Austria · Bundesministerium für Inneres
Austria Passport Photo Size (35×45 mm)
An Austrian passport photo must be 35×45 mm with a head height of 32–36 mm on a plain light background, taken within the last six months.
Officers at the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat counter reject photos on sight when these proportions are off, even by a few millimetres, which means a perfectly nice photo can still send you home to try again. Most rejections come down to background shadows, a head cropped too tight or too loose, an eye line sitting too low, or a photo that's quietly older than six months. This tool builds the file to the exact Austrian specification automatically, so the version you bring to your appointment is the version that gets accepted.
Austria at a glance
Austria Passport Photo Size (Quick Answer)
The Austria passport photo size is 35 mm × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), which equals 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI with a 7:9 portrait ratio. The head must measure 32–36 mm from chin to crown, filling 70–80% of the frame height, on a plain light background, taken within the last six months. Bring two identical printed copies to your appointment.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 826 × 1062 px |
| Aspect ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 32 – 36 mm |
| Head coverage | 70 – 80% of frame height |
| Eye line from bottom edge | Approximately 30 – 36 mm |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey, evenly lit |
| Photo age | Within the last 6 months |
| Copies required | 2 identical printed photos |
| Issuing authority | Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) |
Austria shares this format with most of Europe. See the full 35×45 photo size reference, or browse every standard in the requirements by country hub.
Austria Passport Photo Visual Reference
Austria uses the harmonized European 35×45 mm frame. The diagram marks the proportions the BMI standard measures.
Portrait orientation, 7:9 ratio
The 35×45 mm format is taller than it is wide. The head occupies the upper 70–80% of the frame with a small margin above the crown, and the eye line sits roughly 30–36 mm up from the bottom edge. The same physical print equals 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI, or 826 × 1062 at 600 DPI.
Why Upload Here Instead of Editing Manually
Cropping a passport photo by eye in an editing app is exactly how head-height violations happen. The tool measures the frame so you don't have to guess.
Automatic crop
Your photo is cropped to the exact 35×45mm Austrian frame, with no manual guesswork on borders. See the crop guide.
Biometric framing
Head height is measured and adjusted to land inside the 32–36mm chin-to-crown range. See head size rules.
Correct dimensions
Output is sized to BMI specification at print resolution, not an approximation.
Correct background
Background is replaced with a plain, evenly lit white tone, removing shadows and texture automatically. See background colour rules.
Printable photo sheet
Get a ready-to-print sheet formatted for the two physical photos most Austrian offices require.
No Photoshop required
Skip manual layer work entirely — upload, confirm the crop, and download.
On this page
- Quick Answer
- Visual Reference
- Austria Passport Photo Requirements
- Passport Authority Overview
- Passport Application Process
- Child Passport Photo Requirements
- Passport Renewal Photo Rules
- Taking the Photo at Home
- Printing the Photo
- Austria Compared to Other Countries
- How to Create an Austria Passport Photo
- Common Rejection Reasons
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
Austria Passport Photo Requirements
These specifications follow the Bundesministerium für Inneres standard, harmonized with the Schengen biometric photo format and ICAO Document 9303. Each rule links to the detailed standard in the passport photo rules library.
| Photo Size | 35mm × 45mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 35mm (413 px @ 300 DPI) |
| Height | 45mm (531 px @ 300 DPI) |
| Aspect Ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey, evenly lit, no shadows or texture — see background colour rules |
| Lighting | Even and diffuse, no shadow on the face or the wall behind the head — see shadow rules |
| Head Size | 32mm–36mm chin to crown — see head size rules |
| Head Coverage | Approximately 70–80% of frame height — see face size requirements |
| Eye Line | Approximately 30–36mm from the bottom edge, both eyes open and looking forward — see eyes requirements |
| Hair | Must not cover the eyes or obscure the outline of the face — see hair rules |
| Ears | Not mandatory under the Schengen-aligned standard, but the face outline must be clear — see ears visibility rules |
| Resolution | Minimum 600 dpi for print submission |
| File Format | JPEG (for digital capture at the office); print copies on photo paper |
| Colour | 24-bit colour, sRGB, natural skin tones, no filters or beautification |
| Copies Required | Two identical printed photos for the appointment |
| Glasses Rules | Not recommended; tinted lenses and reflections are not accepted — see glasses rules |
| Head Coverings | Hats not permitted; religious coverings accepted only with the full face visible — see head covering rules |
| Expression Rules | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing forward |
| Photo Age | No older than 6 months at time of application |
| Digital Submission Rules | Most applications are filed in person; photo is typically captured or printed on-site at the passport office |
Every specification above is applied automatically. Open the Passport Photo Maker and upload one photo.
