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Australia citizenship photo: size and unedited-photo rules

An Australian citizenship photo is 35x45 mm with the head measuring 32-36 mm from chin to crown. The background is neutral or light grey, and the photo must be unedited, whether printed or uploaded.

  • 35×45 mm
  • 414×532 px
  • Plain light colour
  • Rules checked October 5, 2026
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Make your Australia Citizenship photo

35×45 mm · background: plain light colour

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JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC. Drag it here or choose a file.

  • Face the camera, keep your head straight and your mouth closed.
  • Stand about 1 m from a plain wall in soft, even light. No shadows on the face.
  • Ask someone else to take it from eye level. Shoulders should be visible.
  • Remove glasses, hats and hair from the face. Religious head coverings are allowed if the face is fully visible.
  • For a baby, lay them on a plain white sheet and photograph from straight above.

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Fit your face inside the oval. Better: ask someone to take the photo with the back camera.

Australia Citizenship photo requirements

Official rules summarised. Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs. Official page

Photo size
35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)
Digital size
414 × 532 px
Resolution
300 DPI
File size
70–3584 KB
File format
JPG
Head height (chin to crown)
32–36 mm
Background
Plain light colour
Glasses
Not allowed
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Head covering
Only for religious reasons, face fully visible
Submission
Printed and digital

Online: JPEG 70 KB-3.5 MB, preferred 1200x1600 px, no scans of prints. Paper: 35-40 mm wide x 45-50 mm high, chin to crown 32-36 mm; must be unedited (do not remove background, moles, wrinkles, scars or red eye), glasses removed unless medically necessary. Infants under 3 may have an open mouth; no other person or object visible.

Correct and incorrect examples

  • CorrectCentred, neutral, even light

  • Too closeHead fills the frame

  • Head tiltedKeep your head level

  • ShadowsLight from one side

  • GlassesReflections hide the eyes

  • SmilingMouth must be closed

  • Hair over the eyesEyes and eyebrows must be visible

  • Busy backgroundUse a plain, light wall

The Australia citizenship photo rules in plain words

Citizenship applications accept a printed photo or a digital one. The paper photo is 35x45 mm (the paper rule allows 35-40 mm wide by 45-50 mm high), with the head measuring 32-36 mm from chin to crown. Online, the file is a JPEG of 70 KB to 3.5 MB, with 1200x1600 pixels preferred.

  • Background: neutral or light grey, contrasting with the face.
  • Glasses: removed, unless medically necessary.
  • Head covering: religious only, face fully visible.
  • No other person or object visible in the photo.
  • Infants under 3 may have an open mouth.

The photo must be unedited

This is the rule people often overlook. The photo must be unedited: do not remove the background digitally, and do not remove moles, wrinkles, scars or red eye. A photo that has been retouched can be refused. The online option also states that scans of printed photos are not accepted.

For this reason, take the photo against a real neutral or light grey wall instead of relying on heavy editing. IDPhotoly uses only the cropping, sizing and background steps needed for compliance, and you should check the result with the unedited rule in mind.

How to take the photo at home with a phone

Choose a plain wall in a neutral or light grey shade, with no pictures, texture or shadow. Stand about a metre from the wall and face a window so the light is even. Ask someone to take the picture at eye level.

  • Remove glasses if you can; wear them only if medically necessary and make sure there is no glare.
  • Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression.
  • Keep the full head and the top of the shoulders in the frame.
  • Make sure nobody and nothing else appears in the picture.

Common reasons a citizenship photo is rejected

  • Edited image. Retouching skin, removing marks or altering the background.
  • Scanned print. Online uploads cannot be scans of paper photos.
  • Background that blends with the face. It must contrast with your skin and hair.
  • Glasses worn without medical need. They should be removed.
  • Wrong head size. Chin to crown outside 32-36 mm on a paper photo.
  • File outside the size limits. Under 70 KB or over 3.5 MB.

Printing or uploading

For a paper application, print on photo paper at 300 DPI and trim carefully. For an online application, upload the JPG directly without scanning anything. IDPhotoly can produce both a print sheet and a digital file in the 414x532 pixel format.

Helpful guides

All guides

Frequently asked questions

What size is an Australia citizenship photo?

The standard paper size is 35x45 mm. The paper rule allows 35-40 mm wide and 45-50 mm high.

How big should my head be?

On the paper photo, the distance from chin to crown should be 32-36 mm.

What are the file limits for online upload?

The file is a JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB, with 1200x1600 pixels preferred.

Can I edit the photo or remove the background?

No. The photo must be unedited, so do not remove the background, moles, wrinkles, scars or red eye.

Can I wear glasses?

Glasses should be removed unless they are medically necessary.

Related photo requirements

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Page updated October 5, 2026. Requirements can change. Always check the official page before you apply.