Australian Citizenship Photo Requirements 2026: 35x45mm Size & Free Maker

Australian citizenship applications submitted on Form 1300t require two recent passport-sized photographs that meet Department of Home Affairs (DHA) specifications. The dimensional rules match the standard Australian passport photo, but citizenship adds one extra step: one of the two photos must be endorsed on the back by an authorised guarantor. This guide covers every 2026 Australian citizenship photo requirement and how it aligns with the broader Australian passport photo regulations.

Official Australian Citizenship Photo Size (35x45mm)

The DHA requires each citizenship photo to be:

Printed size: 35 x 45 mm (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
Imperial equivalent: 1.38 x 1.77 inches
Head height: 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown
Aspect ratio: Portrait, approximately 7:9
Print medium: Professional photographic paper

These Australian passport photo specifications are identical to those used for visas, ImmiAccount uploads, and passport renewals. Australia follows the ICAO 9303 international standard, and the 35x45mm format remains unchanged in 2026.

How Many Photos You Need

Citizenship applications require two identical printed photographs, both from the same session and taken within the last six months.

One photo is left blank on the back.
The second photo must be endorsed by an authorised guarantor.

The guarantor endorsement is the single biggest difference from a passport renewal. Submitting only one photo, or two unendorsed prints, will result in the application being returned.

Background and Lighting Rules

The aus passport photo requirements for background apply equally to citizenship:

Plain white, off-white, or very light grey only.
No patterns, textures, or visible objects.
No shadows on the background or face.
Clear contrast with hair colour and skin tone.

Stand at least 50 cm in front of a plain wall and use diffused daylight or two soft light sources at 45 degrees to avoid the shadow halo behind the head that causes most rejections.

Facial Expression and Head Position

The Australian passport photo regulations require a strict neutral pose:

Neutral expression, mouth closed.
Both eyes open, fully visible, looking at the camera.
Face squared to the lens, no head tilt.
Full face visible from hairline to below the chin.
Hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows.

The head must occupy 64 to 80 per cent of the vertical frame. A faint closed-lip smile is sometimes accepted, but a fully neutral expression is safest.

Glasses Policy (No Glasses Since 2020)

Australia banned glasses in passport and citizenship photos in 2018, fully enforced from 2020:

No glasses of any kind are permitted in 2026.
This includes prescription, reading, tinted, and sunglasses.
The only exception is documented medical reasons, supported by a letter from a registered practitioner.

Remove glasses before the shutter clicks, even if you wear them daily.

Recency Requirement

Both photographs must be taken within the last six months of submitting Form 1300t. If the application is delayed and the photos approach the six-month mark, retake them before lodgement to avoid a return-and-resubmit cycle.

The Guarantor Endorsement: Who Can Sign Your Photo

This is where the photo requirements for Australian citizenship diverge from a standard passport photo guide. Australia. The DHA requires that one of the two identical photographs be endorsed by a guarantor who:

Is an Australian citizen.
Has known the applicant at least one year in person.
Is not related by birth, marriage, or de facto partnership.
Is over 18.
Belongs to one of the approved professions on Form 1195.

Approved guarantor professions include:

Medical practitioner registered with AHPRA
Dentist, pharmacist, or optometrist
Nurse with five or more years of continuous service
Lawyer, judge, or magistrate
Justice of the Peace (JP)
Accountant (CPA, CA, IPA member)
Bank, building society, or credit union officer with five or more years of service
Police officer
Teacher or principal employed full-time
Minister of religion authorised to celebrate marriages
Australian Defence Force officer
Federal or State Member of Parliament
Australia Post manager or employee with five or more years of service

The full list lives on Form 1195 (Certifying Documents) at homeaffairs.gov.au.

What the Guarantor Must Write on the Back of the Photo

The guarantor endorses one photo by writing the following on the back, in pen:

“This is a true photograph of [Applicant’s full name]”

Underneath, the guarantor adds:

Full printed name
Occupation matching the approved list
AHPRA, JP, or registration number where applicable
Address and phone number
Signature and date

Use a fine-tip permanent marker or a ballpoint and let it dry before placing the photo into the envelope.

Citizenship Photo vs Australian Passport Photo

In dimensional terms an Australian citizenship photo and an Australian passport photo are identical: 35x45mm, white background, neutral expression, no glasses, six-month recency, head 32 to 36 mm. The differences sit elsewhere:

Aspect	Citizenship (Form 1300t)	Adult Passport Renewal
Number of photos	2 identical prints	2 identical prints
Guarantor endorsement on back	Always required	Required first-time, sometimes for renewals
Submission format	Paper, attached to form	Paper, attached to PC8

A single photo session can serve both a passport and a citizenship application if you order enough prints to leave one of each pair unendorsed.