Passport Authority Overview
Austrian passports are issued under the authority of the Bundesministerium für Inneres (Federal Ministry of the Interior), but the actual application is filed locally. Residents apply in person at their district's Bezirkshauptmannschaft or, in larger cities, at the Magistrat passport office. Austrians living abroad apply through the nearest Austrian embassy or consulate. Because Austrian law requires applicants to appear in person, photo capture often happens partly at the counter, which makes it even more important to arrive with a photo that already meets specification in case a printed copy is requested instead.
Passport Application Process
To apply for an Austrian passport, you'll need proof of citizenship, your existing ID or passport, and two recent photos meeting the 35×45mm specification described above. Appointments at a Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat office are usually required and can often be booked online through the local district's website. New passports are printed centrally and typically take several weeks to arrive, so applying well ahead of any planned travel is worth building into your timeline. Applicants abroad should confirm appointment availability with their embassy or consulate directly, since processing times for passports issued through a foreign mission are usually longer.
If you are travelling to Austria rather than applying as a citizen, the photo standard is the same 35×45 mm size but the process differs — see the Austria visa photo guide, or the Schengen visa photo guide for area-wide rules.
Child Passport Photo Requirements
Children, including infants, need their own Austrian passport and their own compliant photo — they cannot travel under a parent's passport entry. The 35×45mm frame still applies, but the framing rules relax with age. Children under five are not required to maintain a neutral expression or look directly at the camera, and their head does not need to be perfectly centered. Infants under one year old are not required to have their eyes open. If a child needs physical support to stay upright for the photo, a parent's hand may be used as long as it does not appear anywhere in the final image — tucking it beneath clothing is the usual solution. No toys, props, or other people should be visible in the frame.
The size and background rules do not relax: a newborn photo is still measured against the 35×45 mm frame and the 32–36 mm head-height band. Shoot wide and crop down, because cropping tightly in-camera on a small face leaves too few pixels once the 7:9 frame is applied. Positioning, lighting and timing technique for infants and toddlers is covered in the baby passport photo at home guide, and the two checks that fail most often on child photos are explained in the eyes requirements and shadow rules pages.
Passport Renewal Photo Rules
Renewing an Austrian passport uses the same photo specification as a first-time application — there is no relaxed standard for renewals. A common mistake is reusing a photo from a previous passport application because it "still looks like you." If that photo is older than six months, it will be rejected regardless of how accurate it still is. Plan to take a fresh photo specifically for the renewal, ideally within a few weeks of your appointment date rather than months in advance.
Can I Take My Austria Passport Photo at Home?
Yes — a phone camera can produce a compliant Austrian passport photo if you control a few details carefully before you shoot.
Phone camera requirements
Use the rear camera at eye level, in focus, with no filters, beauty modes, or AI enhancement applied.
Lighting
Stand facing a window with soft, even daylight. Avoid overhead light that casts shadows under the eyes or chin.
Background
Stand about a metre in front of a plain wall — white, light grey, or pale beige all crop cleanly.
Distance from camera
Step back enough that head and shoulders fill the frame; this gives the cropper enough margin to hit 32–36mm head height.
File handling
If your phone saves HEIC files, convert them first with the HEIC to JPEG guide so the file uploads cleanly.
Common mistakes
Selfies taken too close distort facial proportions, and patterned walls or visible furniture are an automatic background rejection.
Printing Your Austria Passport Photo
Austrian offices typically ask for two identical printed photos, so printing is part of the specification rather than an afterthought.
| Print resolution | 600 dpi where your printer allows; disable fit-to-page and auto-scaling, which change the physical size |
|---|---|
| Paper | Genuine photo paper, 200–250 gsm, glossy or matte. Plain inkjet paper looks washed out at the counter |
| Copies per 4 × 6 in sheet | 6 copies of 35 × 45 mm with cutting margins |
| Copies per A4 sheet | Around 20 copies of 35 × 45 mm |
| Cutting | Guillotine or steel rule for square edges. Do not cut inside the printed border |
| Colour management | sRGB. Turn off printer auto-enhance, skin smoothing and colour correction |
| Handling | Let ink dry fully. Do not staple, fold or glue the photo face |
Printer settings, paper choice and cutting technique are covered in full in the print passport photo at home guide, and multi-copy sheet layout in the print sheet guide. If a portal or office requests a digital file with a size limit, the reduce file size guide and digital photo requirements guide cover the mechanics.
