Australia passport photo requirements — DFAT Passport Office

DFAT Australian Passport Office spec

DFAT enforces the same photo standard across new passports, renewals, replacement of lost or stolen passports, child passports under 16, and emergency travel documents issued by Australian consulates worldwide.

Australia is one of the few countries that still requires two physical printed photos for adult applications, even when much of the application form is completed online. One of the two must be endorsed on the back by your guarantor.

Background, lighting and clothing

Background must be a light plain colour — light grey is the DFAT preference; off-white is accepted. Pure white is technically allowed but more often fails the automated quality check because of low face-background contrast.

Lighting must be even with no shadows behind the head or under the chin. Stand at least a meter from the wall. Wear normal everyday clothing; uniforms are not permitted except for religious garments worn daily.

Expression, glasses and head position

Expression must be neutral with the mouth closed. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no frown. Eyes open, looking directly at the camera, both clearly visible.

Glasses have been banned by DFAT since 2016 — clear prescription, sunglasses, tinted and photochromic lenses are all rejected. Contact lenses are fine unless they alter iris colour. Hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows.

Guarantor endorsement and digital editing

For paper passport applications, two physical prints are required; one must be endorsed on the back by your guarantor with the words 'This is a true photograph of [applicant's full name]' along with the guarantor's signature and date.

Light digital editing — crop, brightness, contrast, clean background swap — is acceptable for both home-taken and studio photos. Beauty filters, skin smoothing and AI face modification are rejected; DFAT's automated screening flags overly smooth skin and asymmetric facial geometry.

Child passports and religious head coverings

For child passport applications under 16, the same 35×45 mm spec applies with eased expression rules for under-5s — eyes may be slightly off-camera, mouth may be open. The child must be alone in the frame with no parent's hand visible.

Religious head coverings — hijab, turban, dastar, sheitel, kippah — are accepted provided the face from chin to forehead is fully visible and not shadowed. DFAT does not require a supporting letter for daily religious use.

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