Austria photo requirements

Austria photo requirements are set by Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) / Passbehörden. We publish 5 documents: 1 passport, 1 ID card, 1 driving licence, 1 residence permit and 1 visa. The most common print size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 in x 1.77 in). Each page quotes the official rule for size, head height, background and file, links the source we read, and shows the date we last checked it (most recently 2026-10-07).

Passports

Austrian Passport Photo (Reisepass, 35 x 45 mm Passbild)For the single colour Passbild you hand in at the Passbehörde (Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Magistrat, Landespolizeidirektion or Gemeinde) with an Austrian Reisepass application, including a child's passport. Not for a Schengen visa for Austria, which uses the same criteria but is filed at a representation abroad.35 x 45 mmeinfärbig hellverified 2026-10-07

Visas

Austria Visa Photo (Schengen visa C or national visa D, 35 x 45 mm)For the single colour Passfoto filed with an Austrian visa application (Schengen visa C or national visa D) at an Austrian representation or external service provider abroad. Not for an Aufenthaltstitel applied for inside Austria, and not for a visa issued by another Schengen state representing Austria, which follows that state's rules.35 x 45 mmBMI criteria: einfärbig hellverified 2026-10-07

ID cards

Austrian ID Card Photo (Personalausweis, 35 x 45 mm Passbild)For the single colour Passbild handed in at the Passbehörde with an Austrian Personalausweis application, for adults and for minors under 18. Not for the Identitätsausweis issued by some Länder, and not for a Führerschein, which accepts the same photo under looser wording.35 x 45 mmeinfärbig hellverified 2026-10-07

Driving licences

Austrian Driving Licence Photo (Scheckkartenführerschein, 35 x 45 mm)For the single 35 x 45 mm photo you bring to the Führerscheinbehörde when exchanging a paper licence for the Scheckkartenführerschein or converting a foreign one. Not for a first licence after the driving test, which follows a different procedure not covered here, and not for a passport or ID card, which demand the BMI criteria strictly.35 x 45 mmBMI criteria: einfärbig hellverified 2026-10-07

Residence permits

Austrian Residence Permit Photo (Aufenthaltstitel, 45 x 35 mm Lichtbild)For the Lichtbild filed with a first or renewal application for an Austrian Aufenthaltstitel (Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte, Niederlassungsbewilligung, Familienangehöriger and the other NAG titles) at the Niederlassungsbehörde or representation abroad. Not for the Aufenthaltskarte of EU citizens' family members, which lists a 35 x 45 to 40 x 50 mm photo, and not for a Schengen visa.35 x 45 mmBMI criteria: einfärbig hellverified 2026-10-07

Authorities and portals

Passport authority: Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) / Passbehörden
Sources we read: oesterreich.gv.at (Bundeskanzleramt) / Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI), Passbild-Kriterien; oesterreich.gv.at (Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur) / BMI Passbild-Kriterien; Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA) / BMI Passbild-Kriterien

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.