Independent guide to official photo rules

Not affiliated with the Australian Passport Office or any other government agency

ImmiCard Photo Requirements

The digital photo Home Affairs asks for with an ImmiCard application: size, file limit, backdrop and pose.

Based on official sources · last checked

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Quick answer

What are the ImmiCard photo requirements?

Home Affairs asks for an ImmiCard photo that is a vertical 1200 × 1600 pixel JPEG of no more than 500 KB, taken within the last 6 months against an 18% grey backdrop, showing your full head, neck and shoulders with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed.

An ImmiCard is an identity card the Department of Home Affairs issues to some visa holders who do not have a passport to prove their identity. The ImmiCard photo is a passport-quality, vertical 1200 × 1600 pixel JPEG of no more than 500 KB, taken within the last 6 months against an 18% grey backdrop.

ImmiCard photo requirements

Size 1200 × 1600 pixels, vertical
File JPEG, no larger than 500 KB
Photo age No more than 6 months old
Backdrop Stand close to an 18% grey backdrop
Camera Level, at about 1.4 m height
Framing Full head, neck and shoulders
Expression Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed
Quality Passport quality, for example from an Australia Post outlet

Make my photo

Different from other Home Affairs photos

The ImmiCard's 500 KB limit is much smaller than the 70 KB–3.5 MB allowed for citizenship photo uploads, and the grey backdrop is darker than the plain light backgrounds used elsewhere. Make a separate file for the ImmiCard rather than reusing another photo.

How to make an ImmiCard photo

  1. Set up the backdrop. Stand close to an 18% grey backdrop, with the camera level at about 1.4 m height.
  2. Take a passport-quality photo. Show your full head, neck and shoulders, with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed. Home Affairs suggests a provider such as an Australia Post outlet.
  3. Save the file. A vertical JPEG of 1200 × 1600 pixels, no larger than 500 KB, taken within the last 6 months. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
  4. Attach it to your application. Use a separate file made for the ImmiCard, not a photo reused from another Home Affairs application.

Sample photos

Correct photo example: correct: grey backdrop
Correct: grey backdrop
Rejected photo example: shadows on face
Shadows on face
Rejected photo example: open-mouth smile
Open-mouth smile
Rejected photo example: head too small
Head too small

ImmiCard photo FAQ

A vertical digital photo of 1200 × 1600 pixels, saved as a JPEG no larger than 500 KB.

Home Affairs asks you to stand close to an 18% grey backdrop, a mid-grey commonly used by passport photo studios.

Home Affairs suggests a passport-quality photo from an Australia Post outlet or a similar provider. It must be no more than 6 months old.

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Official sources

Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.