Quick spec
| Size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height | 32–36 mm, chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or light grey |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
Australian passport and visa photos use the same 35 × 45 mm format common across much of the Asia-Pacific and Europe, with a head-height tolerance similar to the Schengen standard — tighter than the older 2×2 inch formats used by the US and India, so precise cropping matters more here than it might for those applications.
Background
The background needs to be plain white or light grey, evenly lit, with no shadow, texture, or pattern. As with most document photo standards, the most common home-photography failure is a faint shadow from off-centre lighting rather than the wrong background colour — light the subject from the front rather than the side.
Head position and expression
Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, and no head tilt. Head height, measured from the chin to the top of the head, needs to fall between 32 and 36 mm inside the 35 × 45 mm frame. Hair should not obscure the eyes or the outline of the face.
Citizenship and other application types
Passport photos and most standard visa photos share this format, but Australian citizenship applications and some other document types occasionally carry their own specific photo instructions — it's worth checking the exact requirement listed for your application type before relying on the general passport spec.
What isn't allowed
- Glasses with tinted lenses or visible glare over the eyes.
- Hats or head coverings except for religious reasons, with the full face still visible from chin to forehead.
- Uniforms or camouflage-pattern clothing.
- Digital retouching or filters of any kind.
Align to the 35 × 45 mm frame and the 32–36 mm head-height guide before you print.
Open the photo toolTaking the source photo
- Photograph against a plain white or light grey wall with even, front-facing light.
- Keep the camera at eye level, a couple of metres back using zoom rather than close-up.
- Keep a neutral expression with both eyes open and visible.
- Take a few shots so you have a choice once you start cropping to the guide frame.
Common rejection reasons, in order of frequency
- Head height outside the 32–36 mm range
- Shadow on the background
- Glasses glare or tinted lenses
- Non-neutral expression
- Photo older than 6 months
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Australian passport photo?
An Australian passport photo is 35 × 45 mm, with head height between 32 and 36 mm from chin to top of head.
Can you wear glasses in an Australian passport photo?
Only if there is no glare and the eyes are clearly visible through the lenses; many applicants remove glasses to avoid any risk of rejection.
Is the photo requirement the same for an Australian visa as for a passport?
Most Australian visa and passport photos share the same 35 × 45 mm format, but always confirm the specific requirement listed for your visa subclass or application type.
Requirements are set by the relevant Australian passport and immigration authorities and can change — this page is a practical summary rather than an official source. Confirm current detail before you submit an application.