Quick answer
How do I get a photo for a Proof of Age or photo ID card?
In most Australian states the photo is taken when you apply in person, under the same rules as driver licences. Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads accepts two supplied 35 × 45 mm photos, endorsed by an approved witness, for remote applications, and WA accepts its E13 photo kit.
Australia has no national ID card. Instead, each state and territory issues a photo ID or Proof of Age card for people who do not hold a driver licence. For almost all of them, your photo is taken when you apply in person, using the same camera and rules as driver licences. You only need to supply printed photos for remote applications in Queensland and through WA's photo kit.
Photo ID cards by state
| State | Card | Age | Photo | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Photo Card | 16+ | Taken at a Service NSW centre; a valid photo on file can be reused | $68 (5 years) or $122 (10 years, 21+); free for eligible pensioners, seniors and carers |
| Victoria | Proof of Age Card | 17 years 11 months+ | Taken at an approved photo point when you lodge | $10 |
| Queensland | Photo identification card | 15+ | Taken at a TMR centre, QGAP office or police station; two supplied photos for remote applications | $82.70 new, $37.40 replacement |
| Western Australia | WA Photo Card | 16+ | Taken at a transport centre or regional agent, or E13 photo kit | $49.70; $24.85 concession; free for aged pensioners |
| South Australia | Proof of age card | 17 years 11 months+ | Taken at Service SA, or reused online through mySAGOV | $25, never expires |
| Tasmania | Personal Information Card | 14+ | Taken at a Service Tasmania centre | $30.75 for 5 years |
| ACT | Proof of Identity card | 18+ | Taken at an Access Canberra service centre | $9 |
| Northern Territory | Evidence of Age card | 18+ | Taken at an MVR office (form A14) | $28; free for NT Concession holders |
NSW, Queensland and WA fees apply from 1 July 2026. Check the official page for current fees and concessions.
Queensland photo identification card: supplied photos
If you apply remotely, Queensland asks for two supplied photos instead of taking one at a centre:
| Number | Two identical colour photos |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 mm wide × 45 mm high |
| Photo age | No more than 6 months old |
| Printing | At 600 dpi or higher; no photo booth prints |
| Editing | Not digitally altered |
| Glasses | Removed |
| Endorsement | Signed on the back by an approved witness |
WA Photo Card and the E13 photo kit
The WA Photo Card is valid for 5 years and is not renewed: you apply for a new one. If you cannot visit a centre because you are temporarily interstate or overseas, have a medical reason or live in remote WA, you can use the E13 photo kit: two 45 × 35 mm colour photos on matte paper with a plain white background, signed on the back by a witness.
Digital proof of age
- Victoria: the digital Proof of Age in the Service Victoria app is for people aged 15 and over, costs $10, and asks you to take a photo of your face in the app, which is checked against your identity document.
- South Australia: the proof of age card has a digital version in the mySAGOV app.
How to get your photo ID card photo
- Find your state's card. Each state and territory issues its own photo ID or Proof of Age card, with its own minimum age and fee, as the table above shows.
- Apply in person. For almost all cards, your photo is taken when you apply, using the same camera and rules as driver licences.
- Get the pose right. Face the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed, without glasses, and wear head coverings only for religious or medical reasons.
- Applying remotely? Supply printed photos. Queensland accepts two identical 35 × 45 mm colour photos, printed at 600 dpi or higher and signed on the back by an approved witness. WA uses its E13 photo kit.
What your photo should look like
The rules match driver licence photos: face the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed, no glasses, and head coverings only for religious or medical reasons.
Photo ID card FAQ
In most states, no: the photo is taken when you apply in person. Queensland accepts two supplied 35 × 45 mm photos, endorsed by an approved witness, for remote applications, and WA accepts its E13 photo kit.
No. You lodge the application at an approved photo point and your photo is taken there. The separate digital Proof of Age in the Service Victoria app asks you to take a photo of your face in the app.
Among the cards listed here, the ACT Proof of Identity card ($9) and the Victorian Proof of Age Card ($10) cost the least. Several states offer free or discounted cards to pensioners and concession holders.
Official sources
- NSW Government: Get your first Photo Card
- NSW Government: Photo Card fees and concessions
- Victorian Government: Proof of Age Card
- Service Victoria: Digital Proof of Age FAQ
- Queensland Government: Photo identification card
- Department of Transport WA: WA Photo Card
- SA Government: Proof of age card
- Service Tasmania: Personal Information Card
- Access Canberra: Proof of identity cards
- NT Government: Evidence of Age card
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.