Australia Visa Photo Guidelines

When applying for an Australian visa, one of the requirements is submitting a photo that follows specific guidelines. The photo must meet the standards set by the Australian government, and failure to do so can result in a delayed or rejected visa application.

The purpose of the visa photo is to ensure that the applicant is easily recognizable and to prevent identity fraud. The photo must be clear, recent, and accurately represent the applicant's current appearance. In addition, the background of the photo must be white, and the applicant's entire face must be fully visible, with no shadows or obstructions.

It's important to note that the number of pictures required may differ depending on the visa subclass that the applicant is applying for. For example, a student visa applicant may need to provide more photos than a visitor visa applicant.

The Australian government has provided detailed guidelines for the visa photo requirements, which include:

• The photo must be in color and of high quality, with no pixels or dots visible.
• The applicant must be facing the camera directly and looking straight ahead, with their head centered in the frame.
• The applicant's eyes must be open and visible, with no hair or other objects obstructing them.
• The applicant must have a neutral expression and their mouth must be closed.
• The photo must show the applicant's full head, face, and shoulders, with no other people or objects visible in the background.
• The photo must have a white background, with no shadows or other colors visible.
• The applicant must not be wearing a hat, head covering, or any other items that obscure their face or hair, unless for religious or medical reasons.

In addition to these guidelines, some visa types may require the submission of biometric information along with the visa photo. This can include fingerprints or other types of personal identification.

It's essential to carefully follow the Australian government's guidelines when submitting a visa photo, as this can significantly impact the success of the visa application.

Australia Visa Photo Requirements

These are the guidelines for the photo required for an Australian visa application:

• The photo should not be older than six months.
• The photo size must be 35mm to 40mm wide and 45mm to 50mm high.
• Your entire face should be clearly visible.
• Your face must be centered and looking directly at the camera.
• Your head should not be tilted in any direction.
• Your hair should be pulled back from your face.
• Your eyes should be open and mouth closed.
• You should maintain a neutral expression, without smiling, laughing, or frowning.
• Face jewelry or piercings are not allowed.
• Hats or uniforms are not allowed, unless the uniform is worn for religious reasons.
• Sunglasses are not allowed.
• If you wear a head covering for religious purposes, your entire face must be visible.
• The photo cannot be edited, including removing blemishes, scars, or background irregularities.
• The photo background should be plain, preferably white.
• The image must be clear and focused, with no red-eye.
• The lighting should be uniform, without any shadows or reflections.
• Prescription glasses are allowed as long as they meet the following conditions:
• You have a doctor's report stating that you need to wear glasses.
• The frames do not block your eyes.
• The lenses do not reflect in the picture.

For in-person applications, you should attach physical copies of the photos to your documents. For online applications, you need to attach the photos through your ImmiAccount.

Australia Visa Photo Do’s and Don’t’s

Here are the do's and don'ts for Australia visa photo requirements:

Do's:

• Use a photo that is no older than six months.
• Make sure the photo size is between 35mm to 40mm wide and 45mm to 50mm high.
• Ensure your entire face is clearly visible.
• Center your face and look directly at the camera.
• Keep your head straight and avoid tilting it.
• Pull your hair back from your face.
• Keep your eyes open and mouth closed.
• Maintain a neutral expression without smiling, laughing, or frowning.
• Use a plain, preferably white background.
• Ensure the image is clear and focused, with no red-eye.
• Use uniform lighting without shadows or reflections.
• Use a photo that meets the specific requirements for prescription glasses (if applicable).
• Use a head covering (if applicable) that does not obscure your face and is worn for religious reasons.

Don'ts:

• Use a photo that is older than six months.
• Use a photo that does not meet the specified size requirements.
• Use a photo that obscures any part of your face.
• Use a photo that has you looking away from the camera or is not centered.
• Tilt your head or wear a hat or uniform.
• Smile, laugh, or frown in the photo.
• Use a background that is not plain or has distracting patterns or colors.
• Use a blurry or out-of-focus image.
• Use a photo with uneven lighting or shadows.
• Use a photo that does not meet the specific requirements for prescription glasses (if applicable).
• Use a head covering (if applicable) that obscures your face.

Requirements for Australian Visa Photos for Online Applications

When applying for an Australian visa online, there are specific photo requirements that you need to follow. These requirements are in place to ensure that your photo is of high quality and meets the standards set by the Australian Government.

The photo you submit should be in color, clear, and of high resolution. It should have a white or light-colored background and show your full face, including your hairline and both ears. You must have a neutral expression with your mouth closed, and your eyes should be open and visible.

The size of the photo should be between 900 pixels and 1200 pixels wide, and 1200 pixels and 1600 pixels high. The file size should not exceed 3 MB, and the format should be in JPEG or JPG.

Make sure that you do not wear glasses that have lenses that glare or obstruct your eyes. If you have to wear glasses for medical reasons, you should provide a medical certificate stating the reason for wearing them.

Also, avoid wearing headgear unless it is for religious or medical reasons. If you wear headgear, it should not cover your face or cast shadows on it.

If you need to resize or crop your photo, you can use photo editing software or an online tool. There are also professional services available that can take and format your photo according to the requirements.

The photo must meet certain requirements to be accepted. Here are the guidelines for the photo:

• Size: The photo should be square and measure 35mm x 35mm.

• Background: The background of the photo should be plain and light-colored (white or light blue). No patterns or shadows should be visible.

• Head Position: The head of the person in the photo should be centered and facing forward. The head should not be tilted, and the face should be visible from the forehead to the chin.

• Facial Expression: The person in the photo should have a neutral facial expression, with their mouth closed and eyes open and looking directly at the camera.

• Clothing: The person in the photo should not wear anything that covers their face, such as a hat, scarf, or sunglasses. Additionally, the clothing should be plain and free of patterns or logos.

• Quality: The photo should be high quality, with no pixelation or blur. It should be taken with a digital camera, not scanned from a physical photograph.

• Recent: The photo should be taken within the last 6 months and must accurately represent your current appearance.

It is important to note that if your photo does not meet these requirements, your visa application may be delayed or even rejected. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow these guidelines carefully when taking and uploading your photo.

If you are unsure about whether your photo meets the requirements, you can use the online photo validator tool provided by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to check before submitting your application.

Photo Requirements for Infants Applying for an Australian Visa

When applying for an Australian visa for an infant, it is important to follow specific photo requirements to ensure that the application is not rejected.

The photo must be taken within the last six months and should have a clear image of the infant's face with no shadows or reflections. The infant's eyes must be open and visible, and they should not be looking away from the camera. The background of the photo should be plain, light-colored, and without any patterns or designs. The infant should be the only subject in the photo, and no other objects or people should be visible.

In addition, it is important to ensure that the infant is facing forward with a neutral expression, meaning no smiling, frowning, or tilting of the head. The photo should be printed on high-quality photo paper and should measure 45mm x 35mm.

It is also important to note that the photo requirements for infants may differ from those of adults or older children. Therefore, it is essential to check the specific requirements for infant photos before submitting the visa application.

Overall, following the correct photo requirements for infants when applying for an Australian visa is crucial in ensuring that the application is successful and that the infant is able to travel to Australia with ease.

Frequently Asked questions