Austria Passport Photo Size & Requirements
Official photo size: 35 x 45 mm (1.4 x 1.8 inches) at 300 DPI
Photo Specifications
Overview
Austrian passports are issued by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) and processed through municipal passport offices and embassies abroad. The standard photo is 35x45mm on a light, plain background, following ICAO biometric rules. Austria is strict about the head measurement: the face from chin to crown should be about 34.5mm and must not exceed 36mm, and the eyes need to sit in the upper half of the frame. Photos taken at certified Austrian studios often come with a quality stamp that speeds up acceptance.
A plain, evenly lit light background such as light grey or off-white, with no shadows behind the head.
Requirements
- Print the photo at exactly 35x45mm in colour, recent within the last six months.
- Use a light, uniform background (light grey works best) free of shadows, patterns, or objects.
- Keep a neutral expression with the mouth closed and look straight into the lens.
- Head height from chin to top of hair should be roughly 34.5mm and never more than 36mm.
- The centre of both eyes must sit at least 8mm apart, positioned in the upper half of the photo.
- Glasses are tolerated only if they cause no glare and do not hide the eyes; tinted lenses are out.
- Head coverings are allowed for religious reasons as long as the full face from chin to forehead stays visible.
- Supply a sharp, high-resolution print with natural skin tones and no digital retouching.
Common Rejection Reasons
- Head sized above 36mm or pushed too low so the eyes fall below the midline.
- Reflections or heavy frames on glasses that obscure the eyes.
- Coloured or textured background, or visible shadows behind the subject.
- Smiling, raised eyebrows, or an open mouth instead of a neutral look.
- Photo older than six months or showing a clearly outdated appearance.
- Blurry, pixelated, or over-edited prints with unnatural skin tone.
Tips
- Ask the studio for the Austrian quality stamp; it signals the office that specs were checked.
- Pin or clip hair back so it does not cross the face outline or cast shadows.
- Stand far enough from the wall to kill any shadow on a light grey backdrop.
- If you need glasses for medical reasons, bring a signed doctor's note to the office.
- Check the eye-line yourself: both eyes should land in the top half of the 45mm height.
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