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.

The basics

• 45–50mm high and 35–40mm wide

• show head and top of shoulders close up, so the measurement of the face from the bottom of the chin to the crown (i.e. top of head without hair) is between 32mm and 36mm

Quality and style

• print on high-quality paper and use high resolution

• show natural skin tones and have appropriate brightness and contrast, no flash reflections and no red eye

• show you with a neutral expression and mouth closed

• have a plain, light-coloured background

• show you looking directly at the camera

• show you with no hair across your eyes

• show both edges of your face clearly

• not show you looking over one shoulder (portrait style) or with head tilted

• photograph cannot be manipulated, for example, by removing spots or softening lines.

Head coverings

Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons:

• in which case, 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 dark tinted lenses which restrict a clear view of your eyes 

• no flash reflection off the lenses

• frames should not cover any part of your eyes

• lighter framed glasses are preferable if you have them.

Children and babies

Photos of children and babies should:

• show the child or baby awake, looking straight at the camera with mouth closed and no pacifier 

• show the child or baby's face clearly without any other objects (including a parent's supporting hand) visible

• show the child or baby without any hair across the eyes.