Most Australian visa applications, from visitor and student visas to partner and skilled visas, are lodged in ImmiAccount with a passport-standard photograph uploaded for each applicant: 35×45 mm proportions, head 32–36 mm, plain light background, taken in the last six months and unaltered. The photo is used for identity checks against your passport, so it should match your passport photo in framing and be recent.
Make and check a AU visa 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) | 32–36 mm |
| Eye line from bottom | not specified |
| Head width | not specified |
| Space above the crown | not specified |
| Background | white or light grey |
| Background editing | not allowed (retake instead) |
| Glasses | allowed only with no glare and frames clear of the eyes |
| Expression | neutral, mouth closed |
| Recency | taken in the last 6 months |
| Print requirements | photo paper, good quality colour print — Paper applications (where still available) need a printed 35×45 mm photo. |
| Digital upload | 1050×1350 px JPEG, 70–4 MB (ImmiAccount visa application); 827×1063 px JPEG (Printing a 35×45 mm photo for a paper form) |
| Self-taken photos | accepted |
| Prints needed | 1 |
| Infant rules | eyes may be closed, mouth may be open (under 3) |
| Official source | Department of Home Affairs – Applying online (photograph requirements) |
Check the official source. Some values on this page could not be confirmed from the official page when it was last checked (2026-10-28).
- The Home Affairs photograph page returned 404 at both known URLs. The printed standard (35×45 mm, head 32–36 mm, plain light background, six months, unaltered) is the passport standard the department references; ImmiAccount's upload limits were not confirmed.
Can I take it myself? Yes
Yes. Home Affairs does not require a photographer for online applications, only a photograph that meets the passport standard. Because the department states that photographs must not be altered, background editing is kept off for this document and the checker tells you to retake against a plain wall if the background fails. Applicants from countries whose passport photo is a different size (for example the US 2×2 inch) should re-crop to 35×45 mm rather than upload the passport photo.
How to take the photo
- Stand half a metre in front of a plain white or light-grey wall, face a window, and keep the light even on both sides of the face.
- Someone else takes the photo from 1.5 metres at eye level, shoulders in frame, space above the head.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, hair clear of the face. No hats or earbuds; religious coverings must show the whole face.
- Glasses tolerated without glare and with frames clear of the eyes; removing them is safer.
- Use the original camera file so the upload is sharp, then export with the ImmiAccount preset.
- Apply the same process to every family member on the application; each person needs their own photo.
Why AU visa photos get rejected
- Photo altered or background replaced. Retake against a plain wall; editing is not allowed.
- Head too small. 32–36 mm chin to crown; adjust the head-size control.
- Shadow behind the head. Step away from the wall and light from the front.
- Photo older than six months. Take a fresh photo.
- Wrong proportions (e.g. 2×2 inch). Re-crop to 35×45 mm with this preset.
- Glare on glasses. Remove them.
- Low resolution screenshot. Upload the original photo file.
Infants and children
Each child on the application needs a photo. Under three the mouth may be open and the gaze relaxed. Lay the baby on a plain light sheet and shoot from above, nobody else and no objects in frame, head supported from under the sheet.
Step by step: ImmiAccount
- Log in to ImmiAccount, start the visa application and add each applicant.
- At the attachments step upload the ImmiAccount JPEG from this tool under Photograph – passport for each person.
- Submit and pay. If a case officer requests a new photograph, retake rather than edit the existing one.
File limits: JPEG at 35×45 mm proportions, unaltered, taken within six months. The ImmiAccount size window is flagged for re-checking; our export is 1050×1350 px.
What it costs
A chemist or Australia Post charges A$17–25 for a set with a digital copy. Our Single licence is A$6.99 for the ImmiAccount file and print sheets for 30 days; families use the A$12.99 Pass for up to six people and every document type.
Retailer pages: Kmart , Officeworks , Australia Post , Snapfish .
AU visa photo FAQ
What photo does an Australian visa need?
A passport-standard photograph: 35×45 mm proportions, head 32–36 mm, plain light background, under six months old, uploaded as a JPEG in ImmiAccount.
Can I upload my US passport photo?
Re-crop it to 35×45 mm first; the 2×2 inch square is the wrong proportion.
Can I edit the background?
No. Home Affairs photographs must not be altered.
Do children need their own photo?
Yes, every applicant on the form.
Are glasses allowed?
Tolerated without glare, but better removed.
Is a printed photo needed?
Only for paper forms where they still exist.
Is the citizenship photo the same?
Yes, same standard and same preset; a Pass covers both.
Related documents
Australian citizenship photo (Home Affairs)
35×45 mm · head 32–36 mmAustralian passport
35×45 mm · head 32–36 mmLast verified 2026-10-28 against Department of Home Affairs – Applying online (photograph requirements). Spotted a mistake? Report an error.