Australia Passport
Last verified 2026-10-17 against Australian Passport Office (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)Standards: ICAO Doc 9303Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 413 × 531 px
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm · 300 DPI
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- Face height
- 71–80% · target 77%
- Eye line
- 62%–74% from bottom
- File size limit
- —
Note: Unedited original required; 2 prints, 35–40 x 45–50 mm; head 32–36 mm; white or light grey background; dye-sublimation on glossy paper at least 200 gsm; glasses only with a medical exception
Dimensions
- Print size: 35–40 mm wide × 45–50 mm high. The retained 35 × 45 mm reference is within this range.
- Reference pixels: 413 × 531 px at approximately 300 DPI; this is an app reference, not a published digital-upload requirement.
- Submission format: Two good-quality color prints. The reviewed domestic adult new-passport and renewal routes require in-person lodgement, including when the form starts online.
- Paper and printing: Dye-sublimation printing on glossy paper of at least 200 gsm; inkjet prints are unsuitable.
- File size: No JPEG byte ceiling is published for these prints in the reviewed guidance. The former 2 MB app setting was not an authority upload limit.
Head position
- Head height (chin to crown): 32–36 mm
- Reference head-height fraction: Approximately 71%–80% for the retained 45 mm-high reference; the authority specifies millimetres, not this percentage band.
- Eye-line band: App reference only, not a numerical threshold published in the reviewed guidance.
- Position: Face centred, directly facing the camera, with no head tilt; the edges of the face must remain visible.
Background
- Plain white or light grey, contrasting with the face.
- Even lighting without shadows or reflections. Do not replace or brighten the background digitally.
Expression
- For applicants over three, keep eyes open and a neutral expression while facing the camera.
- Children under three may have their mouth open. No other person may appear in the photo; follow the official child guidance.
Accessories
- Remove glasses unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons; vision impairment alone is not sufficient. In an exception, frames and reflections must not obscure the eyes.
- Religious head coverings worn normally are permitted if plain and positioned to show the entire face from chin to forehead.
- Jewellery, piercings and hearing aids must not obscure the face or create reflections. Remove wireless earbuds.
Other rules
- Photo must be less than six months old and reflect current appearance.
- Submit an unedited photo without retouching, filters, skin smoothing or digital removal of shadows or marks.
- Medical exemptions may require a medical certificate or a B-11 explanation; consult the official instructions.
- Photo endorsement and guarantor/referee requirements depend on the application route. Check the new-passport or renewal checklist.
Notes
- SpecSnap provides requirements guidance for this document. Its background replacement and enhancement pipeline is unavailable, including for previously paid history entries. There is no edited preview, application export, payment or printing action for this passport.
- An original-preserving checker is not available. Matching reference dimensions does not establish authority acceptance.
- A professional photo provider is recommended by the Australian Passport Office; this is not Canada's mandatory commercial-photographer rule.
- Citizenship follows separate Home Affairs instructions. Do not infer its submission route or editing policy from passport requirements.
Sources
Can I wear glasses in my Australian passport photo?
Remove them unless you cannot do so for medical reasons. Vision impairment alone is not enough for an exception. Frames and reflections must not obscure your eyes; follow the official medical-exemption instructions.
Can I wear a head covering in the photo?
A religious head covering worn normally is permitted if it is plain and shows your entire face from the chin to the top of the forehead.
Can I smile in an Australian passport photo?
Applicants over three must face the camera with eyes open and a neutral expression. Children under three may have their mouth open; no other person may appear in the photo. Follow the official age-specific guidance.
What background does the Australian passport photo need?
Use a plain white or light grey background, with even lighting and no shadows or reflections. Do not replace or brighten it digitally.
What size and format does the Australian Passport Office require?
Provide two unedited prints, 35–40 mm wide by 45–50 mm high, with a 32–36 mm head height. Use dye-sublimation printing on glossy paper of at least 200 gsm. The reviewed domestic adult routes require prints even when starting the form online. The 413 × 531 px app reference is not a digital-upload requirement, and no 2 MB submission limit is published. SpecSnap provides guidance without generation, edited previews or export.
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