Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.
General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.
Australian passport photos must be 35 to 40 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high, with your face measuring 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown. You need two identical colour prints, less than six months old, taken against a plain white or light grey background, with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed. Glasses aren’t allowed unless you can’t remove them for medical reasons. If you’re applying for a new passport on a paper form, a guarantor also has to sign the back of one photo.
Other countries use different sizes, so tell your photographer which passport or visa the photo is for. At Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair we take passport and visa photos while you wait, in Australian and overseas formats.
Australian passport photo rules
The Australian Passport Office’s photo guidelines say your photos must be:
- 35 to 40 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high, with your face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown;
- two identical, good quality colour prints, less than six months old;
- taken against a plain white or light grey background that contrasts with your face;
- neutral: eyes open, mouth closed, not smiling, laughing or frowning;
- not retouched in any way, including removing the background, moles, wrinkles or scars;
- printed by dye sublimation, not on an inkjet printer.
Glasses and head coverings
Glasses can only be worn if you can’t remove them for medical reasons, with a medical certificate or a B-11 form. The frames can’t cover your eyes, and the lenses can’t reflect. Religious head coverings are fine if they’re plain-coloured and show your face from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead.
Babies and young children
For children under three, a photo with an open mouth is acceptable. No other person or object can be in the photo, so a parent’s hands or a dummy can’t be visible.
How does a guarantor sign the photo?
If you’re applying for a new passport on a paper form, one of your two photos needs to be endorsed by a guarantor. If you fill in the application online, you nominate a referee instead, and renewals don’t need a guarantor. Your guarantor must have known you for more than 12 months. They sign section 11 of your application form and the back of one photo, writing “This is a true photo of [your full name]” in black pen.
Renewing online?
Online renewals use a digital photo. The Passport Office’s online renewal page asks you to retrieve your digital photo using a photo code from your photo provider, chosen from its list of providers. Check that list before you get your photos taken if you plan to renew online.
Visa and overseas passport photo sizes
These are the printed photo sizes official sources give for some popular destinations and passports. Rules change, so always check the latest requirements for your application.
| Document | Size | Head or face | Background | How recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States passport | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches) | 25 to 35 mm, chin to top of head | White or off-white | Last 6 months |
| United States visa | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches) | 25 to 35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inches) | Plain white or off-white | Last 6 months |
| United Kingdom passport (paper application) | 35 mm wide × 45 mm high | 29 to 34 mm | Plain cream or light grey | Last month |
| Canadian passport | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high | 31 to 36 mm, chin to crown | Plain white or light-coloured | Last 6 months |
| China visa | 33 mm wide × 48 mm high | Head 28 to 33 mm high, 15 to 22 mm wide | White or close to white | Last 6 months |
| Japan visa | About 35 × 45 mm | Not specified | Not specified | Last 6 months, with proof such as a receipt |
| New Zealand passport (printed) | 35 × 45 mm | Head and hair about 80% of the photo’s height | Plain and light, but not white | Last 6 months |
Some extra details worth knowing:
- United States: glasses must be removed for passport photos.
- United Kingdom: online applications use a digital photo; printed photos are only needed for paper forms.
- Canada: the photos must be taken by a commercial photographer or studio, and the back of one needs the date it was taken and the studio’s name and address.
- China: photos must be printed on glossy photo paper. Australian passport holders can currently visit China without a visa for up to 30 days, until 31 December 2026, so check whether you need a visa photo at all.
- Japan: Australian passport holders don’t need a visa for short stays of less than 90 days, so many travellers won’t need a visa photo at all.
- New Zealand: online applications need a digital photo, and scans of printed photos aren’t accepted.
Applying for a visa somewhere else? Many countries, including the Schengen countries in Europe, use the standard 35 × 45 mm size. Tell us the country and document when you come in, and we’ll set up the right format.
Tips for a photo that’s accepted first time
- Take off your glasses.
- Keep a neutral face, with your mouth closed and eyes open.
- Pull hair back from your eyes and face.
- Bring any religious head covering you’ll wear, and make sure it’s plain.
- Come in within six months of applying (within a month for a UK paper application).
Get your passport photos at Pacific Fair
Walk in any day we’re open and we’ll take your photos while you wait, with printed and digital copies included. If you plan to renew online, check the Passport Office’s list of photo providers first. We take photos for ages 5 and over; for younger children, call us first on (07) 5592 2099. See passport and visa photos at Pacific Fair for details.
Frequently asked questions
Can I smile in my passport photo?
No. Australian passport photos need a neutral expression, with your mouth closed and eyes open.
Can I wear glasses in my Australian passport photo?
Only if you can’t remove them for medical reasons, with a medical certificate or a B-11 form. The frames can’t cover your eyes. Otherwise, take them off.
How old can my passport photo be?
Less than six months old for an Australian passport. Most countries in the table above use the same rule, but the UK requires photos taken within the last month.
Who can sign the back of my passport photo?
Your guarantor, if you’re applying for a new passport on a paper form. They must have known you for more than 12 months and fit the Passport Office’s guarantor rules. They write “This is a true photo of [your full name]” and sign in black pen.
Do you do photos for visas?
Yes. Tell us which country and document the photo is for, and we’ll set up the right size and format.
Sources
- Australian Passport Office – Photo guidelines
- Australian Passport Office – Guarantors, referees and witnesses
- Australian Passport Office – Renew your passport online
- U.S. Department of State – Passport photos
- U.S. Department of State – Photo requirements for visas
- GOV.UK – Photos for passports: photo requirements
- Government of Canada – Passport photos
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center (Brisbane) – Photo requirements
- Embassy of Japan in Australia – Temporary visitor visas
- New Zealand Government – Passport photos
- New Zealand Government – Passport application guide notes (PAS305)
- Consulate-General of China in Melbourne – Visa-free entry for Australian passport holders
This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.
Talk to our pharmacists at Pacific Fair
Pop in, no appointment needed. We’re on the ground floor of Pacific Fair (Pac Fair), Broadbeach, open 7 days and until 9pm on Thursdays. Park in the Orange car park, directly under us. Gate 7 is the closest entry, and the first 4 hours are free.