specifications that you need to pay special attention to so you can adjust your photos to meet the requirements.
The size of your head (from the bottom of your chin to the top of the head) must be from 32mm to 36mm. The appropriate size ratio between your head and the photo is given so that the features of your face are clearly shown in the photo.
Photo quality
The quality of passport photo needs to ensure the following factors of Australian passport photo requirements:
- Two passport photos must be identical and be taken less than six months before applying.
- Photo color is of good quality.
- Passport photo is produced by a dye sublimation printer, not an inkjet one.
- Do not retouch the photo including removal of background, moles, wrinkles or scars.
- The photo must be clear, and focused without any marks or “red eye”.
- The photo background needs to be plain white or light gray that contrasts with your face.
- The photos have uniform lighting and appropriate brightness and contrast to reflect the natural skin tone.
- Shadows or reflections on the photo will be rejected.
Posing and expression
Posture and facial expressions are specified as follows in Australian passport digital photo requirements.
- The face must be in the center of the photo, no tilted head.
- You look straight to the camera, not looking away.
- The eyes are open, the mouth is closed.
- Keep your hair neat and tidy, don’t let it cover your face.
- Keep a neutral facial expression, not smiling, laughing or frowning.
- To infants (under 3 years old), open mouth is accepted. No other person or object can be visible in the photo (for example: toys, parents’ hands, etc)
Outfit and accessories
You need to pay attention to a few requirements regarding costumes and accessories as follows:
Head coverings: Head coverings are not accepted in the passport photo, except for religious reasons. In this case, head coverings must be plain and non-pattern (even small patterns). You must show your full face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. It must also be possible to see the edges of your face on either side.
Jewellry and piercings: Jewellery is allowed but does not cover any part of the face, specially the area around your eyes, nose and mouth. No reflection from studs or rings is possible.
Glasses: Glasses are not accepted in the passport photos. If you are required to wear glasses for medical reasons, you need to make sure that the frames do not cover the eye area and that there are no reflections on the lenses. Note: Vision impairment is not accepted as a reason to wear glasses in a passport photo.
Hearing aids: If you typically wear hearing aids, you may wear them in your passport photo. This is applicable to both adults and children as well as newborns.
Also read:
Take your own passport photo Australia
If you don’t have time to go to a studio to take photos for your passport photo, you can still take your Australian passport photo on your own. Below are detailed instructions to produce your own passport photo at home while still following the Australian passport photo requirements.
Step 1: Gears
The first step is to prepare the necessary supplies. To have a high quality photo, you need to prepare a good quality camera. Nowadays, phone cameras can also produce high-resolution photos. So you can easily take passport photos with your personal phone. You can also use a personal digital camera to get high quality photos.
In case you have to take photos on your own, you should prepare a tripod to be able to hold the camera steady, prevent shaking, and easily adjust the camera to suit your eye level.
Step 2: Choose background and lighting
You need to choose a suitable background and adjust the lighting accordingly to Australian passport photo guidelines. You should choose plain, light-colored walls like white or gray-white to highlight your face. If you can’t find a plain background, you can hang a suitable colored fabric as the background.
You should choose a place with adequate lighting, ensuring uniform lighting on the photo. Avoid locations that create shadows or reflections on glasses or jewelry. You can adjust the seating position or light direction to avoid the above.
Step 3: Take photos
After you have fully set up the necessary elements to be ready to take photos, the next step is to take photos.
Before taking the photo, you need to wear polite clothes and remove accessories that are not allowed in your passport photo. Be sure to arrange your hair neatly and not cover your face. Next, you sit in the prepared position and take a portrait with a neutral facial expression.
Step 4: Edit Australia passport photo by passportmaker.ai
Once you have a satisfactory image file, you will edit the image with the PassportMaker tool. PassportMaker will help you resize photos to the appropriate size according to Australian passport photo requirements.
Besides, the tool will remove the background and replace it with a white background. You can also customize the background color. So you don’t need to worry too much about choosing a background for photography.
When editing Australia passport photo by Passport Maker, you will go through the following steps:
- Select country and type of document
- Upload the photo
- Generate the photo
- Edit background and download
FAQs
What do you write on a passport photo Australia?
You do not write anything on the front of the Australian passport photos. But you may need to write your full name and birthdate on the back of one of the passport photos.
Can I smile in my passport photo Australia?
You can not smile when taking a passport photo. According to the requirements for Australian passport photos, you need to keep a neutral facial expression with a closed mouth. Smiling or laughing is not acceptable.
Can you wear makeup in passport photos Australia?
You can wear makeup in passport photos Australia. However, your makeup must not be dramatic, not changing facial details or covering scars or identifying features. Your makeup needs to be as natural as possible and keep a neutral look.
Can you wear glasses in passport photo Australia?
You can not wear glasses, except for medical reasons. In this case, you must avoid the reflection on the glasses lenses.
Who can verify passport photos Australia?
You can verify Australian passport photos by a professional passport photo provider such as:
- Post offices
- Professional photographers
- Large chain stores with printing facilities
- Many camera stores
- Some pharmacies and chemists
- Other established reputable businesses
