Australian Visa Photo
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Australian Visa Photo - Size & Requirements
Height: 45 mm
- Head height: 37 mm
- Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
How to take a photo?
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, the US, China, and Brazil. Known as a home to many animal species, such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingoes, and even the famed huntsman spider, which is considered to be one of the largest spiders in the entire world, and has a leg span of up to 15cm. If you are dreaming of seeing one of these majestic creatures or one of the beautiful Australian beaches and cities such as Sydney or Melbourne, you might need a visa.
According to the Henley Passport Index, Australian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 184 countries and territories, ranking the Australian passport 8th in terms of travel freedom. Read on to find out which visa you will need and how to take the right Australian visa photograph.
Australian visa photo requirements
The visa photo is one of the most important documents regarding visa applications. To be identified, you need a photo document or ID to be able to travel. However, no matter what the purpose is for your travel, all types of Australian visas (tourist, business or student visa etc.) are the same.
After reading this guide, you will know how to take an Australian visa photo and what are the general requirements regarding both visa pictures and the Australian visa application.
Size dimensions of Australian visa photo
The Australian visa photo size is 35 mm to 40 mm in width and 45 mm to 50 mm in length. The size of the face from chin to crown can be a maximum of 36mm, with a minimum of 32mm. When it comes to a digital Australian visa photo the dimensions and size in pixels is not specified, however the file size must be no bigger than 500kb.
To be sure that your picture has the right size, you can measure and crop it using the PhotoAiD site, or app, which is very easy to use. It verifies if the final photograph meets all of the official Australian visa requirements.
General requirements regarding Australian visa photo:
- Submit 2 (two) identical photographs in colour and printed on good quality paper.
- Photo must have been taken less than six months ago, printed using professional printing techniques, not from an inkjet printer.
- The picture has to be a clear, focused image with no marks or 'red eye'.
- The background has to be a plain white or light grey background that contrasts with your face. If you can’t arrange a good background, use the PhotoAiD background remover which will change the colour to the right one.
- Face centred and looking at the camera straight on.
- The head of the applicant cannot be tilted in any direction and has to be positioned straight.
- Hair should be pushed to the side of your face so that your facial features are fully visible.
- Eyes open, mouth closed.
- Neutral expression (no smiling, laughing or frowning).
- Digital manipulation of any kind (removing moles, wrinkles, scars or tattoos) is forbidden.
- Even lighting (no shadows or reflections) with appropriate brightness and contrast to show your natural skin tone.
Head covering
If you usually cover your head for religious reasons, you can have headwear on in your Australian visa photo. However, religious head coverings have to be plain-coloured, not be patterned and be worn in a way that shows your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and it must cast no shadows on your face. The edges of your face on either side also have to be visible.
Glasses
If you have to wear glasses for medical reasons, the frames can’t obscure your eyes and there cannot be any reflection from the lenses. Consider taking photos without a flash lamp in order to avoid the red-eye effect and glare from the glasses. Sometimes, you will have to show a medical certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner including the medical practitioner’s full name, registration number, the address and phone number of the medical practice.
Jewellery
Any accessories such as jewellery can’t obscure any part of your face, especially the area around the eyes, mouth and nose. Any reflections from rings or studs will cause the photo to be rejected.
Australian visa photo for babies and young children
Children, just like their parents, also need to have a visa with the right picture and even newborns need travel documents to be able to change countries or continents. This means that you have to apply for your baby’s visa or passport separately and submit at least 1 (one) photograph that meets the requirements. However, the rules for Australian visa photos for children are a little different than for adults.
The main rule is that the child must be photographed alone (this refers to adults and infants). This means that no other people can appear in the background or close to the child. If a newborn is being photographed you might consider putting them on a white sheet to avoid your hands appearing in the photo. They cannot be holding any items such as toys, pacifiers, etc.
The difference between adult photos and an infants’ is in regards to their mouth, they have to be closed for parents but they can remain open for children. However, when it comes to the eyes they have to be open and clearly visible, whether the subject of the photo is an adult or a child.
Other rules are the same for both regarding the head position, red eyes and lighting or retouching, etc. If you want to change something anyway, like the background colour or size of the photo, we recommend using the PhotoAiD tool which gives you a 100% guarantee that the photo will be accepted by any of the Australian institutions you will be sending the photo to.
Intelligent Australian visa photo tool
If you have decided to use our Australian visa photo tool, you need to know exactly how it works. Go to Photo AiD service or download our Visa Photo Mobile App that is available on the AppStore or GooglePlay store. If you decide to use our app you will be pleased to know that it works perfectly on any device so you can download it for an iPhone or a phone with Android.