How to Take Your Citizenship Photo at Home

Follow the official Australian passport photo guidelines:

Choose a plain white wall and clear it of frames and shadows.
Set up two light sources at 45 degrees, or use bright diffused daylight.
Place the camera at eye level on a tripod, 1.5 to 2 metres from the subject.
Wear a dark, plain top for contrast.
Remove glasses, hats, and bulky jewellery.
Adopt a neutral expression, mouth closed.
Take 10 to 20 frames and pick the sharpest.
Crop to 35x45mm with head height 32 to 36 mm.
Print on photographic paper at 300 DPI, two identical copies.

A free Australian passport photo maker can handle the cropping, background levelling, and DPI export, then prepare a print-ready file for any chemist or photo lab.

Where to Get an Australian Citizenship Photo

If you prefer a studio:

Officeworks: around AUD 16.95 for two prints, same day.
Australia Post: around AUD 19.95 at participating outlets.
Big W and Kmart photo counters: AUD 12 to 15.
Camera House and Ted’s Cameras: AUD 20 to 25, with retake guarantees.
Chemist Warehouse and Priceline: AUD 12 to 18.
Independent studios: AUD 25 to 40, often the safest option for Form 1300t because staff understand the guarantor step.

When you book, mention citizenship so the operator leaves the back of the second print blank.

Children and Babies Citizenship Photo

Applicants under 18 follow the same 35x45mm specifications, with practical allowances:

Babies under one year may have closed or partially closed eyes; the face must still be centred and lit.
Children must hold a neutral expression and look at the camera; no toys, parents, or hands in frame.
A white sheet under a baby photographed from above creates a clean background.
A guarantor must still endorse the child’s photo with the child’s full name as on the application.
For applicants under 16, a parent or legal guardian completes Form 1300t alongside the child.

Photo for Citizenship by Conferral, Descent, or Resumption

The 35x45mm photo and guarantor rules apply across all pathways:

Citizenship by Conferral (Form 1300t): most common, for permanent residents passing the citizenship test.
Citizenship by Descent (Form 118): for people born outside Australia to an Australian parent.
Citizenship by Resumption (Form 132): for former citizens reclaiming Australian citizenship.
Evidence of Citizenship (Form 119): one endorsed photo accompanies the application.

In every case the photo must meet the Australian passport photo specifications, be taken within six months, and be printed twice on photographic paper.

Common Reasons Australian Citizenship Photos Get Rejected

Most frequent rejection causes:

Photo older than six months at lodgement.
Wrong size (US 2x2 inch or Indian 35x35mm sent in error).
Smiling with teeth or mouth open.
Glasses worn (still the biggest avoidable mistake).
Shadows on the background or under the chin.
Hair covering eyes, eyebrows, or facial outline.
Head height outside 32 to 36 mm.
Printed on standard office paper instead of photographic paper.
Missing guarantor endorsement on the back of the second photo.
Guarantor not on the approved profession list.
Guarantor signature smudged or illegible.
Photo creased or stapled through the face.

For overlapping digital ImmiAccount issues, see our Australia visa photo requirements 2026 guide.

Submitting Your Photos With Form 1300t

When you assemble the application:

Place the unendorsed photo in the photo holder on Form 1300t and tape it (do not staple).
Attach the endorsed photo with a paper clip or in a clear sleeve so the guarantor’s writing is visible.
Do not laminate, trim, or write on the front of either photo.
Let the guarantor’s signature dry before pressing the photo against printed pages.
Send by certified mail or lodge in person at a DHA service centre.

If a photo is rejected at receipt, the DHA will request replacements without restarting the application.

Next Steps

Ready to make your Australian citizenship photo? Use our free Australia passport photo tool to produce a 35x45mm image with the correct head height, white background, and 300 DPI export, then print two identical copies on photographic paper. The same tool handles visa applications via au-visa and meets every photo requirement for Australian citizenship under the 2026 Form 1300t rules. Take the photo at home, have an authorised guarantor endorse one print, and lodge with confidence.

For official guidance, refer to the Department of Home Affairs at homeaffairs.gov.au and Form 1300t. Always check Form 1195 for the current list of approved guarantor professions before your photo session.