The Northern Territory's Working with Children Clearance, the Ochre Card, carries a photo you supply, unless you apply in person at the SAFE NT office in Darwin, where it is taken free. The NT rules are simple: a photo under six months old, 45 to 50 mm high and 35 to 40 mm wide, a close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders, centred and in focus, on a pale background with no shadows. Online applications take a JPG; postal and counter applications need an original or high-quality print.
Make and check a Ochre Card NT photo Free checker; files from A$6.99.
Specification
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels at 300 / 600 dpi | 413 × 531 px / 827 × 1063 px |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 30–37 mm |
| Eye line from bottom | not specified |
| Head width | not specified |
| Space above the crown | not specified |
| Background | plain and light |
| Background editing | not allowed (retake instead) |
| Glasses | not allowed |
| Expression | neutral, mouth closed |
| Recency | taken in the last 6 months |
| Print requirements | photo paper, high-quality print — For postal applications or lodgement at a Territory Business Centre or police station, an original photo or high-quality print is required; photocopies are not accepted. |
| Digital upload | 827×1063 px JPEG, 0–4 MB (SAFE NT online application) |
| Self-taken photos | accepted |
| Prints needed | 1 |
| Infant rules | eyes open, mouth closed (under 1) |
| Official source | NT.GOV.AU – Working with Children Clearance: before you apply |
Check the official source. Some values on this page could not be confirmed from the official page when it was last checked (2026-10-29).
- Read on nt.gov.au on 2026-10-29: photo less than six months old, 45–50 mm high and 35–40 mm wide, close-up of head and top of shoulders, centred and in focus, pale background with no shadows, no pixellation; JPG for online applications; original or high-quality print for postal and in-person lodgement; photo taken free at the SAFE NT Darwin office. No head-size band or pixel size is given; the checker uses passport proportions as a framing target. Glasses rule taken from the Territory Services digital photo page (remove unless medically required).
- NT publishes no head-size band or pixel size; the checker's head target is a framing guide.
Can I take it myself? Yes
Yes. SAFE NT accepts a photo you take yourself for online, postal and Territory Business Centre or police-station applications, as long as it meets the published rules. If you are in Darwin you can instead have it taken free at the SAFE NT office. For online applications, upload the JPG exported here; for postal applications, print the 6×4 sheet at a kiosk and cut one photo out. Photocopies are not accepted.
How to take the photo
- Stand in front of a plain pale wall with soft light from in front of you; avoid shadows on the wall and face.
- Have someone take the photo from about 1.5 metres at eye level, with your head and the top of your shoulders in frame.
- Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed. Remove glasses unless you need them for a medical reason.
- Load the photo here; the tool crops to 35×45 mm proportions, inside NT's 35–40 × 45–50 mm window.
- For an online application, download the JPG. For a postal application, print the sheet at actual size on photo paper and cut one out cleanly.
Why Ochre Card NT photos get rejected
- Photo older than six months. Take a new photo.
- Shadows or a dark background. Retake against a pale wall with even light.
- Not centred or out of focus. The tool centres the head; retake if the original is blurred.
- Pixellated or low quality. Use the original phone photo, not a screenshot or a messaging-app copy.
- Photocopy sent by post. Send an original photo or a high-quality print.
- Glasses worn. Remove them unless there is a medical reason.
Infants and children
Not applicable. Ochre Cards are issued to people aged 15 and over; the infant mode is off for this document.
Step by step: SAFE NT online application
- Start the Working with Children Clearance application online through SAFE NT.
- Attach copies of identity documents worth 100 points, including one Category A document.
- Upload your JPG photo where the form asks for it, pay the fee and submit.
File limits: JPG for online applications; 45–50 mm high × 35–40 mm wide; under six months old; pale background, no shadows; head and top of shoulders; centred and in focus.
Open SAFE NT online application
What it costs
SAFE NT takes the photo free in Darwin. For other applications our Single licence (A$6.99, 30 days) gives the clean JPG and a print sheet; the checker is free.
Retailer pages: Kmart , Officeworks , Australia Post , Snapfish .
Ochre Card NT photo FAQ
What size is an Ochre Card photo?
45 to 50 mm high and 35 to 40 mm wide, per nt.gov.au. A standard 35×45 mm passport-size photo fits.
Can I upload a photo for an online application?
Yes. Online applications take the photo as a JPG file, per nt.gov.au.
Can I post a printed photo?
Yes, an original photo or a high-quality print. Photocopies are not accepted.
Is there a free option?
Applying in person at the SAFE NT office in Darwin: they take the photo at no cost.
How recent must the photo be?
Less than six months old, according to nt.gov.au.
How long is an Ochre Card valid?
Two years, according to nt.gov.au.
Related documents
Victorian Working with Children Check photo
35×45 mm · head 30–37 mmTasmanian RWVP photo (interstate and overseas applicants)
35×45 mm · head 32–36 mmAustralian passport
35×45 mm · head 32–36 mmLast verified 2026-10-29 against NT.GOV.AU – Working with Children Clearance: before you apply. Spotted a mistake? Report an error.