Australian Visa Photo Requirements [With Examples]

Visiting Australia is not only expensive but also requires good preparation. Entering the Land Down Under for most foreigners (including Singaporeans) entails carrying a valid visa—and to apply for one, you’ll need an Australian visa photo compliant with official regulations.

Read on to find out exactly what picture is required for any type of Australian visa and how you can easily take your photo at home.

Pro tip: Australia offers several visa types, depending on the purpose and length of your stay. You can explore your options with this official visa finder.

Understanding Australian visa photo requirements

The Australian government offers several types of visas for foreigners from all over the world. Depending on the purpose of your visit and its length, you may be eligible to obtain:

• ETA (subclass 601)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600)
• Business stream visa

Regardless of which one applies to you, you’ll need to submit a photo compliant with Australian visa photo requirements (which are the same as photos for AU passports). Let’s discuss them in detail below.

Australian visa photo: technical requirements

Note: Remember that for some types of visas, you’ll need to apply for your Australian visa online and submit a digital photo (as per the abovementioned requirements). 

The fine details: specifics of Australian visa photos

Aside from technical specifications, all pictures for Australian visa applications must follow additional guidelines:

• Facial expression. Don’t smile or frown. Keep a neutral expression
• Pose. Keep your eyes open and mouth closed. Face the camera lens directly
• Clothing. Wear your normal clothes, but opt for darker colours that won’t blend with the background
• Facial hair. Keep your beard as it is if you normally wear it
• Head coverings. Wearing headgear (hats, hair bands, etc.) is strictly prohibited. You can cover your head only for religious or medical reasons. In that case, the headgear must be plain and without any patterns
• Glasses. You can wear prescription glasses, but only if you provide a signed medical statement. Tinted glasses are prohibited entirely
• Hair. Your whole face must be clearly visible. Consider tucking your hair behind the ears and tying longer bangs with hairpins

Pro tip: To avoid shadows in the background, stand at least 1.5 metres away from the backdrop and take the photo in good lighting, e.g., in daylight.

Look at the examples below that display how your Australian visa photos should look.

Online services for Australian visa photos

Finding a local retailer that specialises in Australian visa photos when abroad may be a challenge. After all, the requirements differ from those in other countries! Luckily, you don’t need to worry or rely on a photo booth in the area.

With your smartphone’s digital camera, you can easily snap your own photos that will comply with the specific Australian guidelines. All you need is a reliable app designed for biometric photos (passport photos, visa photos, and pictures for other IDs). 

Have a look at the comparison table below to decide whether any of them could satisfy your needs and expectations.

No time to test each and every app? Experience the convenience and reliability of Passport Photo Online. With our professional service, you’ll get a perfect photo for your visa with a few taps on the screen:

Find us here: Download on iOS or Android

But don’t take our word for it—hear it from our satisfied customers, who rated our app 4.5⭐ on Trustpilot.

Sources:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder 

https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/photo-requirements