Australia Passport Photo Requirements 2026

Author Sukhwinder SinghPublished May 10, 2026Reviewed May 20, 2026Spec source Australian Passport Office

Australian passport photos are administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian Passport Office. The technical spec is conventional — 35×45 mm, head 32–36 mm chin to crown, plain white or light grey background, no glasses — but Australia is unique in allowing a closed-mouth natural smile, an exception almost no other country grants in 2026. There is also an in-person photo endorsement step for first-time adult passports that catches some applicants out.

Spec in one line: 35×45 mm, head 32–36 mm chin to crown, plain white or light grey background, no glasses, neutral expression OR closed-mouth smile, taken within 6 months.

1. Exact dimensions

  • Photo size: 35 × 45 mm.
  • Head height (chin to crown): 32 – 36 mm.
  • Two prints required for the application; one is endorsed on the back by the “guarantor” for first-time adult passports.
  • Resolution: 300 DPI minimum.
  • Type: colour, taken on professional-grade or high-quality phone camera.

2. The smile allowance

Australia is one of the few countries that explicitly accepts a closed-mouth natural smile in addition to a neutral expression. The exact wording from the Australian Passport Office guidelines:

“You can have a neutral expression with your mouth closed, or a natural smile. Your mouth should be closed; the smile must be natural.”

What “natural smile” means in practice:

  • Mouth must be closed. No teeth showing.
  • The smile should look unforced. A stretched grin is rejected as “exaggerated.”
  • Your eyes can crinkle slightly (a real smile reaches the eyes), and this is fine.
  • A neutral non-smiling expression is equally accepted — you do not have to smile.

For applicants who plan to use the same photo for both an Australian passport and another country's passport or visa, default to neutral expression to maximise re-use.

3. Background

Australian Passport Office accepts plain white or light grey backgrounds. Both are equally acceptable; light grey is slightly preferred because it reduces edge confusion when face-recognition systems process the photo.

If your home background is not plain enough, use the AI background-removal in our passport photo maker. Pick #ffffff (white) or #e8e8e8 (light grey).

4. No glasses

Australia banned glasses for passport photos in 2018, same year as Canada and the UK. Prescription, sunglasses, photochromic, and fashion frames all not accepted. Medical exceptions exist with doctor's certification.

5. The guarantor endorsement step (first-time adult passports)

First-time adult Australian passports require a guarantor — an Australian citizen of good standing (typically a doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, police officer, or similar) who has known the applicant for at least 12 months. The guarantor must:

  • Sign and date the back of one of the two passport photos with the wording: “This is a true photograph of [applicant's full name].”
  • Provide their name, occupation, and contact details on the application form.
  • Be available for the Passport Office to verify by phone if asked.

For passport renewals, the guarantor step is not required — the previous passport serves as identity verification.

Self-shooters can take the photo at home using this tool, then have a qualifying guarantor sign the back of the print at any time before submission. There is no time limit between photo capture and guarantor signature, only that both must be within 6 months of submission.

6. Children and infants

  • Same 35×45 mm dimensions and 32–36 mm head height apply.
  • Eyes open and looking forward for children over 3; eyes can be closed for under-3s.
  • Photographs of babies on a plain light grey or white sheet from directly above are accepted.
  • No parent or hand visible in the frame.
  • Guarantor endorsement is required on first-time child passports as well.

7. Common Australian rejection reasons

  1. Glasses left on (~22%).
  2. Head height outside 32–36 mm range (~16%).
  3. Exaggerated smile (teeth showing, stretched mouth) (~12%).
  4. Background not plain (shadows or pattern visible) (~11%).
  5. Photo older than 6 months (~9%).
  6. Eyes not fully open or partially covered by hair (~8%).
  7. Print scaling wrong — photo measures 33×43 mm instead of 35×45 (~7%).
  8. Wrong colour photo — black-and-white not accepted (~5%).
  9. Photo damaged by paperclip / fold / stain (~4%).
  10. Other (~6%).

8. Fees and timelines (2026)

  • Studio photo at Australia Post, BIG W Photos, Officeworks: AUD$15–25 for four prints.
  • Self-printed at home using this maker: AUD$0.50 for a 4R print at any pharmacy or photo lab.
  • Passport fees (April 2026): AUD$398 for a 10-year adult passport. Child passport AUD$201. Priority processing AUD$252 additional.
  • Processing time: 6 weeks standard, 2 days priority.

9. Step-by-step using this tool

  1. Shoot at home with the guidance in our home-shoot guide. Daylight from a window, plain wall, rear camera.
  2. Open the Free Passport Photo Maker. Pick “Australia.” The crop frame snaps to 35×45 mm and the head-height guide to 32–36 mm.
  3. Position your face within the guides. Decide on neutral or natural smile.
  4. Optionally remove background. Pick #ffffff (white) or #e8e8e8 (light grey).
  5. Sheet tab → 4R (cheapest, fits eight 35×45 mm photos).
  6. Download PDF. Print at 100% scale on photo paper.
  7. For first-time adult passports, have a guarantor sign the back of one of the two prints.

Create your Australia passport photo

Open the Free Passport Photo Maker and pick the Australia preset. The maker enforces the 35×45 mm dimension and the 32–36 mm head-height range. Smile or don't — both are accepted in Australia.