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Citizenship and naturalisation

Australia citizenship application photo requirements

The 1200 × 1600 px photo rules set by Department of Home Affairs for the Australia citizenship application photo, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 5 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What size is the Australia citizenship application photo?

An Australian citizenship photo is 35-40 mm wide by 45-50 mm high, with 32-36 mm from chin to crown, in colour against a neutral or light grey background, and no more than 6 months old. It must be completely unedited. For online applications, upload a JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB, ideally 1200 x 1600 pixels.

An Australian citizenship photo is submitted with an application to the Department of Home Affairs. The photo must be completely unedited. Whether someone has to endorse it depends on the type of citizenship you are applying for.

Citizenship by conferral applicants do not need to provide Form 1195 or have their photo endorsed. For citizenship by descent and evidence of Australian citizenship, every applicant, including children, needs Form 1195 and an endorsed photo.

Australia citizenship application photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Department of Home Affairs:[1]

Print size35-40 mm wide x 45-50 mm high
Digital size1200 x 1600 pixels preferred; JPEG, not a scan of a print
Head height32-36 mm from chin to crown
BackgroundNeutral or light grey, contrasting with your face
ColourColour photo, full face
Photo ageNo more than 6 months old
File size70 KB to 3.5 MB
File formatJPEG
1200 px1600 px
1200 × 1600 px photo drawn to scale. Background: neutral or light grey.

In the official words

Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:

This is a true photograph of [applicant's full name]

Home Affairs: Photo requirements for citizenship applications[1]

Key requirements

  • Expression

    Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed.

  • No editing

    Do not remove or replace the background digitally, and do not remove moles, wrinkles, scars or red eye.

  • Endorsement (Form 1195)

    Citizenship by descent and evidence of citizenship need Form 1195 and an endorsed photo for every applicant, including children. The signer writes the true-photograph statement on the back of the photo and signs it with the same signature used on the form. Conferral applicants do not need endorsement.

  • Who can endorse

    The signer must be an Australian citizen who has known you for at least one year, work in one of the occupations listed on the form, not be related to you by birth, marriage or a de facto relationship, and be contactable by phone during working hours. If you live overseas and do not know a qualifying Australian citizen, a citizen of your country of residence in a listed occupation can sign instead.

  • Check the current form

    Recent versions of Form 1195 may also ask the signer to sign across a bottom corner of the front of the photo without touching your face. Follow the instructions on the version of the form you download.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Use an unedited colour photo with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed
  • Use a neutral or light grey background that contrasts with your face
  • Remove glasses unless you have a medical reason; if you must keep them, use untinted lenses with frames clear of your eyes and no reflection
  • Wear religious head coverings that show your whole face from chin to forehead, in a plain material

Don't

  • Keep glasses on only because you need them to see
  • Use tinted lenses or allow glare
  • Wear patterned head coverings or anything hiding the edges of your face
  • Digitally remove or replace the background, or retouch moles, wrinkles, scars or red eye

Sample photos

How a Australia citizenship application photo photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 1200 × 1600 px and background colour.

Correct
Open-mouth smile
Head tilted
Too close: head too big
Too far: head too small
Busy background
Shadows on face or background
Glare on glasses

Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.

Glasses

Remove them unless you have a medical reason. If you keep them on, the lenses must be untinted, the frames must not cover your eyes and there must be no reflection. Poor eyesight alone is not accepted as a reason.

Headwear and religious dress

Religious head coverings are accepted if they show your whole face from chin to forehead and are in a plain material. Patterned coverings or anything hiding the edges of your face are not accepted.

Babies and children

Children under 16 can be included on a responsible parent's application, with a photo of each child. Applications for citizenship by descent and evidence of citizenship need an endorsed photo and Form 1195 for every applicant, including children.

Online applications need a JPEG of 70 KB to 3.5 MB (1200 x 1600 pixels preferred), not a scan of a print. Paper forms ask for one passport-sized photo with your full name on the back, placed in a plastic sleeve and not stapled to the form.

Where to submit the photo

Upload online as a JPEG, or attach one passport-sized photo to a paper form with your full name on the back, in a plastic sleeve and not stapled. Home Affairs recommends a professional photo provider, such as an Australia Post outlet.

How to get your Australia citizenship application photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Australia citizenship application photo: 1200 × 1600 px print, 1200 × 1600 px digital file, neutral or light grey background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: expression; no editing; endorsement (Form 1195); who can endorse.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. Online applications need a JPEG of 70 KB to 3.5 MB (1200 x 1600 pixels preferred), not a scan of a print. Paper forms ask for one passport-sized photo with your full name on the back, placed in a plastic sleeve and not stapled to the form.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. Upload online as a JPEG, or attach one passport-sized photo to a paper form with your full name on the back, in a plastic sleeve and not stapled. Home Affairs recommends a professional photo provider, such as an Australia Post outlet.

Australia citizenship application photo FAQ

35-40 mm wide by 45-50 mm high, with 32-36 mm from your chin to the top of your head. For online applications, upload a JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB, ideally 1200 x 1600 pixels.

Not for citizenship by conferral: Home Affairs says conferral applicants do not have to provide Form 1195 or have their photograph endorsed. Applications for citizenship by descent and evidence of citizenship need an endorsed photo and Form 1195 for every applicant, including children.

A neutral or light grey background that contrasts with your face. Do not remove or replace the background digitally.

Remove them unless you have a medical reason. If you keep them on, the lenses must be untinted, the frames must not cover your eyes and there must be no reflection. Poor eyesight alone is not accepted as a reason.

Related photo specifications

Other Australia documents

Citizenship and naturalisation nearby

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Official sources

  1. Department of Home Affairs. Photo requirements for citizenship applications immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Checked 29 October 2026.
  2. Department of Home Affairs. Citizenship photo guidelines (PDF) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Checked 29 October 2026.
  3. Department of Home Affairs. Form 1195 Identity declaration (PDF) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Checked 29 October 2026.
  4. Department of Home Affairs. Identity declaration help text immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Checked 29 October 2026.
  5. Department of Home Affairs. Endorsed photograph help text immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Checked 29 October 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Department of Home Affairs before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"Australia citizenship application photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/australia/citizenship-photo

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