Australian baby passport photo: requirements, tips and how to take one at home
Every Australian citizen, including babies and young children, needs a valid passport for international travel. When applying for an Australian passport for a baby, you must provide two identical passport photos that meet the standard Australian passport photo requirements.
Although babies do not always need to keep the same facial expression as adults, their photos must still follow specific rules regarding size, background, lighting and what can appear in the frame. This guide explains the Australian baby passport photo requirements, where to get a baby passport photo, and how to take one at home.
Table of contents
- Baby passport photo requirements in Australia
- Where can I get an Australian baby passport photo near me?
- How to take an Australian baby passport photo at home
- Get an Australian baby passport photo online
- How to print a baby passport photo in Australia
- How to sign a child's photo for an Australian passport application
In this article, you will find the latest Australian baby passport photo requirements and practical tips for taking a compliant photo of your child without unnecessary stress.
Baby passport photo requirements in Australia
Australian baby passport photos must meet the same basic requirements as adult passport photos, with some exceptions for young children. Follow these rules when preparing a photo for your baby:
- You must provide two identical printed photographs.
- The photo must measure 35 mm wide and 45 mm high.
- The face size from chin to crown must be between 32 mm and 36 mm.
- The background must be plain white or light grey, with no objects or shadows.
- The photo must be in colour and printed on high-quality glossy photo paper.
- The baby’s face must be clearly visible and directed towards the camera as far as reasonably possible.
- For children under 3, the mouth may be open. A neutral expression is not always required for babies.
- No parent, supporting hand, dummy, toy, blanket edge or other object can appear in the photo.
- Babies can be photographed lying on a plain light-coloured surface if the lighting is even and no hands or objects are visible.
- Avoid shadows on the baby’s face and the background.
- Prescription glasses are permitted, but they are not recommended because reflections or glare can make the photo unsuitable.
- Religious head coverings are permitted if they are normally worn for religious reasons and do not cover any part of the face.
- For children over 3, use the standard passport photo requirements: the child should look directly at the camera with eyes open and a neutral expression.
Here is an example of a child’s passport photo:
Where can I get an Australian baby passport photo near me?
Parents in Australia can get baby passport photos taken at several types of locations, including Australia Post outlets, Officeworks stores and professional photography studios. The best option depends on your child’s age, how comfortable your baby is around strangers, and whether you need help with the photo-taking process.
- Australia Post. Participating Post Offices offer passport and ID photo services, so you can have your baby’s photos taken and organise your passport application in the same place. The current price for passport and ID photos at Australia Post is AUD 22.99 for six 35 × 45 mm prints.
- Officeworks. Many Officeworks stores provide passport and ID photo services. The advertised price for passport and ID photos with a certificate is AUD 20.95.
- Professional photographers. A photographer who regularly takes baby passport photos can be helpful if your child is very young, has difficulty staying still, or you want assistance with lighting and positioning.
Taking a baby passport photo in a studio or shop can be challenging because babies may feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar environment. They may cry, move their head, or struggle to look towards the camera. For this reason, many parents choose to take their baby’s passport photo at home, where the child is more relaxed and the process can be repeated until the right photo is captured.
Taking the photo yourself can also save time and money, especially when using an online passport photo service that helps adjust the image to meet Australian requirements.
How to take an Australian baby passport photo at home
Taking a DIY baby passport photo is possible if you follow the official photo requirements. The key is to choose the right setup, use even lighting and take several photos until you get one where your baby’s face is clearly visible.
- Place your baby on a plain light-coloured surface, such as a white or light grey sheet or blanket.
- Make sure the background is plain and free from patterns, shadows or visible objects.
- Use a camera or smartphone positioned at your baby’s eye level. Avoid taking a selfie, as the distance and angle may distort the photo.
- Keep your baby’s face centred in the frame and make sure the entire face is visible.
- For babies under 3 years old, the mouth may be open and a neutral expression is not always required. However, the face should be directed towards the camera as much as reasonably possible.
- Use soft, even lighting to avoid shadows on your baby’s face and the background. If you're using Visafoto, don't worry if the lighting isn't perfect - the service automatically enhances lighting and overall image quality.
- Do not include a parent’s hand, toys, dummy, blanket edge or any other objects in the photo.
- Take several photos and choose the one that best meets the Australian passport photo requirements.
The above rules apply to Australia passport photos for a newborn, toddler passport photos, and Australian adult passport photos.
Get an Australian baby passport photo online!
You don't have to visit a photo studio to get a compliant photo for a child's passport application. With Visafoto, you can take the picture at home using your smartphone whenever your baby is calm and comfortable, then upload it to receive a passport-ready photo in just a few seconds.
Simply take your baby's photo against any background and upload it to Visafoto.
Source
Result
For example, your original photo may look like this:
Visafoto automatically crops the image to the correct size, centres your baby's face, replaces the background with a compliant one and prepares both a digital photo and a printable template that meet Australian passport photo requirements.
After payment, every photo is further enhanced to improve its quality. Visafoto automatically corrects lighting, adjusts framing, improves image resolution and makes the photo look as though it was taken in a professional studio. This means that even if your home lighting was not ideal or the original image is slightly soft, the final result can be significantly improved.
If your baby moved between shots but you managed to capture one reasonably clear image, that's often enough. You don't need a perfect studio-quality original - Visafoto is designed to optimise suitable photos taken with an ordinary smartphone.
You can also upload a scan or even a photo of an existing printed passport photo. Visafoto enhances the image quality and resolution, producing a result that looks much closer to the original photograph than a typical scan.
With every order, you receive:
- a high-resolution digital Australian baby passport photo for online applications;
- a printable template for 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 in) photo paper;
- automatic image enhancement and quality improvement;
- a photo backed by Visafoto's 99.7% acceptance rate and money-back guarantee if it is not accepted by the authorities.
Here is what you will receive:
Visafoto can save parents both time and money by eliminating repeated trips to a photo studio while helping create a passport photo that complies with Australian requirements - all from the comfort of home.
How to print a baby passport photo in Australia
If you use Visafoto, you'll receive a printable template formatted for standard 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 in) photo paper. You can print it at home on high-quality glossy photo paper or order inexpensive prints from a local photo printing service.
Make sure the image is printed at its original size without resizing or cropping. Australian passport photos must measure 35 × 45 mm and be printed on glossy photo paper. Do not print them on ordinary office paper.
Where to print out a passport-sized photo in Australia: detailed guidelines.
How to sign a child's photo for an Australian passport application
Whether anything needs to be written on the back of your baby's passport photo depends on the type of application you are submitting. Do not write on either photo until you have checked the instructions provided with your child's passport application form.
Current Australian Passport Office guidance differs between some application types. In some cases, a guarantor may need to endorse and sign the back of one photo, while other applications do not require a photo endorsement. Always follow the instructions printed with your application form or contact the Australian Passport Office if you are unsure.
If you do need to write on the back of a photo, use a black pen, allow the ink to dry completely, and keep the written photo separate from the second photo to avoid ink transfer.
Last update: July 2026