Free tool · Photo ID

Australia Passport Photo Maker

An Australian passport photo is 35-40 mm wide × 45-50 mm tall — the spec is a range, not exact — with the face measuring 32-36 mm from chin to crown. The background must be plain light-coloured (white, cream, or light grey all accepted). One photo signed and endorsed by a designated 'guarantor' identity-checker on the reverse.

AU$346is the 2026 fee for an Australian 10-year adult passport —·passports.gov.au

Updated May 22, 2026·Verified against Australia official passport spec · headshot research team

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Passport country

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Selfie or head-and-shoulders photo · processed in your browser

Australia passport photo at a glance

Physical size	35 × 45 mm
Pixels @ 300 DPI	413 × 531
Head height	32 - 36 mm
Background	Plain light background
Accepted formats	JPG
Passport fee (2026)	AU$346 (10-year adult) / AU$175 (5-year child)
Processing time	6 weeks standard, 2 working days priority (+AU$252)
Studio cost	AU$15 to AU$25 at any pharmacy or photo lab
Official source	passports.gov.au

What the rules actually say

Australia's passport photo rules combine flexibility on size with strictness on identity verification. The 35-40 × 45-50 mm range accommodates Australian and New Zealand photo-paper standards (which differ from global 35 × 45 mm), but the face geometry rules are tight: head 32-36 mm from chin to crown, eyes on the horizontal centerline.

The guarantor endorsement is unique among Anglophone countries. One of the two photos must be signed on the reverse by an Australian citizen of eligible occupation (medical doctor, JP, school principal, police officer — 30+ categories listed at passports.gov.au) confirming 'this is a true photograph of [applicant]'. This replaces the photographer-signature requirement Canada uses. The guarantor must have known you for 12+ months and be contactable by phone if the Passport Office needs to verify.

Most Australian pharmacies (Chemist Warehouse, Priceline) and photo labs charge AU$15-25 for a pair of compliant photos. They won't act as your guarantor — that has to be someone in your personal network from the published occupation list. Plan the guarantor signature step before you visit Australia Post.

Priority processing (2 working days, +AU$252) requires a complete compliant application. If your photo is rejected at the Australia Post lodgement, you lose the priority window and start over with 6-week standard processing. Get the photo, the guarantor, and the form right before you go in.

Top reasons Australia passport photos get rejected

Background coloured or patterned (must be plain light)
Two photos not identical and not both endorsed by a guarantor
Mouth open even slightly
Shadow on the wall from direct flash
Head not centred — eyes must be on the horizontal middle of the photo

Where to apply for your Australia passport

Apply for an Australian passport. https://www.passports.gov.au/ →

Studio alternative: AU$15 to AU$25 at any pharmacy or photo lab. The photo from this tool meets the same published spec — print on photo paper at home or at a drugstore for the same compliance result.

Related countries

If you also need a passport photo for a neighbouring or related country, the spec usually differs slightly. Here are the closest matches:

United Kingdom passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, light-coloured
Singapore passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, plain white background

Privacy: what we do with your photo

The Australia passport photo maker runs entirely in your browser. Cropping, scaling, and background colour replacement happen on your device using the Canvas API. The background-removal step uses our private worker server, processes the image in memory only, and deletes it immediately after returning the cutout — no logs, no storage, no training data.

Page URL: https://freeheadshot.org/tools/passport-photo/australia. Spec verified against passports.gov.au on 2026-05-22.

Questions, answered

Australia Passport Photo Maker — frequently asked questions

Who can be a guarantor for an Australian passport application?

An Australian citizen aged 18+ who has known the applicant for at least 12 months and is contactable. The full list of eligible occupations (medical practitioner, JP, police officer, school principal, etc.) is published at passports.gov.au. The guarantor must sign one of the two passport photos on the reverse.

Why is the size range 35-40 × 45-50 instead of exact dimensions?

The Australian Passport Office gives photographers flexibility within those bounds to accommodate different studio printer paper sizes. The face proportions (32-36 mm head height) are the hard constraint; the photo itself can be anywhere within the published range.

Can I use the same photo for my Australian and New Zealand passports?

Yes — both countries use very similar specifications (NZ is also 35-40 × 45-50 mm with light background). One photo session at an Australian studio works for both.

Are smiles allowed on Australian passport photos?

A neutral expression with closed mouth is required. The official guidance specifically says 'do not smile' — even a slight smile changes the cheekbone position enough to fail biometric matching.

Can I lodge my passport application by mail without an in-person appointment?

First-time adult applications must be lodged in person at a designated Australia Post office. Renewals can be lodged by mail. Both routes require the same photo specification and guarantor endorsement.

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