Australia passport photo guide

Australia baby passport photo in 2026: the age-graded rules most parents don't know about

Getting a passport photo for a baby or young child is hard in every country. In Australia, it carries a specific practical complexity that catches parents who have done this before in another country: the photos must be printed on professional dye-sublimation photo paper, not home inkjet prints, and DFAT explicitly advises against using online passport photo apps or mobile services due to identity fraud concerns. On top of those documentation requirements, Australia has a more specific age-graded set of expression and eye-openness rules than most other countries — rules that change meaningfully at three months and again at three years. Knowing which set of rules applies to your child's age before you set up the session makes the whole process considerably less stressful.

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KeywordAustralia baby passport photo

UpdatedJul 12, 2026

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The practical answer

Australian baby and infant passport photos must meet the same technical standards as adult photos for size, background, and image quality. The printed photo must be between 35 and 40mm wide and between 45 and 50mm high. The child's face from chin to crown must measure 32 to 36mm within that frame. The background must be plain white — not off-white, not cream, not light grey. The photo must be in colour, sharply in focus, and produced without any digital editing or retouching of any kind. Two identical prints are required for a paper passport application. These must be printed on high-quality glossy photo paper using dye-sublimation printing technology, not standard inkjet printing. This is a firm requirement regardless of the print source — a home printer on glossy photo paper will not produce dye-sublimation output, and DFAT's own guidance states that the print must be clear, unedited, and printed on high-gloss, heavy-weight paper. One of the two prints must be countersigned on the back by an Australian citizen who is not a close relative, has known the parent or guardian for at least 12 months, and writes "I certify that this is a true likeness of [the child's full name]" followed by their own name, address, contact number, and signature. The expression and eye rules differ by age, and this is where Australia is more specific than most comparable countries. **For babies under three months:** the eyes may be closed. This is an explicit DFAT allowance for very young newborns, acknowledging that a newborn's eyes are often not reliably open or controllable. The face must still be clearly visible, the baby must be alone in the frame, and no hands or props can appear anywhere in the shot. **For children under three years:** the eyes must be open and visible, but the mouth may be slightly open. DFAT acknowledges that young children cannot reliably close their mouths on command, and a slightly open mouth is accepted for this age group. From three months onwards, the child must be looking toward the camera, though perfect direct eye contact is not strictly required. **For children three years and older:** the same standard adult rules apply in full. Eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression, looking directly at the camera.

Where people get surprised

The dye-sublimation print requirement is the most consistent surprise. Most parents assume that any reasonable quality print — from a home printer, from a pharmacy kiosk, from any photo lab — will be accepted as long as the composition is correct. DFAT's standard is more specific: the print must use dye-sublimation technology, which produces continuous-tone output on heavy glossy paper without the dot pattern that inkjet printers leave. DFAT explicitly says that even "seemingly minor edits — smoothing skin, brightening the background, removing shadows — can break facial recognition at an airport." This also means Australia Post, specialist photography studios, and camera stores are typically the most reliable print sources, since they have the correct equipment. Standard pharmacy kiosks vary — some use dye-sublimation equipment and some don't, and it's worth confirming before you go. The second surprise, for parents who have previously taken passport photos for a UK or US passport, is that Australia's age-graded rules are more specific than those other countries. The UK allows closed eyes only for babies under one year, with no explicit split between under three months and three months to one year. Australia splits more finely: under three months (eyes may be closed), three months to under three years (eyes must be open, mouth may be open), three years and over (adult standard applies). This means a newborn in Australia has a slightly more forgiving rule set than a four-month-old. The third thing that catches parents is the no-hands requirement, which is strict regardless of how young the child is. DFAT's official guidance is explicit: no other person, hand, or support item may appear anywhere in the frame. A hand visible at the edge of the shoulder, or fingers visible beneath a baby's head at the bottom of the frame, will cause rejection. This is why the lay-flat overhead method — laying the baby face-up on a plain sheet and photographing from directly above — is effective for newborns. Any support for the baby's head that stays below the sheet level is invisible in the final image. The fourth thing worth knowing, which is specific to Australia and distinguishes it from most other passport photo standards, is that AirPods and wireless earbuds are specifically and explicitly excluded from the hearing-aid exception. DFAT's official guidance states: "If you usually wear a hearing aid, you can wear it in your passport photo. This applies to adults, children and infants. AirPods and other wireless earbuds are not considered hearing aids and must be removed for your passport photo." This is an unusually specific clarification that reflects questions the Australian Passport Office has evidently received, and it's worth knowing before the session.

