Australian Passport Application Photo

When applying for an Australian passport, you must provide a photograph that meets certain standards. The passport photo must follow specific biometric requirements, or the Australian authorities will most likely refuse it. Continue reading if you would like to learn everything there is to know about the Australian passport application photo, including its necessary criteria.

Australian passport photo specifications 

The Australian government only issues passports with high-quality photographs that meet global biometric verification criteria. Following the official standards concerning passport application safeguards you against data theft. It also makes it easy to traverse borders. Let’s have a look at them:

• You need to have two identical high-quality color images;
• The picture should be fresh and taken no later than six months.
• Your image should contain no editing of any type (including removal of wrinkles or scars);
• It is essential to keep your photo sharp and clear, with no markings or ‘red eyes’;
• There should be a balanced illumination (no silhouettes or distortions) with adequate high contrast to reveal skin tone;
• Your head must be centered and staring right at the camera; not slanted in any manner;
• Pull back your hair from your face so that the corners of your face can be visible;
• Remember to keep your mouth closed and your eyes – wide open;
• Your facial expression must be neutral (which means that there shouldn’t be any smiling or frowning)

Australian passport photo size and background

While applying for an Australian passport, you should always keep in mind that your mandatory photograph must meet specific size and background rules, such as:

• Photos must be between 35mm and 40mm (3.5 x 4cm) width and 45mm to 50mm (4.5 x 5cm) height. The standard length of the face between chin and head is 36mm (3. 6cm), with a baseline of 32mm (3.2cm).
• The distance from the top edge of the photo to the end of it – 3mm (0,3cm);
• Australian passport photos should have a minimum negotiated settlement of 600DPI;
• The background of your passport photo should be plain white or light-coloured that contrasts with your face;

We suggest you take a look at the Australian passport photo example, which has been posted by the Australian Government, with the specified parameters and indications of the specific head position. Remember, that as well as on the below-shown passport photos’ examples, your head should be in contrast to the background.

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Australian passport photo dress code, hair and makeup rules

Clothing

Nowadays, images frequently include practically only faces, thus dressing up attractively as if for a fashion show is pointless. Since the shoulders appear misaligned, the best option would be a basic black t-shirt that contrasts with the white or alight-colored backdrop.

For men it is recommended to wear a solid color shirt and avoid bright striped shirts. For women, blouses with sequins, rhinestones and other shiny decorations are not recommended. It is not recommended to wear something dark under your neck – a turtleneck, a jumper – because the lack of a neck in the passport photo is not embellishing. Hence, the best outfit for women is a V-neck and light-coloured shirt. Such clothing choices will brighten up the face and take away unnecessary shadows.

Headcovers

If you usually wear headgear because of religious beliefs and use it when crossing foreign countries, you can keep them in your passport photo. Religious headscarves must be not very bright, only in plain colors, not decorative, and applied in such a way that your head is visible. Your face’s margins on each side must also be apparent.

Jewelry 

No aspect of your face, specifically the region surrounding your eyes, lips, and nose, should be obscured by jewelry. There should be no projection from earrings or piercings. Also, for a quality passport photo, you should try to avoid a lot of costume jewelry and massive ornaments.

Beard

Your face should take about 80 percent of the photograph. A beard may be present, provided that you wear it regularly. Remember that you should look like yourself on the passport photo to be recognizable on the passport control.

Glasses

If you must wear corrective glasses for medical reasons, the lenses must not obstruct your vision, and there must be no light from the frames. Always have with yourself a doctor’s note or a certificate with medical prescriptions regarding your reasons for wearing glasses while crossing the country or at the passport control.

Makeup and hairstyle

Before the photograph is taken, no make-up or bright make-up should be applied, as it distorts facial expression considerably. The maximum you can afford is a light daytime make-up. Your hair should be neatly gathered into a ponytail or braid, or left loose without covering your face or parts of it.

Posing

Talking about posing for your Australian passport photo, keep in mind that you must not elevate your chin excessively. Those who desire to stand taller should drop their shoulders instead of raising their heads. The camera will be gazing at your nose rather than your eyes. It might be considered unappealing towards many individuals.

Furthermore, a slight grin is permitted by contemporary criteria as long as it does not show teeth or alter physical expressions.

You can practice your expression in front of the mirror before going for a shot. The ability to regulate emotions is a precious skill overall, and it assists with both traditional photography and confidence. You have to remember to raise the edges of your mouth rather than tighten your lips.

Australian passport photo child regulations

According to the Australian authorities, the regulations concerning passport photos for children are almost the same as the adults’ ones:

• The image must meet every one of the conditions listed above, but no other individual or item should be in it. No other objects on the child’s face or background can be visible. It relates to such items as toys, parents’ hands, hats, child’s hands on their heads, blankets on their faces.
• The printed image should be 100% clear. If your kid moved when you took the picture, the photograph might not be the required quality to put on a passport.
• Australian authorities allow a passport picture with an open mouth for newborns and kids under the age of three. But for children older than this age – a closed mouth and sunken eyes are compulsory. And remember to check if your kid’s face is turned straight to the camera.
• Hats and bandanas are not permitted. Apologies, but those adorable hats so fashionable for babies are not appropriate for passport photographs! Both young people and adults should follow the “no hats” rule.

Australian passport application photo – FAQs