Photographs

Photograph requirements

The photographs submitted must meet the following requirements:

• Two identical photographs not more than 6 months old;


• Be between 35mm and 40mm in width, and between 45mm and 50mm in height. The bottom of chin to top of crown measurement must be between 32mm and 36mm (see diagram). A photo size gauge has been issued to assist interviewing staff;


• Full front view of the head and shoulders without head covering;


• Eyes open and looking straight ahead without sun/tinted glasses. If the applicant normally wears (untinted) prescription glasses, these may be worn for the photograph (although this is not required and is not preferred);


• Neutral expression (not laughing or frowning) with mouth closed;


• Both sides of the applicant’s face must be clearly shown but ears may be covered by hairstyle or approved head covering;


• A head covering which is worn for religious reasons may be accepted if it is tight fitting and the full facial features are clearly shown without being obscured in any way. Any other form of head covering may not be accepted unless approved by the Manager of the Passport Office or Regional Eligibility Centre (REC);


• Hair ornaments are acceptable provided they do not prevent accurate measurement from chin to crown and do not obscure the side of the face.


• Dark glasses or an eye patch may be acceptable if a medical certificate or B11 statement is provided attesting to the therapeutic need for such items. If the applicant wore dark glasses or an eye patch in the previous passport photograph, no medical certificate or B11 statement is required.


• The reverse of one photograph is to be certified as ‘This is a true photograph of {insert name or names in full}’ and be signed by the person providing the Guarantor Declaration (see diagram). For PC7 renewal applications the applicant must write their own name on the reverse of one photograph.

The photographs must be of good quality colour, on high quality paper with no ink marks on the image, appropriate brightness and contrast, natural skin tones, taken with uniform lighting (no shadows across the face) and are clear and in sharp focus. Digital photographs should be checked to ensure that they meet the requirements as they often produce a poor quality passport image.

An application should not be accepted if photographs are not a good likeness of the applicant, not of adequate quality or do not meet the size requirements. If photographs do not meet the standards required, the applicant should be asked to provide two identical photographs, not more than six months old.

Expressions of children under 3 years of age

In view of the rapid change in facial appearance of babies as they grow, passport staff may exercise flexibility in applying the photograph guidelines to babies.

Photographs of infants under 3 years of age showing the following expressions are acceptable:

• eyes partially open;


• looking slightly away from the camera; and


• mouth slightly open.

Replacing photographs – children under 5 years of age

Although photographs cannot be replaced during the ‘life’ (period of validity) of a passport, an exception is made for children under five years who have been issued with a passport in their first year of life. Such children may be issued with a replacement passport with a new photograph, issued for the remaining validity of the current passport.

The passport will be issued gratis.

Full parental consent is required before a replacement gratis passport may be issued.