Australia Document Guidelines
Applying for an Australian visa, permanent residency, or passport? Get exact photo pixel dimensions, PDF size caps, and format rules for ImmiAccount and Department of Home Affairs portals.
Australia's Department of Home Affairs processes visa and immigration applications through the ImmiAccount portal, which accepts photos up to 5 MB in JPEG or PNG format. The preferred resolution is 1200×1600 pixels — a notably higher-resolution standard than most other countries — reflecting Australia's early adoption of high-resolution biometric document processing.
A unique aspect of Australian immigration processing is that ImmiAccount allows applicants to attach up to 60 documents per person (and up to 100 for partner visas), but each attachment has its own size limit. This means you may need to compress multiple different documents to different targets depending on the attachment field.
For Australian passport applications, the Australian Passport Office uses the ICAO biometric standard: a 35–40 mm wide by 45–50 mm high print size, with the digital equivalent being approximately 800×1000 pixels or higher. Australia's automated photo tool on the passports.gov.au website provides real-time feedback, but it's still important to verify your file meets size requirements before upload.
ImmiAccount — Department of Home Affairs
Digital Photo
1200×1600 px preferred | JPEG or PNG
Supporting Documents
PDF | Up to 60 attachments per person
Digital Photo
35–40mm × 45–50mm | JPEG | White bg
Supporting Documents
PDF | Birth certificate, citizenship doc
Australia Portal Quick-Reference Table
Photo dimensions, file size limits, and official sources — compiled from homeaffairs.gov.au, passports.gov.au, my.gov.au, ato.gov.au.
| Portal | Category | Photo Size | Dimensions | PDF Limit | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ImmiAccount ImmiAccount — Department of Home Affairs | immigration | Up to 5 MB | 1200×1600 px preferred | JPEG or PNG | Up to 5 MB each | homeaffairs.gov.au |
Passports Australian Passport Office | passport | Up to 2 MB | 35–40mm × 45–50mm | JPEG | White bg | Up to 5 MB | passports.gov.au |
myGov myGov — Australian Government Services Hub | identity | — | — | Up to 5 MB | my.gov.au |
ATO Australian Tax Office — myTax Portal | tax | — | — | Up to 2 MB | ato.gov.au |
Australia Rejection Prevention Checklist
- PNG is Accepted by ImmiAccount — Unlike Most Portals: ImmiAccount accepts PNG in addition to JPEG. However, PNG files tend to be larger. A PNG photo may easily exceed the 5 MB limit. Converting to JPEG first gives more compression headroom.
- 1200×1600 px is the Preferred Resolution — Not a Minimum: The Home Affairs portal recommends (not mandates) 1200×1600 px. Photos significantly below this may still upload but could flag a quality warning. Aim to meet or exceed this resolution.
- No AI Retouching — Explicitly Prohibited in Partner Visa Applications: The Department of Home Affairs explicitly prohibits digitally altered photos for partner (subclass 820/801) visa applications, as these undergo manual human review for relationship authenticity.
- White Background Required for Passport Photos: The Australian Passport Office requires a plain white background — unlike the UK's cream/light grey standard. Use our background remover to switch to a pure white backdrop.
- Partner Visa: Up to 100 Attachments: For subclass 820/801 partner visas, ImmiAccount allows up to 100 document attachments. Each has a 5 MB limit. Compress evidence of relationship PDFs (travel records, joint financial statements) to keep within limits while remaining readable.
Frequently Asked Questions — Australia Document Uploads
Common questions about file sizes, photo requirements, and portal-specific rules.
What photo resolution does ImmiAccount require?
ImmiAccount (Department of Home Affairs) accepts JPEG or PNG photos up to 5 MB. The preferred resolution is 1200×1600 pixels, though this is a recommendation rather than a strict minimum. Photos should have a plain white or light background, with the face clearly visible and taking up the majority of the frame.
What is the document upload limit for Australian visa applications?
Each individual attachment on ImmiAccount can be up to 5 MB. Applicants can attach up to 60 documents per person for most visas, and up to 100 documents for partner (subclass 820/801) visas. If your PDF is over 5 MB, use our Compress PDF tool to reduce it.
Does Australia accept PNG photos for immigration applications?
Yes — ImmiAccount uniquely accepts PNG in addition to JPEG. However, PNG photos at passport quality tend to be much larger than JPEG equivalents. A high-resolution PNG photo can easily exceed the 5 MB limit. Consider converting to JPEG (with good quality settings) to get more compression headroom.
What background colour is required for Australian passport photos?
The Australian Passport Office requires a plain white background. This is different from the UK (cream/light grey) and similar to the US standard. Our background remover tool can replace any background with the correct white colour.
Can I compress tax documents for ATO myTax uploads?
Yes. The ATO accepts PDF uploads of receipts, invoices, payment summaries, and business documents up to 2 MB per file. If you have multiple receipts to submit, use our Merge PDF tool to combine them into one file, then use Compress PDF to bring the combined file under the 2 MB limit.
Other Country Guidelines
Specifications compiled from official Australian government sources (homeaffairs.gov.au, passports.gov.au, my.gov.au, ato.gov.au). Requirements may vary by visa subclass — always refer to your specific SkillSelect or ImmiAccount application instructions.