head 71–80 %no glasses
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14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceDepartment of Home Affairs, Australia
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Australia citizenship application photo size is 35 × 45 mm. White or light uniform background. Head occupies 71–80% of photo height (32–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses prohibited. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 71–80% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 32–36 mm chin to crown |
| Background | White or light uniform background. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Glasses prohibited, except for rare medical exceptions. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No retouching or digital enhancement. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; face and shoulder line must be clearly defined. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
The Australian Department of Home Affairs sets one quality standard for the citizenship photo and two formats. The photo must be no more than 6 months old, show the full face, be in colour and of good quality against a «neutral or light grey coloured background that contrasts with your face», be unedited — «do not remove background, moles, wrinkles, scars or red eyes» — with uniform lighting, no shadows or reflections and natural skin tone.
The face is centred and straight to the camera, not tilted, the hair off the face so that its edges are visible, the eyes open, the mouth closed and the expression neutral — not smiling, laughing or frowning. Glasses must be removed: if you cannot remove them for medical reasons they are untinted, the frames do not obscure the eyes and the lenses do not reflect — «vision impairment alone is not an acceptable reason to wear glasses». A religious head covering is allowed if it shows the whole face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and the edges of the face, including the outer eye corner, in plain material; jewellery must not obscure the face; infants under 3 may have an open mouth. Online, the photo is a digital JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB, 1200 × 1600 pixels preferred, and «a scan of a photo or a photograph of a photo is not acceptable»; on paper it is passport-sized, 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high, with the face 32–36 mm from chin to crown.
The Department recommends a professional passport photo provider («we recommend the Australian Post Office») with a digital copy emailed to you, and advises against online passport photo services and mobile apps.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Australia citizenship application applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Department of Home Affairs, Australia publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that is edited or has the background, moles, wrinkles, scars or red eyes removed | Use an unedited photo taken by a professional passport photo provider. |
| A background that is not neutral or light grey and contrasting with the face; shadows, reflections or uneven light | Use a neutral or light grey background that contrasts with the face and uniform lighting. |
| Hair covering the edges of the face, a tilted or off-centre face, an open mouth, or a smile, laugh or frown | Hair off the face, face centred and straight, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression. |
| Glasses worn without a medical reason, tinted lenses, frames over the eyes, or reflections | Remove the glasses; if they cannot be removed, untinted with the frames clear of the eyes and no reflection. |
| A scan of a photo or a photograph of a photo in an online application, or a JPEG outside 70 KB–3.5 MB | Upload the digital file from the photo provider, JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB. |
How to take it
Background: white or light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 71–80 % of the photo height (32–36 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Glasses prohibited
Take them off before the shot.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glassesTake your glasses off — this document's rules require it.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
An Australian citizenship application is made online or on paper with a photo that meets the Department's requirements; the Department recommends having the photo taken at a professional passport photo provider and emailed as a digital copy.
immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — citizenship photo requirements
Online JPEG 70 KB–3.5 MB; paper 35–40 × 45–50 mm, face 32–36 mm; within 6 months.
Authority page| Authority | Department of Home Affairs, Australia |
|---|---|
| Source | Australian Passport Office — Passport photos |
| Verified |
Questions
Not more than 6 months old, a full face in colour on a neutral or light grey background, unedited, evenly lit, face centred and straight, hair off the face, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression, glasses removed unless they cannot be removed for medical reasons; online a JPEG of 70 KB–3.5 MB, on paper 35–40 mm × 45–50 mm.
On paper, passport-sized: 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high, with the face 32–36 mm from chin to crown. Online, a digital JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB, 1200 × 1600 pixels preferred.
The Department recommends a professional passport photo provider and does not recommend online passport photo services and mobile apps; a scan of a photo or a photograph of a photo is not acceptable online.
No, glasses must be removed; if you cannot remove them for medical reasons they should be untinted, the frames must not obscure the eyes and the lenses must not reflect. Vision impairment alone is not an acceptable reason.
The recommended size for the Australia citizenship application photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 71–80% of the photo height. Naturalisation and citizenship certificate photos use the same biometric standard as Australia passports.
Most citizenship authorities require photos taken within the last three to six months. Because citizenship documents are issued once and used for decades, submit a photo that genuinely reflects your current appearance, not a stylised portrait.
White or light uniform background. The photo will be printed on official documents and digitally archived — even minor background issues become permanent in the record. Use a flat, evenly lit wall with no objects or shadows.
Glasses prohibited, except for rare medical exceptions. Citizenship documents are checked at immigration, banking and government offices over the document's lifetime. Removing glasses for the photo prevents future verification problems.
It does not need to be identical, but must show the same person clearly. Significant differences in hair, facial hair or weight may prompt the citizenship authority to request a new photo or in-person verification.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Australia citizenship authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: passport, refugee travel document, visa.