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Australia · photo requirements

A Australian Passport photo is 35 × 45 mm

Short answer

A Australian Passport photo must be 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in), usually 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI, with a light grey background and head height 70–80% of the frame. PicsForm maps this to Department of Home Affairs / Australian Passport Office (passports.gov.au) for Australia, last checked Aug 18, 2026.

Official rule table

Values below are the PicsForm catalog mapping, not a screenshot of the government site.

RequirementOfficial rule (catalog)
Photo size35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)
Digital size413 × 531 px @ 300 DPI
Backgroundlight grey (#E8E8E8)
Head size70–80% of frame (31.5–36.0 mm (1.24–1.42 in))
Eye line from bottom55–70%
GlassesNot permitted
ExpressionNeutral expression, mouth closed
HeadwearFashion hats not permitted; religious covering only where policy allows
File sizeTypically ≤ 5000 KB

How to make this photo

  1. Stand 1.5–2 metres from the camera, camera at eye height, against a real plain light grey wall. Do not use a digital backdrop or AI face edit.
  2. Include the top of the hair, both ears if the document requires them, and the upper shoulders — do not crop at the neck.
  3. Open Create with Australian Passport selected, upload the portrait, and read the compliance report.
  4. If the verdict is Retake, fix the listed official rule and photograph again. Do not pay for a photo that still fails a hard rule.

Why photos like this get rejected

  • Head height outside the official band
  • Chin sitting on the bottom edge (shoulders missing)
  • Glasses glare or tinted lenses where glasses are not permitted
  • Shadows or a non-plain background
  • Wrong pixel size or file too large for the portal

Rejection guides

Questions

What size is a Australian Passport photo?
35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in). Digital export in this catalog is 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI.
What is the Australian Passport photo size in pixels?
413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI in the PicsForm catalog. Re-check the live portal if it publishes a different pixel cap.
Can I wear glasses in a Australian Passport photo?
Not permitted
Can I smile in a Australian Passport photo?
Neutral expression, mouth closed
What background does a Australian Passport photo need?
Plain light grey (#E8E8E8). Keep it even — no pattern, shadow, or extra people.
What head size does Australian Passport require?
Chin-to-crown should occupy 70–80% of the photo height (31.5 mm (1.24 in) to 36.0 mm (1.42 in)).
Can I take a Australian Passport photo with my phone?
Yes, if the camera is at eye level, the face is sharp, lighting is even, and the crop matches the published size. PicsForm can check a phone portrait against this document’s catalog rules. It cannot invent missing shoulders or guarantee an embassy will accept the file.
Can I use an old Australian Passport photo?
Most authorities want a recent likeness (often within six months) that still looks like you. Reuse an old file only if it still matches the current size, background, and appearance rules.

Source method

  • PicsForm does not invent photo specifications.
  • Each catalog row is mapped to a published government or issuing-authority page when a URL exists.
  • Where a rule is ambiguous (for example a visa processed by a local VAC with extra crop rules), the product labels Review instead of treating a guess as compliance.
  • Last-checked dates record when a human last opened the official page. They are not a government certification.
Australian Passport size is 35×45 mm — official rules 2026