Australian child passport photo (35×45 mm)

Official Size and Head Measurements

Australian passport photos must be 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high. The face, from chin to crown, must be 32–36 mm^[1]. The photo guidelines require two good-quality colour prints^[1].

The face height, measured from chin to crown, must be 32–36 mm^[1]. Centre your child’s face and have them look straight at the camera^[1].

Background and Lighting Requirements

Use a plain white or light grey background that contrasts with the face^[1].

Good lighting helps keep the background clean, bright, and free of distracting shadows. Face a bright window or use soft, balanced indoor lights to illuminate your child evenly from the front. Stand a short distance away from the wall behind you to stop shadows from forming on the background.

Facial Expression, Glasses, and Headwear

Children over 3 must face the camera with eyes open and a neutral expression^[1]. For children under 3, an open mouth is allowed^[1].

Children must not wear glasses unless they cannot remove them for medical reasons. If glasses are medically necessary, the frames must not obscure the eyes and the lenses must not reflect light^[1].

A child may wear a plain religious head covering if it shows the full face from chin to forehead and the edges of the face^[1].

Special Rules for Babies and Young Children

Photographing infants and toddlers can be challenging, but the rules remain strict with a few narrow exceptions. For children under 3 years old, an open mouth is accepted by the authorities because keeping a baby's mouth closed on command is difficult^[1].

No one else may appear in the photo of a child under 3^[1]. Do not let your hands or arms appear in the frame. You can lay the child on a plain sheet to take the photo.

Printing and Submission Rules

Include two good-quality colour prints that meet the photo guidelines with your passport application^[1].

The Passport Office recommends a professional passport photo provider^[1]. Its guidelines say prints must be on heavy-weight glossy paper of at least 200 gsm, produced using dye sublimation rather than an inkjet printer^[1].

Taking the Photo at Home

If you take the photo at home, keep the camera far enough away to avoid distortion. The Passport Office shows a photo taken too close as unacceptable^[1].

Take a clear, in-focus photo with even lighting, then have it printed to meet the official photo guidelines^[1].

Checking Your Final Photo

Checking your final photo before printing saves you time and prevents application rejections. Look closely at the lighting to confirm there are no dark shadows cast across the face or the background.

For children over 3, check that the eyes are open and the child faces the camera^[1]. Check that the face height from chin to crown is 32–36 mm^[1].