The next step is to find a person who will take a picture, you can ask your friend or members of your family to help you. If you take a photo yourself, then you need to use a tripod. Upload the picture to our photo editor, which will resize the image to the Australian visa photo dimensions, and edit it by changing the background colour or removing any patterns.
The final step is to verify your picture.PhotoAiD checks the requirements for your country and only approves the right photos. You can order your visa-ready picture in a digital version via email and print it out yourself, or we can print photos for visa and deliver pictures straight to your door.
Last update: 6/4/23
Frequently Asked Questions
💡 What do I need for an Australian visa?
The main requirements regarding documents for Australian visa application are: a valid passport, proof you have enough funds for the period you will be staying for, a photograph with a size of 35mmx40 mm or 45mmx50mm in colour.
💡 What is the correct colour required for the background in an Australian visa photo?
The required colour is white or grey and those are the only colours that will be accepted. If you are not able to find a background with the required colour, you can use a visa photo editor which will remove the wrong colour in the background and change it into the right one.
💡 What is the Australian visa photo size?
The Australian visa photo size is 35 mm to 40 mm in width and 45 mm to 50 mm in length. The size of the face from chin to crown can be up to a maximum of 36mm, with a minimum of 32mm.
💡 Can I take my Australian visa photo with a phone?
Yes, you can. You just need to ensure that you meet the official requirements regarding the background, head position, facial expression, lighting, etc. and use our mobile photo app. Then, you simply upload the picture you took by phone and let the app do the rest for you.
💡 Can I wear eyeglasses in my visa photo for Australia?
If you wear glasses for medical reasons, you will have to show a medical certificate that says why you can’t remove them that is signed by a registered medical practitioner and includes the medical practitioner’s full name, registration number and the address and phone number of their medical practice.
💡 What are the rules for Australian visa photos for babies and children?
Generally, the rules are the same except for the one regarding the mouth, they have to be closed for parents and can remain open for children, but for both the eyes have to be open and clearly visible.
💡 Can I smile in an Australian visa photo?
No! A neutral facial expression is required so you cannot smile, show your teeth, laugh or frown.
💡 Can I wear a hat in the visa picture?
If you usually cover your head for religious reasons, you can have the headwear on in your Australian visa photo but you must make sure that the edges of your face on either side are visible and that the headwear does not cast any shadows on your face.
💡 What accessories can I wear for my Australian visa photo?
Any accessories, such as jewellery, cannot obscure any part of your face, especially the area around the eyes, mouth and nose. Any reflections from the rings or studs will cause your photo to be rejected. It is better to take off any jewellery but if you want to keep it on then you must make sure that it doesn't cover any of your facial features and is not too heavy.
About the document
Australian visa
The visa policy of Australia deals with the requirements that a foreign national wishing to enter Australia must obtain a visa, which is a permit to travel, to enter and remain in the country. A visa may also entitle the visa holder to other privileges, such as a right to work, study, etc. and may be subject to conditions.
Do I need a visa to enter Australia?
If you aren’t an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of visas, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate. It is also possible to apply for certain types of visas on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
Australian visa application
To apply for an Australian tourist visa, you have to submit some documents such as:
- A passport that will be valid for 6 months from your day of arrival for your stay in Australia.
- A signed letter of authorisation for the office you are applying with to verify any bank statements provided in support of the application. The letter of authorisation should be issued and signed by the account holder of the bank statements provided. Alternatively, the account holder should complete and sign the attached authorisation letter to enable said office to verify the bank statements provided in support of the application.
- Proof of funds available to you, e.g. original and certified copies of bank statements; if anyone in Australia is paying for your ticket, providing you with funds or funding you while in Australia, they need to send evidence of funds (i.e. bank statements) to this office.
- Proof of your incentives to return to your home country; examples of evidence can be land/assets/bank statements, evidence of employment/business registration, and evidence of remaining family members in the form of birth certificates/marriage certificates.
- If you intend to visit a close relative or friend in Australia, please provide the full name of your relatives or friends you intend to visit, giving details of their dates of birth, a letter of invitation and what is being provided for you in Australia i.e. accommodation, spending money, food, fares and any other costs.
You might be asked to submit some additional documents depending on the purpose of your travel and if you are going as a student (evidence of your enrollment at your school, college or university) or employed person (a letter from your employer with details of your income, length of your contract/employment, amount of leave and if your employment will continue on your return from Australia).
All applicants aged below 18 years of age and who are not traveling with both parents must provide a statutory declaration from the non-travelling parent/guardian giving permission to travel to Australia and they will need to provide national identity cards or passports.
Australian visa fees
The visa application fee is in Australian dollars (AUD) and must be paid for a visa application. In some cases the visa application is free of charge. Be aware that the cost of visas might change and also depends on the date that the application will be received.
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