Here are the full rules for the Australian passport photo guide:1
- Size and dimensions:
- The photo must be 35mm to 40mm wide.
- The photo must be 45mm to 50mm high.
- The size of your face from chin to crown must be between 32mm and 36mm.
- General requirements:
- Recent: The photo must have been taken within the last six months.
- Color: The photo must be in color. Inkjet prints are not accepted.
- Background: The background must be plain white or light grey.
- Expression: You must have a neutral expression, no smiling, laughing, or frowning.
- Eyes: Your eyes must be open and clearly visible.
- Mouth: Your mouth must be closed.
- Hair: Your hair must be off your face so that the edges of your face are visible.
- Headwear: Headwear is not allowed except for religious or medical reasons. If you wear headwear for religious reasons, it must not cover your face.
- Jewellery: Jewellery is not allowed, except for small studs.
- Recency: Photo must be less than six (6) months old.
- Quantity of Photo: Two identical copies.
Following the Australian passport photo guide is crucial for a smooth application process and successful passport issuance. Here’s why:
- Accuracy is paramount: Your passport photo is your official international travel identification document. A photo that doesn’t meet the specifications could lead to delays or even rejection at border control. Imagine the inconvenience and frustration of having your travel plans disrupted due to a photo issue.
- Ensures seamless processing: The guide outlines specific requirements for size, background, expression, and other details. Complying with these ensures your photo can be easily scanned, verified, and integrated into your passport document, preventing delays and ensuring a smooth processing experience.
If you are planning to travel internationally and need an Australian passport, it is important to have a photo that meets the government’s requirements. Visas for Future can help you with this. Our team of experts can ensure that your passport photo adheres to all the necessary standards, giving you the peace of mind you need to embark on your adventure.
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a photo of yourself using our guidelines, send it in, and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits of using an online passport photo service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why choose us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your own photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, which will make your trip-planning process easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Dos and Don’ts for taking an Australian passport photo
Dos:
Photo Quality
- High-quality: Use a good camera or have your photo taken professionally.
- Recent: Photo must be less than 6 months old.
- Clear and focused: No blurriness, red eye, or marks.
- Correct size: 35mm-40mm wide, 45mm-50mm high, face 32mm-36mm high.
Background
- Plain: White or light grey, contrasting with your face.
- No shadows or reflections: Even lighting throughout.
Pose and Expression
- Centered: Face-centered and looking directly at the camera.
- Neutral expression: No smiling, laughing, or frowning.
- Eyes open, mouth closed: No sunglasses or hats (except religious headwear).
- Hair off face: Ears and jawline visible.
Other
- Natural skin tone: No heavy makeup or retouching.
- Neutral clothing: Avoid busy patterns or bright colors.
- Follow specific guidelines for headwear and facial jewelry.
Don’ts:
- Selfies: Not acceptable.
- Edited photos: No removal of blemishes, background, etc.
- Smiling, laughing, or frowning.
- Sunglasses, hats (except religious), or headphones.
- Busy backgrounds or clothing.
- Touching your face or neck.
- Tilting your head.
- Wearing excessive makeup or jewelry.
Correct and Incorrect Sample of Australian Passport Photos
Source: Australian Government2
How do you crop the Australian passport picture with the correct size on your own?
Using photo editing software
- Choose a photo editing software: If you have basic photo editing skills, you can use software like Photoshop, GIMP, or even your phone’s built-in photo editor.
- Open your photo: Open your digital photo in the chosen software.
- Crop and resize: Use the crop tool to select a 35mm x 45mm area. Ensure your head occupies 65-80% of the frame (32-36mm high). You might need to adjust the image size accordingly.
- Adjust background and other requirements: If necessary, adjust the background to plain white or light grey. Check if your software offers automatic adjustments for passport photo requirements.
- Save and print: Save your photo in the specified format (usually JPG) and print it on high-quality photo paper (4R size).
Remember: Editing your Australian passport photo yourself carries some risks, most notably the possibility of rejection due to inaccurate cropping or size, leading to delays and additional costs.
Steps to get an Australian passport photo Online
Here’s the step-by-step process for obtaining your passport photo through Visas for Future.
Step 1: Visit Visas for Future and click on the “Get Passport Photo now“ button.
Step 2: Fill out the order form and pay the fee.
Step 3: Upload your photo.
Step 4: Download your government-compliant passport photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smile in my passport photo Australia?
No, unfortunately, you cannot smile in your Australian passport photo. The official guidelines from the Australian Passport Office state that you must have a neutral expression, meaning no smiling, laughing, or frowning.
Why are Australian passport photos black and white?
Australian passport photos themselves are not actually black and white. However, the photo page of the new R Series passports, introduced in 2023, features a laser-engraved image that appears in grayscale. This choice is primarily driven by security advancements and aesthetics, not a shift to a black and white photos.
Can I wear makeup in Australian passport photos?
While it’s not strictly prohibited, they recommend minimal or natural-looking makeup that doesn’t alter your natural features excessively. This is because the photo aims for accurate facial recognition and heavy makeup can potentially obscure details or create inconsistencies.
- Australian Passport Office. (2018, March 5). Photo Requirements. Australian Passport Office. https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/photo-requirements#:~:text=Photos%20have%20to%20be%2035mm,with%20a%20minimum%20of%2032mm [↩]
- Australian Passport Office. (2018, March 5). Photo Requirements. Australian Passport Office. <https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/photo-requirements> [↩]
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Cite this article
MLA Style
Gajes, Apple. "Australia Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/australia-passport-photo-size-in-pixels/. Accessed on 14 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Gajes, Apple. "Australia Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 14, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/australia-passport-photo-size-in-pixels/.