Australia Passport Photo Requirements 2026
Written and fact-checked by the PassportLayout team · Last verified:
Official requirements from the Australian Passport Office, checked against the source on the date above.
Quick Summary
35×45 mm standard size (35–40 × 45–50 mm accepted), plain white or light grey background, neutral expression, no glasses. Face height 32–36 mm chin to crown. A guarantor must endorse one photo for paper applications.
Photo Dimensions
The Australian Passport Office accepts photos 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high. The standard print size — and the one produced by nearly all photo providers — is 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall, following the same ICAO biometric format used by the UK and EU. The photo must be a good-quality colour print on photographic paper.
Two good-quality photos are required with your application. They must be unretouched — no removal of moles, wrinkles, or scars — recent (less than 6 months old), and taken against a plain white or light grey background. The Passport Office recommends using a professional passport photo provider (post offices, photographers, chain stores with printing facilities) and advises against online passport photo services and mobile apps because of identity-fraud risk.
Face and Head Size
The face — from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head — must measure between 32 mm and 36 mm within the 45 mm height. This means the face occupies approximately 71–80% of the frame. The head must be centred and upright in the photo.
The full face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. The background must be visible above the head. Eyes must be open and clearly visible, looking directly at the camera.
Background Requirements
The background must be plain white or light grey and, per the official photo guidelines, it must contrast with your face. No patterns, gradients, other colours, or shadows are acceptable, and the photo needs uniform lighting with appropriate brightness and contrast to show your natural skin tone.
The entire background — including the corners of the photo — must be plain with no visible wall texture, lines, or objects. The subject should stand away from the background to avoid shadows, and there must be no shadows or reflections anywhere in the photo.
Expression and Pose
Anyone over 3 years old must face the camera straight on with eyes open and a neutral expression. The head must not be tilted or turned, and hair must not obscure the edges of the face. Australian passport photos must not show any expression — no smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows. For children under 3 years old, the mouth may be open, but no one else can be visible in the photo.
Glasses of any kind must not be worn unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons — the Australian Passport Office states that vision impairment alone is not an acceptable reason. If glasses are worn on medical grounds, the frames must not obscure the eyes and there must be no reflection from the lenses; a medical certificate or B-11 form may be required.
Guarantor Requirement
If you apply on a paper form, Australia requires a guarantor to endorse your photos. The guarantor must sign the back of one of the two photos in black pen and write "This is a true photo of [your full name]", as well as signing section 11 of the application form. The guarantor must be an adult Australian citizen who has known you for more than 12 months (or since birth for children under one), and must either hold a current Australian passport with at least 2 years' validity or have been on the Australian electoral roll at their current address for at least 12 months. They must not be related to you by birth or marriage, be in a de facto or registered relationship with you, or live at your address.
Online applications through the Passport Office's application portal use a referee instead — the referee does not sign anything but must be willing to confirm your identity if contacted. Passport renewals do not require a guarantor or referee at all.
Head Coverings, Jewellery and Hearing Aids
In general you should have nothing on your face or head in the photo. If you usually cover your head for religious reasons, you may wear the covering, but it must be plain without patterns (even small ones) and worn so that your entire face — from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead, plus the edges of your face on both sides — is visible.
Jewellery and piercings are allowed if they do not obscure any part of your face, especially around the eyes, mouth, and nose, and produce no reflections. Hearing aids may be worn by adults, children, and infants — but AirPods and other wireless earbuds are not considered hearing aids and must be removed.
Print Quality Requirements
The Passport Office sets specific print-quality standards for the physical photos:
- Print method: Dye sublimation — inkjet prints are not accepted
- Paper: Heavy-weight, glossy photographic paper (minimum 200 gsm)
- Colour: Good-quality colour print showing natural skin tone
- Image quality: Clear and in focus, no marks, no red-eye, no reduced resolution or graininess
- Retouching: None — skin smoothing or removing moles, wrinkles, or scars will cause rejection
Complete Specifications Table
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm standard (35–40 × 45–50 mm accepted) |
| Face height | 32–36 mm (chin to crown) |
| Background | Plain white or light grey, contrasting with the face |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open (mouth may be open under 3 years old) |
| Glasses | Not permitted (medical exception only) |
| Recency | Less than 6 months old |
| Guarantor | Paper applications: signs back of 1 photo (referee for online; none for renewals) |
| Copies needed | 2 good-quality photos |
| Print quality | Dye sublimation on glossy paper, min 200 gsm |
Common Rejection Reasons
- Background not plain white or light grey, or not contrasting with the face
- Face outside the 32–36 mm measurement range
- Guarantor endorsement missing or the guarantor not meeting requirements (paper applications)
- Smiling or non-neutral expression
- Glasses (unless medically necessary)
- Shadow, reflection, or uneven lighting on the background or face
- Retouching or skin smoothing of any kind
- Inkjet prints or paper lighter than 200 gsm
- Photo older than 6 months
- Head tilted or turned, or hair obscuring the edges of the face
Create your Australian passport photo for free
Crop to the exact 35×45 mm Australian specification, then have it printed at a photo lab or Australia Post outlet on compliant paper. No upload required.
Create your Australian passport photo — freeFrequently Asked Questions
What size is an Australian passport photo?
The Australian Passport Office accepts photos 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high; the standard print size is 35 × 45 mm. The face must measure between 32 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown.
What background is required for an Australian passport photo?
The background must be plain white or light grey and must contrast with your face. No patterns, shadows, or reflections are acceptable.
Can I wear glasses in an Australian passport photo?
No. Glasses must not be worn unless you cannot remove them for medical reasons. Vision impairment alone is not an acceptable reason. If glasses are worn for medical reasons, the frames must not obscure your eyes and there must be no reflection from the lenses.
Do I need a guarantor for my Australian passport photos?
If you apply on a paper form, a guarantor must sign the back of one photo in black pen with the words "This is a true photo of [your full name]". Online applications use a referee instead, who does not sign anything, and passport renewals need no guarantor or referee at all.
Sources
- Australian Passport Office — Passport Photos — official photo specifications (verified 7 July 2026)
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents — international biometric portrait standard