Australian Passport Photo Guide

When applying for or renewing your Australian passport, one of the most crucial and often overlooked steps is getting your photo exactly right. The portrait you submit isn’t just a picture, it’s your international identity companion, and it must meet strict standards. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about photo requirements for a passport in Australia: the dimensions, background, print quality, composition, do’s and don’ts, and some practical tips to get it right. By the end, you’ll feel confident you’ll submit a photo that meets the rules and looks professional.

Essential Requirements

Here’s a quick overview of the core specifications you must satisfy:

• Size of photo: width between 35 mm and 40 mm; height between 45 mm and 50 mm. See Here
• Size of face in photo: from chin to the crown of the head should be approximately 32 mm to 36 mm. See Here
• Age of photo: Less than 6 months old (so it reflects your current appearance). See Here
• Background: Plain white or light-grey, no patterns or objects, and it must clearly contrast with your face. See Here
• Quality: Good color print, heavy-weight glossy paper (minimum 200 gsm if printed), no red-eye, no marks, no tilting of the head, hair off the face. See Here
• Expression / pose: Face looking directly at the camera, eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed (except for children under 3 years old), neutral expression, hair not obscuring the face. See Here
• Accessories: Generally, no glasses (unless medically necessary), no hats/headgear unless for religious reasons (and then you must show your full face from chin to forehead). Jewelry or piercings must not obscure the face or cause reflections. See Here

Detail Breakdown

Let’s dive deeper into each major area, with actionable advice to help you avoid common mistakes.

Photo size & face size

• Ensure the printed photo is 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high. If the size is off, it may be rejected. See Here
• The height of your face (chin to crown) should be between 32–36 mm. Too small or too large and it will fail the standard. See Here
• Tip: Don’t crop too tightly. Leave the shoulders visible and ensure there’s enough headspace above the crown.

Background & lighting

• Use a plain, white or light-grey background. Avoid patterns, textures, bright colored walls, or backgrounds that blend with your face. See Here
• Lighting must be even and uniform. No harsh shadows, no reflections, and your skin tone should appear natural. See Here
• Tip: Stand about a meter or so from the background and have two light sources (one either side of the camera) to prevent shadow behind your head.

Pose, expression & appearance

• Face the camera straight on, not turned or tilted. Your full face must be visible, including edges of face. See Here
• Eyes open, clearly visible; mouth closed (unless child under 3). No smile, frown, or exaggerated expression. Neutral face is best. See Here
• Hair should not cover your eyes or face edges; remove fringes if necessary.
• Tip: Avoid bright, shiny makeup or accessories that catch light. For children under 3, an open mouth is acceptable but keep face visible. See Here

Accessories, head coverings & glasses

• Generally, no glasses unless medically necessary (and you’ll then need supporting documentation). If glasses are worn, frames must not obscure the eyes and there must be no reflection from lenses. See Here
• Head coverings are only permitted for religious or medical reasons, and even then the entire face (chin to forehead) must be visible and the edges of the face on both sides clearly shown. The covering must be plain (no patterns). See Here
• Jewelry and facial piercings: acceptable only if they don’t obscure your facial features, cause reflection or cast shadows. See Here

Print quality / digital requirements

• The print must be good-quality color, produced with dye sublimation (not inkjet) and printed on heavy-weight glossy paper (at least 200 GSM) for paper applications. See Here
• For digital submissions (if applicable), ensure high resolution, correct file type, and no editing or filters applied. See Here
• Tip: Avoid any post-processing that changes your appearance (no removing blemishes or adjusting features). The image must represent you as you appear now.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Some of the most frequent reasons for rejection:

• Photo older than 6 months
• Incorrect dimensions or face size
• Background that’s not plain or has shadows/textures
• Head tilted or turned, or hair covering eyes/face
• Wearing glasses with reflections or dark lenses
• Heavy makeup, filters or retouching
• Low print quality 
• Expression not neutral or missing clear view of face See Here

By checking carefully before submission, you can spare yourself frustration and extra cost.

So, Why Miniml?

When it comes to something as important as your Australian passport photo, precision and compliance are non-negotiable. At Miniml.com.au, we combine modern convenience with expert human craftsmanship, ensuring your photo meets every detail of the official Australian Passport Office standards, without you ever needing to leave home.

A Human Approach in a Digital Age

While many services rely on AI-generated corrections and automated cropping, Miniml proudly stands apart. Our process is 100% human-driven, because we believe that critical documents deserve the care and judgement only a person can provide.

Every image we receive is personally assessed by our trained specialists. We check lighting, shadows, background tone, facial dimensions, and overall composition with meticulous attention. Once verified, our experts refine your photo to the perfect passport standard, ensuring that it aligns precisely with the Australian government’s requirements.

Complete Convenience from Home

No queues, no appointments, no studio visits. Simply take a clear photo from your home and upload it to miniml.com.au. Our specialists handle everything from background adjustments to resizing and return a perfectly compliant image, ready for passport submission.

Uncompromising Print Quality

We use professional dye-sublimation printers to produce high-resolution, true-color prints that meet official standards. Choose whether you’d like a digital copy sent to your email or a printed copy delivered right to your door anywhere in Australia.

The Miniml Promise

At Miniml, we respect your time, value, and trust. Every order receives personal attention, thorough checking, and premium-grade output. Whether you choose a soft copy or printed photo, you can be confident that your passport image meets the highest standard of quality and compliance.

We don’t believe in rushing through your identity we believe in getting it right.