DFAT's official position on photo apps

DFAT's own guidance states: "We do not recommend using an online passport photo service or a mobile app. These may put you in danger of identity fraud." This statement applies to services that upload your photo to a remote server for processing, and reflects a specific concern about transmitting biometric image data to third-party systems. Tools that process photos entirely on-device — without any server upload during the capture and export process — address the specific risk DFAT is describing. Whether you use a professional studio or an on-device tool, the composition and print quality requirements are unchanged.

How PassSnap fits

PassSnap processes the capture and export workflow entirely on-device. No photo is uploaded to a server during the session. The Australia Passport photo type applies DFAT-compliant 35–45mm crop and 32–36mm face-height guidance for both adult and infant setups. The optional AI verify step checks background uniformity, facial visibility, and expression compliance without applying any alteration to the exported image — consistent with DFAT's no-editing standard. The exported JPEG file needs to be taken to a professional print lab with dye-sublimation equipment for the final print step; PassSnap handles the composition and sizing, not the printing.

Setting up the session

Choose the session timing carefully. Babies and toddlers have narrow cooperative windows, typically twenty to thirty minutes after waking from a nap and after a feed. A session when the child is overtired or hungry will produce more frustration than usable frames. A calm, alert baby in a five-minute well-timed session produces more options than a longer session with an unhappy child.

For newborns and babies under roughly six months who cannot sit up independently, use the lay-flat overhead method. Lay a plain white sheet flat on the floor or a clean table. Lay the baby face-up on the sheet with the head centred. Position yourself directly above with the camera parallel to the floor and the baby's face centred in the viewfinder. A hand may support the baby's head from below the sheet level, but no part of the hand can appear in the frame. Shoot in burst mode and select the best frame afterward.

For babies who can sit in a car seat or bouncer, drape a plain white sheet completely over the seat — covering all straps, frame, and coloured upholstery — so only the baby's head and upper body are visible against the white. Position the camera at the baby's face level, not looking down. Have a second person behind the camera attracting the baby's gaze.

Use natural, diffused daylight from a front-facing window rather than overhead ceiling lights. Ceiling lights cast downward shadows under the chin and nose that cause rejection. Overcast daylight through a window produces soft, even light across the face with no harsh shadows.

Once you have a usable digital file, take it to a professional photo lab — Australia Post, a dedicated photography studio, or a camera retailer — for dye-sublimation printing on heavy glossy paper. Confirm they use dye-sublimation equipment before going. Have the countersignature arranged in advance so you can complete that step as soon as you have the prints.

FAQ

Do my baby's eyes need to be open in an Australian passport photo?

It depends on age. For babies under three months, DFAT explicitly allows closed eyes. For children from three months to under three years, eyes must be open and visible, though perfect direct eye contact is not strictly required. For children three years and older, the adult standard applies: eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera. This three-stage age structure is more specific than what most comparable countries use.

Can I print my baby's Australian passport photo at home?

No. DFAT requires photos to be printed on high-quality glossy photo paper using dye-sublimation technology, not standard inkjet printing. Home inkjet printers — even with glossy photo paper — do not produce dye-sublimation output. The print must come from a professional source that uses the correct equipment: Australia Post, a professional photography studio, or a camera retailer. Confirming the print method before you go is worth the thirty seconds it takes.

What is the countersignature requirement for a baby's Australian passport photo?

One of the two identical printed photos must be countersigned on the back by an Australian citizen who is not a close relative, has known the parent or guardian personally for at least 12 months, and who writes "I certify that this is a true likeness of [the child's full name]" on the back, followed by their full name, address, contact number, and signature. This requirement applies to child passport applications and cannot be skipped or waived.