Australian Citizenship Photo (printed, paper application): size and requirements
The Australian Citizenship Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Neutral or light grey coloured background that contrasts with your face; head 71 to 80 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against Department of Home Affairs.
For the passport-sized print attached to a paper Australian citizenship application form. Not for the online application, which uploads a JPEG, and not for an Australian passport, which has its own print rules.
Home Affairs recommends Australia Post or a similar provider; if you use our file, print it unedited at a photo lab on a light grey background. See all Australia documents.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 71 to 80 percent of the photo height (the size of the face from chin to crown can be up to a maximum of 36 mm, with a minimum of 32 mm, on a photo 35 to 40 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high)
- Background
- neutral or light grey coloured background that contrasts with your face
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckHome Affairs wants a neutral or light grey background, unlike the white or light background the Australian Passport Office accepts. Do not reuse a white-background passport print.
- CheckThe face must be 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown on a 35 to 40 by 45 to 50 mm print; we print 35 x 45 mm.
- CheckHome Affairs does not recommend online photo services or apps and says the photo must be unedited, so keep the original background and have the print made at a photo lab.
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-07 at Department of Home Affairs.
If applying on paper the photo should be passport-sized: 35 mm to 40 mm wide and 45 mm to 50 mm high.
The size of the face from chin to crown can be up to a maximum of 36 mm, with a minimum of 32 mm.
taken 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)
For infants (under 3 years of age), a photo with an open mouth is acceptable.
Read directly from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (same page as the digital rule). The page does not state how many prints to attach, so printsRequired is left undefined. It mentions religious head coverings only and lists no medical exception; our data type has no religious-only value, so 'religious-medical-only' is used.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
