Australian passport photo maker

Australian passport photo requirements

Australian passport photo requirements

Print size	35–40 mm wide x 45–50 mm high (the tool prints 35 x 45 mm)
Head height (chin to top of head)	32–36 mm
Background	Plain white or light gray, unedited, in contrast to your face, with no shadows
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Not allowed
Head covering	Allowed if it covers no part of your face (no hair or covering across it)
How recent	Taken in the last 6 months

• 2 identical color photos (bring 4 in case one is rejected for scratches or dust); name on the back of one photo when you renew by mail
• Take the photos at a photographer who knows the Australian rules; do not use a photo booth
• High-quality, heavy-weight glossy photo paper (at least 200 gsm), printed by a photographic process, a dye-sublimation printer or a professional inkjet printer; no ordinary home inkjet prints, no heavy back-printing
• True likeness: no retouching; only brightness and contrast may be adjusted; moles, wrinkles and scars must not be removed; no red-eye editing
• No glasses since July 1, 2018; glasses only for a medical reason, with a medical certificate signed by a medical practitioner, frames clear of the eyes and no reflections
• Whole face visible: no hair or head covering across the face; permanent facial piercings must not reflect
• Some applications need a guarantor: on the overseas form (PC8) the guarantor writes "This is a true photo of [full name]" on the back of one photo and signs it in black pen; renewals (PC7) need no guarantor

Official source: Australian Passport Office — Passport photo capture guidelines (camera operator guidelines, published by the Australian High Commission, Islamabad)

Australian passport photo rules in short

The Australian Passport Office is strict about photos, and a photo that does not meet the rules delays your application: you may be asked for a new one when you lodge it or while it is being assessed. You need two identical color photos that are:

• 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high, with your face from chin to crown 32–36 mm;
• taken in the last 6 months, in focus, with no marks or red eye;
• against a plain white or light gray background that contrasts with your face, with no shadows on your face or behind you;
• with a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera, and your head straight (not tilted up, down or to the side);
• without glasses (medical exception only) and with nothing across your face: no hair and no head covering over it;
• not retouched: no smoothing, no removed moles or scars, no edited background.

How to take an Australian passport photo at home

1. Use a plain white or light gray wall with nothing on it, and stand about half a meter in front of it so your shadow does not fall on it.
2. Light your face evenly from the front, for example facing a window. Avoid side light and flash reflections.
3. Take off your glasses and move your hair away from your face. Head coverings are fine as long as they do not cover any part of your face.
4. Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.2 to 1.5 meters away, at your eye level. Zoom in a little rather than standing close, so your face is not distorted.
5. Look straight at the camera with a neutral face, mouth closed and eyes open.
6. Upload the photo above. The tool crops it to 35 x 45 mm, sizes your head to 34 mm and checks every rule it can measure.

What the tool checks for an Australian passport

The tool measures your head from chin to crown against 32–36 mm on the 35 x 45 mm frame, and checks that your face is centered and straight, your eyes are open, your mouth is closed, and the photo is sharp, evenly lit and well exposed. It checks that the background is plain and white or light gray, but it does not replace it: the Passport Office asks for an unedited background, so the tool keeps your original wall and only crops, scales and straightens. It also asks you to confirm that you are not wearing glasses and that nothing covers your face.

Common reasons Australian passport photos are rejected

• Glasses, even clear ones, without a medical certificate.
• Smiling or an open mouth (except for children under three).
• Shadows on the face or background, uneven light, or a photo that is too light or too dark.
• Head angle: tilted up, down or to the side, or not facing the camera.
• Hair or a head covering across the face, hiding its edges.
• Retouching: removed moles or wrinkles, beauty filters, edited red eye or background.
• Poor prints: home inkjet prints, thin paper, heavy printing on the back, scratches or dust.

