Passport Photos & Guidelines

Passport Photos & Guidelines

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With recent changes to Australian Passport Photo format requirements, the following guidelines will help you provide suitable photographs so that your application is not delayed by having to submit new photographs in the required format.

You must provide two recent identical colour photographs of yourself with your completed passport application. One of these photographs must be endorsed by your guarantor with the words “this is a true photo of (insert name)” unless you are submitting an application for a passport renewal using form PC7.

Photographs must be no more than six months old.

Warning: Unacceptable photos will delay the processing of your application.

Passport Photo Guidelines

The following guidelines will help you provide suitable photographs, so that your application is not delayed by having to submit new photographs in the required format. 

The basics 

  • 35-40mm wide and 45-50mm high 
  • good quality colour on high quality paper, with no ink or marks on the image 
  • plain, light-coloured background (e.g. cream, pale blue or white) 
  • appropriate brightness and contrast and show your skin tones naturally 
  • uniform lighting (no shadows across or behind the face), sharp focus and clear.

The photograph must:

  • show head and top of shoulders close up, so that the face measures between 32mm and 36mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown (ie top of head without hair) 
  • show your shoulders square on (not looking over shoulder) 
  • show your face square on (edges of face visible) 
  • show you looking straight at the camera (not tilted head) 
  • be taken with a neutral expression and your mouth closed (not laughing or frowning 
  • show your eyes open and clearly visible, (no hair in eyes).

Head coverings

The photograph must show you without any hat or other head covering.

However, if you wear a head covering for religious reasons we will accept a photograph of you wearing it, but your facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown.

Glasses

If you usually wear glasses, you do not have to wear them for your passport photograph, but if you do:

  • they must show your eyes clearly
  • no flash reflection off the glasses
  • no tinted lenses
  • if possible avoid heavy framed glasses
  • frames should not cover any part of your eyes
  • lighter framed glasses are preferable (if possible).

Children and babies

  • show the baby or child awake, looking straight at the camera with mouth closed and no pacifier. Show your shoulders square on (not looking over shoulder) 
  • show both edges of the face clearly (no toys, blankets, chair backs or other people visible) and no hair across the eyes.