Australia Passport photo requirements

Australian passport photo requirements, in plain English

The Australian passport photo follows the strict ICAO biometric standard: a neutral face, no glasses, and a plain light background. Every rule below comes straight from the Australian Passport Office (part of DFAT), which publishes the official photo guidelines.

Size, head height, and position

The printed photo must be 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high. Within that frame your face must measure 32–36 mm from chin to crown. Your face must be centred and looking straight at the camera, your head not tilted in any direction, and the edges of your face clearly visible. Getting the head height right is the single most common thing people miss — a photo that is the right outer size but with a face that is too small or too large will be rejected.

Expression — neutral, no smiling

The Australian passport does not allow smiling. Anyone over 3 years old must have a neutral expression with eyes open and mouth closed. The one concession is for children under 3, who are allowed to have their mouth open. When in doubt, a relaxed, neutral face with the mouth gently closed is always safe.

Glasses — take them off

You must not wear glasses in the photo. The only exception is a medical one: if you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, the frames must not obscure your eyes, there must be no reflection from the lenses, and you must include a medical certificate with your application.

Head coverings and hats

In general you should have nothing on your face or head. Hats and caps are not allowed. Exceptions are made for religious head coverings and medical devices, provided your full face remains visible and the edges of your face are clear.

Lighting, shadows, and red-eye

Lighting must be uniform, with appropriate brightness and contrast to show your natural skin tone, and the image must be clear and in-focus. The photo must have no shadows and no reflections, and no marks and no red-eye. Use diffused light or position your flash to avoid the red-eye reflection.

Background

Use a plain white or light background that contrasts with your face. Snapassport standardises your background to a compliant colour automatically, so a slightly off-colour or busy wall is corrected for you.

Babies and children

The child must be alone in the photo — no one else can be visible, and no toys, dummies, or other objects. Children under 3 may have their mouth open, but all the other rules (plain light background, nothing on the face or head, face centred) still apply.

Recency and format

Submit a recent colour photo less than 6 months old, clear and unedited. If printing, use high-gloss, heavy-weight photo paper.