Australian Passport
Australia
35×45 mm target within DFAT ranges (35–40 × 45–50 mm), face 32–36 mm chin to crown, plain white or light background.
Last reviewed:
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Example photo guidance
Australian Passport — key specifications
At-a-glance summary of the official Australia photo template. Every value below is enforced automatically when you upload your image.
| Physical size | 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 413 × 531 px (300 DPI) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Max file size | 3584 KB (JPEG) |
| Head coverage | 70–80% of photo height (ICAO-aligned) |
| Print sheet | 4x6 · 8 |
Requirements
Check dimensions and official rules on this page.
- Physical: 35mm × 45mm
- Digital: 413–413px × 531–531px
- Max file size: 3584 KB
Under 6 months old, colour, neutral expression (3+), no retouching, even lighting, plain light background contrasting with the face.
Australian Passport Office — ICAO-aligned photo spec
The Australian Passport Office (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) publishes photo guidelines that adopt ICAO Doc 9303 framing for the standard 35 × 45 mm size with a plain white background. Rules updated November 2023 prohibit any cosmetic-AI editing.
Why use this Australian Passport tool
- $3.99Final photo + 4×6 print sheet. No subscription. Studios typically charge $15 – $30 for the same output.
- Free previewYou only pay once a watermarked preview confirms the crop, background, and biometric framing meet the spec.
- Refund if non-compliantIf our output fails the issuing-authority checklist, we refund — see our refund policy.
Common reasons Australian Passport photos are rejected
Issuing authorities reject submissions that miss any of the items below. Our tool automatically corrects crop, background, and dimensions, but you still control the original capture — review this list before you upload.
- wrong_size_or_face_height
- background_not_plain_white_or_light
- shadows_or_red_eye
- hair_obscuring_face_edges
- expression_not_neutral
- inkjet_print_or_low_quality
- retouching_or_filters
Australian passport photo rejection patterns from APO automated review
The Australian Passport Office (APO, under DFAT) operates an automated photo compliance check on its online renewal portal. APO reports the rejection rate has dropped from ~22% in 2018 to ~12% in 2025 as the automated checker has improved and user familiarity has grown.
The current top failure mode is shadow on the background wall — particularly common in indoor home captures during Australia's high-sun seasons when users shoot in cooler indoor light without enough fill.
- Shadow on the background wall — most common at-home capture failure
- Background colour outside the plain white range (cream, off-white rejected)
- Photo taken more than 6 months ago
- Head coverage outside the 70 – 80% band
- Glasses worn (banned in 2017)
- Smile or visible teeth
- Hair covering the eyebrows or eyes
- Photo resolution below 900 × 1200 pixels
APO submission pathways and Australia Post passport facilities
Three submission channels:
- Online renewal (passports.gov.au) — adult renewals where the previous passport was issued after 1 September 2010, photo uploaded as JPEG, automated compliance check before payment, processing 3 weeks
- Australia Post passport interview — for first-time adult passports, child passports, and renewals not eligible for online. 1,800+ Australia Post outlets accept passport interviews. Bring 2 printed 35 × 45 mm photos
- Australian embassies and consulates abroad — for Australians outside the country. Same 35 × 45 mm spec applies globally
Australia, NZ, UK — interchangeable photo standards
Australia, New Zealand, and the UK use very similar passport photo standards — all 35 × 45 mm with ICAO Doc 9303 framing. The only minor variance is background colour preference:
- Australia — plain white preferred, light grey accepted with a note that it can fail at the automated check
- New Zealand — plain white only; light grey is rejected
- United Kingdom — plain light grey or cream preferred; plain white accepted
- A single capture against plain white works for all three. A capture on light grey works for UK only — capture white for maximum reusability across Commonwealth applications
Recent Australian passport changes (2023 – 2026)
Material updates in the last 30 months Australian applicants should know:
- September 2023 — passport application fee increased to A$346 (10-year adult passport)
- January 2024 — automated photo compliance checker upgraded to flag AI-generated faces; legitimate AI background replacement still accepted
- November 2024 — child passport rules updated to require both parents' signed consent (previously one was sometimes sufficient)
- Mid-2026 — no Australian equivalent to the US 2026 AI-edit ban; AI background replacement remains permitted
Australian Passport — common questions
Can I take my Australian passport photo at home in 2026?
Yes. The Australian Passport Office (DFAT) accepts self-captured photos for both online renewals and paper applications. The photo must meet the 35 × 45 mm size, plain white background, and ICAO biometric framing. Australia tightened glasses rules in 2017 — no glasses allowed even if clear. Religious head coverings are explicitly permitted if the face remains fully visible.
Does Australia accept the same photo as the UK or NZ?
Yes. Australia, New Zealand, and the UK all use 35 × 45 mm ICAO-aligned framing. The only minor variance is background colour — Australia and NZ require plain white; the UK accepts light grey or white. A photo taken on a white background works for all three; one on light grey works for the UK only.
What is the official Australian Passport size?
The official Australian Passport size is 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in). For digital uploads it equals 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI.
What background color is required for a Australian Passport?
Australian Passport photos must be taken on a plain white background, evenly lit and free of shadows or patterns.
How big should the face appear in a Australian Passport photo?
The head should fill approximately 70–80% of the photo height, with eyes positioned in the upper-middle of the frame and a neutral expression looking straight at the camera.
Can I take a Australian Passport photo at home?
Yes. Use a recent phone photo against a plain wall, with even daylight and no glasses. Our tool then crops, recolors the background, and resizes to the official 35 mm × 45 mm template.
Can I print the Australian Passport at CVS, Walgreens, or another pharmacy?
Yes. We generate a 4x6 print sheet with 8 photos that any pharmacy or photo kiosk can print.
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Where we sourced these Australia specifications
Dimensions, background colour, and biometric framing on this page are compiled from the references below. Always reconfirm the latest guidance directly with the issuing authority before submitting an application.
- passports.gov.au
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Last reviewed:
Other countries' passport & visa photo rules
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