Quick answer
Why are Australian passport photos rejected?
The Australian Passport Office rejects photos for smiling, glasses, hats or patterned head coverings, tilted heads, hair over the eyes, shadows, retouching, other people or objects in shot, and poor print quality. Prints must be dye sublimation on glossy paper of at least 200 gsm, so home inkjet prints fail.
If your passport photo is rejected, the Australian Passport Office asks for new photos and your application waits. The APO does not publish a ranked list of rejection reasons, but its photo guidance shows a long list of unacceptable examples. Here they are, grouped by type, with how to avoid each one.
Why Australian passport photos are rejected
| Problem | The APO lists as unacceptable | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Expression | Smiling, a subtle expression, too much make-up | Relax your face, close your mouth and look straight into the lens. Keep make-up natural. |
| Framing | Camera too close (distorted features), photo cropped too close or too far | Stand back from the camera and zoom slightly instead. Your face should measure 32–36 mm from chin to crown. |
| Editing | Retouching, skin smoothing, an edited background, red eye removed by editing | Submit the photo exactly as taken. Only brightness and contrast may be adjusted. |
| Glasses and coverings | Glasses on, a hat, a patterned head covering, wireless earbuds | Take glasses off unless you have a medical reason. Religious head coverings must be plain. |
| Other people and objects | An object in the photo, a parent's hand | Only the applicant can be in the photo, with nothing else in front of or beside them. |
| Pose | Head turned, tilted up or down, looking away | Face the camera straight on with your head level and your eyes on the lens. |
| Face visibility | Hair covering the eyes, face partly covered | Pull hair back from your eyes and the edges of your face. |
| Print and image quality | Lines or streaks, ink marks, reduced resolution, blurred or grainy images, uneven lighting | Use even lighting, a sharp full-resolution image and a dye-sublimation print on glossy 200 gsm paper. |
What these problems look like
The print problem most people miss
No inkjet prints
The APO asks for good-quality colour prints "produced using dye sublimation (i.e. not from an inkjet printer)", on heavy-weight glossy paper of at least 200 gsm. A photo that meets every other rule can still be rejected if it was printed on a home inkjet printer.
The APO also says it does not recommend online passport photo services or mobile apps, which it warns may put you at risk of identity fraud. If you prepare your own photo anyway, check it carefully against the full requirements and have it printed at a photo lab that uses dye-sublimation printing.
How to avoid a rejected passport photo
- Keep a neutral expression. Relax your face, close your mouth and look straight into the lens with your head level. Keep make-up natural.
- Remove glasses and hats. Take glasses off unless you have a medical reason. Religious head coverings must be plain, and hair must be pulled back from your eyes and the edges of your face.
- Get the framing right. Stand back from the camera and zoom slightly, so your face measures 32–36 mm from chin to crown, with nothing else in front of or beside you.
- Do not edit the photo. Submit it exactly as taken. Only brightness and contrast may be adjusted.
- Print it properly. Use even lighting, a sharp full-resolution image and a dye-sublimation print on glossy 200 gsm paper.
Rejected passport photo FAQ
The Australian Passport Office will contact you for new photos, which delays your application. Check your photos against the rules before you lodge to avoid this.
The APO requires dye-sublimation prints on heavy-weight glossy paper of at least 200 gsm. Inkjet prints, lines, streaks, ink marks and low resolution are listed as unacceptable.
No. The APO lists smiling, and even a subtle expression, as unacceptable for anyone over 3. Keep a neutral face.
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.