Printing your Australian passport photos

Use Download print sheet with the 10 x 15 cm size (6 x 4 in). It places six 35 x 45 mm photos on one sheet at true size, with cut guides. Order the sheet as a normal glossy photo print at a photo lab or photo kiosk; lab prints are made by a photographic process on heavy photo paper, which is what the Passport Office asks for. Do not print it on a home inkjet printer, and print it at 100% scale with no border or cropping. Our Australian passport photo cost page compares print and photo prices.

The Australian High Commission in London warns that Australian photos are different from UK ones and says not to use a photo booth. A UK passport photo has a smaller head (29–34 mm) and a cream or gray background, so do not reuse one.

Photos of babies and children

Every child needs their own passport and their own photos. Photos of babies and toddlers must meet the same rules, but children under three may have their mouth open. No other person or object may be in the photo: no supporting hands, no toys and no dummy. Lay a baby on a plain white sheet and take the photo from above, or seat an older child on a lap with a white cloth over the adult. Our baby passport photo guide has step-by-step tips.

Frequently asked questions

What size is an Australian passport photo?

Australian passport photos are 35 to 40 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high, and your face from chin to crown must measure 32 to 36 mm. In inches that is about 1.4 to 1.6 inches wide and 1.8 to 2 inches high. The tool makes the smallest size, 35 x 45 mm, which photo labs and cutters handle easily.

Can I wear glasses in an Australian passport photo?

No. Since July 1, 2018, glasses are not allowed in Australian passport photos. The only exception is a medical reason, such as severe light sensitivity after eye surgery, and then you need a medical certificate signed by a medical practitioner, the frames must not cover your eyes and there must be no reflections.

Can I print Australian passport photos at home?

Not on an ordinary home inkjet printer. The Passport Office asks for high-quality, heavy-weight glossy prints of at least 200 gsm, made by a photographic process, a dye-sublimation printer or a professional inkjet printer. Take the print sheet from this tool to a photo lab or photo kiosk instead.

How many passport photos do I need?

You need two identical color photos taken in the last six months. Australian embassies suggest bringing four, because photos are sometimes rejected for scratches, dust or marks when they are scanned, and unused photos are returned with your new passport.

Does someone need to sign the back of my photo?

Only for some applications. On the overseas application form (PC8), your guarantor writes that the photo is a true photo of you, with your full name, and signs it in black pen. Adults renewing with the simplified form (PC7) need no guarantor, but should write their full name on the back of one photo.

Can I smile in my Australian passport photo?

No. You need a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open, looking straight at the camera. Children under three are allowed to have their mouth open, but the rest of the rules still apply. The tool checks your expression and flags a smile or an open mouth before you print.

Can I edit my passport photo or change the background?

No. The background must be plain white or light gray and unedited, and the photo must be a true likeness. Only brightness and contrast may be adjusted; moles, wrinkles and scars must not be removed. That is why this tool keeps your own background and only crops, sizes and straightens the photo.

Can I use this photo to renew my passport online?

The Passport Office's online renewal collects your photo with a photo code from a participating photo provider, so a file from this tool cannot be uploaded there. Check the current process on passports.gov.au. For paper applications at a post office or embassy, printed photos from this tool are fine if they meet the rules.

Sources

1. Australian Passport Office — Passport photo capture guidelines (camera operator guidelines, published by the Australian High Commission, Islamabad) (opened September 30, 2026)
2. Australian Consulate-General Ho Chi Minh City (DFAT) — Australian passport photos guidelines (updated June 30, 2026) (opened September 30, 2026)
3. Australian Embassy Denmark (DFAT) — Passports: frequently asked questions (opened September 30, 2026)
4. Australian Embassy Abu Dhabi (DFAT) — Passports FAQ (opened September 30, 2026)
5. Australian Embassy Seoul (DFAT) — Adult passport application: photos and the no-glasses policy (opened September 30, 2026)
6. Australian High Commission London (DFAT) — Adult passport renewal by post (opened September 30, 2026)

Last checked: September 30, 2026

passportvisapic.com is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority makes the final decision on every photo.