Australian Passport Photo Requirements (2026)

Australian passport photos must be 35–40mm wide × 45–50mm tall with a plain white background, neutral expression, and no glasses. Uniquely among major passport authorities, DFAT requires 2 printed photos on dye-sublimation glossy paper — digital uploads are not accepted, even for online renewals. Getting any detail wrong adds weeks to your timeline.

Full Specifications

Size and Dimensions

DFAT allows a range: 35–40mm wide × 45–50mm tall. Any print within this range is acceptable, as long as the face height is correct. Our tool outputs 35×45mm, which sits at the minimum valid size.

Your face — measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your crown (not including hair that stands above your skull) — must be 32mm to 36mm tall in the printed photo. This is the critical measurement, more important than the outer dimensions.

What DFAT requires:

• Width: 35–40mm
• Height: 45–50mm
• Face height: 32–36mm chin to crown
• Face centred: equal space on left and right sides
• Both edges of face visible — no hair obscuring them

Common size mistakes:

• Using US 2×2 inch photos (51×51mm — wrong aspect ratio entirely)
• Face too small (standing too far from camera)
• Face too large (cropped too tight)
• Hair covering face edges

Background Requirements

Australia requires a plain white or light-coloured background with no patterns, shadows, or textures. White is the safest choice — light grey or cream may technically pass but introduces risk during automated validation.

The background must be evenly lit. Even a faint shadow behind your head can trigger rejection. Stand at least half a metre from the wall when taking your photo to avoid casting shadows.

Expression and Pose

DFAT requires a neutral expression — mouth closed, no teeth showing — for anyone over 3 years old. Eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera. For children under 3, the mouth may be open, but no one else can be visible in the photo.

Glasses, Headwear, and Accessories

Glasses — Not Permitted

DFAT does not allow glasses in passport photos. This applies to prescription glasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses. Vision impairment alone is not an acceptable reason to wear glasses — that is explicitly stated in DFAT’s guidance.

Medical exemptions require a doctor’s certificate. If you have a valid exemption, the frames must not obscure your eyes and there must be no reflection from the lenses.

Religious and Medical Headwear

Religious head coverings (hijab, turban, kippah) are allowed provided your full face is visible from chin to forehead. The covering must not cast shadows on your face.

Medical headwear is allowed with a doctor’s certificate.

Accessories

Common Rejection Reasons

1. Inkjet Prints

A major cause of rejection, often missed by applicants. DFAT requires dye-sublimation prints on heavy glossy paper (200+ gsm). Inkjet prints — including most home printers and Officeworks self-serve kiosks — are explicitly not accepted. Assessors examine prints under magnification for ink dots, stripes, and pixel patterns.

2. Smiling or Non-Neutral Expression

Even a slight closed-mouth smile is flagged. Keep your face completely relaxed with a neutral expression. Raised eyebrows, squinting, or slight head tilts also cause rejection.

3. Wrong Background

A non-white, shadowed, or patterned background triggers rejection. Stand at least half a metre from the wall to avoid casting shadows. Background removal in post-processing is also prohibited.

4. Glasses in Photo

Glasses are not permitted unless you have a doctor’s certificate for medical reasons. Prescription, reading, and tinted glasses all fall under this rule.

5. Wrong Size or Format

Submitting a US 2×2 inch photo instead of the required 35–40 × 45–50mm format is an instant rejection. Common for Australians applying from the US.

6. Photo Too Old

Your photo must be less than 6 months old. If your appearance has changed significantly, an older photo will be rejected even within the 6-month window.

Where to Get Your Photo

In Australia

• Officeworks self-serve kiosk: ~A$0.50–2 per print. Kodak Apex dye-sublimation kiosks — the cheapest legitimate path if you already have a digital file.
• Australia Post: One-stop option — photo + dye-sub print + lodgement bundled at ~A$19. Most reliable path.
• Camera stores: Ted’s Cameras, Kodak Express, Camera House — dye-sub print from your digital file for A$3–5.
• Professional photo studios: A$15–25. Own photography + dye-sub print.
• Some chemists / pharmacies: Quality varies — confirm dye-sublimation (not inkjet) before paying.

Avoid: inkjet home printers and most photo booths — DFAT rejects these prints.

Overseas

Use an independent professional photographer with dye-sublimation equipment. The Australian embassy in the US explicitly rejects photos from Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Staples, FedEx, UPS, post offices, and AAA. Check your nearest Australian embassy’s website for local guidance.

The $1.50 Digital Route

Use our tool to generate a DFAT-compliant 35×45mm file (white background, correct face height, expression checks) for ~A$1.50. Take the file to a local dye-sub print provider — total cost typically A$5, versus A$19 at Australia Post. The file is not the submission; physical dye-sub prints are.

For detailed printing instructions, see our Australian printing guide. For the full explanation of why digital upload isn’t an option, see Can you upload a photo for an Australian passport?.