Australia Passport Photo Size — 35×45mm

Australia follows the 35×45mm international standard but is unusually specific about the backdrop: light grey or off-white is preferred over pure white, and any shadow behind the head is grounds for rejection.

Australia passport photo specifications

Printed size

35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px

Head height (chin to crown)

32 – 36 mm

Background

Background: plain light colour (cream or light grey)

Photo age limit

Taken within 6 months

Glasses

Only with a medical certificate

Prints to submit

2 identical prints

Rules specific to Australia

• 35×45mm, with the head 32–36mm from chin to crown.
• Light grey or off-white background is preferred. Plain and uniform, with no texture or pattern.
• No shadow behind you and no shadow across the face — the lighting must be even and diffused.
• Glasses are not allowed unless you have a medical certificate.
• Neutral expression with the mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible.
• Taken within the last 6 months, with no retouching of any kind.
• Two identical prints for a paper application.

Why passport photos get rejected

• Head too large or too small. This is the single most common reason, and the one people notice least — the canvas size can be perfect while the head is out of range.
• Shadow behind the head, usually from standing too close to a wall. Step a metre away from the background.
• Smiling, or mouth slightly open. Neutral expression means neutral.
• Hair covering an eye, or a fringe casting a shadow across the eyes.
• Uneven lighting that leaves one side of the face darker than the other.
• A photo that has been retouched, filtered, or run through an AI beauty tool. Most authorities now check for this and reject it outright.

Other countries