Austria Compared to Other Countries
Travelers applying for more than one document often assume a single photo works everywhere. Within the Schengen area the size is shared, but background shade and head height still vary. Outside it, the format changes entirely.
Austria vs the United States
| Specification | Austria Passport Photo | US Passport Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35mm × 45mm | 2in × 2in (51mm × 51mm) |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px | 600 × 600 px |
| Aspect ratio | 7 : 9 portrait | 1 : 1 square |
| Head Size | 32–36mm chin to crown | 25–35mm (1–1⅜in) chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white / light grey | Plain white or off-white |
| Submission Format | Usually captured or printed in person at a Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat | Printed photo submitted with mailed or in-person DS-11 application |
| Compliance Differences | Tighter aspect ratio; glasses discouraged under Schengen-aligned rules | Square aspect ratio; glasses banned outright since 2016 |
The US format is covered in the US passport photo guide and the 2×2 photo size reference.
Austria vs neighbouring and Schengen countries
| Country | Photo Size | Head Height | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | White / very light grey |
| Germany | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
| Switzerland | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
| Italy | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | White / light grey |
| Slovenia | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
| Hungary | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
| Slovakia | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
| Czech Republic | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
| EU biometric standard | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light grey |
Because the size is shared across the region, one correctly framed 35×45 mm photo usually works for several neighbouring applications — but always match the background shade the specific authority publishes. Outside Europe the format diverges sharply: neighbouring markets such as China use 33 × 48 mm, and the China visa photo uses that same 33 × 48 mm size rather than the European standard.
How to Create an Austria Passport Photo
Five steps from a regular photo to an Austria-compliant file.
Upload
Choose a recent, well-lit photo of yourself facing the camera directly.
Crop
The tool crops to 35×45mm and checks your head height against the 32–36mm range.
Background
Your background is replaced with a plain, evenly lit white tone automatically.
Verify
A compliance check confirms dimensions, head size, and background against the BMI standard.
Download
Download a digital file or a print-ready sheet with two copies for your appointment.
Common Rejection Reasons for Austrian Passport Photos
Most rejected photos fail for one of these specific, fixable reasons. The full cross-country breakdown is in passport photo rejection reasons.
Incorrect dimensions
Photo isn't cropped to the exact 35×45mm frame. See the crop guide.
Wrong background
Patterned walls, shadows, or off-white tones instead of plain, even lighting. See background colour rules.
Head too large
Chin-to-crown measurement exceeds the 36mm ceiling, often from standing too close to the camera.
Head too small
Head height falls under 32mm, usually from standing too far back. See head size rules.
Eye line too low
Head height can be correct while the eyes sit below the 30mm mark, which fails the face-position check. See eyes requirements.
Shadows on the face
Overhead or side lighting creates shadows under the eyes, nose, or chin. See shadow rules.
Glasses glare
Reflections or tinted lenses obscure the eyes — removing glasses avoids this entirely. See glasses rules.
Hair across the face
A fringe over the eyes or hair obscuring the face outline fails landmark detection. See hair rules.
Headwear
Hats and decorative headwear are refused. Religious coverings must leave the full face visible. See head covering rules.
Photo older than six months
Even a flattering older photo is invalid past the six-month window.
Visible digital editing
Filters, skin smoothing, or AI retouching are flagged and rejected on detection.
Printed on plain paper
Standard office paper looks washed out at the counter. Use genuine photo paper. See the print at home guide.
Avoid all of the above in one step. Create your Austria passport photo with the compliance check applied automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size & Measurements
What size does an Austrian passport photo need to be?
35mm wide by 45mm tall, matching the harmonized Schengen and ICAO 9303 format. Within that frame, the face from chin to crown must measure between 32mm and 36mm. At 300 DPI the photo equals 413 × 531 pixels.
What is the Austrian passport photo size in pixels?
At 300 DPI a 35 × 45 mm photo equals 413 × 531 pixels. At 600 DPI, the resolution recommended for printed submission, it equals 826 × 1062 pixels. The aspect ratio is 7:9 portrait. See passport photo size in pixels for every conversion.
Where should my eyes sit in an Austrian passport photo?
Roughly 30 to 36 mm up from the bottom edge of the 45 mm frame. Head height alone is not enough: a photo with a correct 32–36 mm head but a low eye line is still refused.
How many photos do I need for an Austrian passport application?
Bring two identical printed photos taken within the last six months. Because applications are filed in person, some offices capture or scan the photo at the counter instead, so confirm with your Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Magistrat or embassy before the appointment.
Appearance & Compliance
What background color does Austria require for passport photos?
A plain, light, evenly lit background — white or very light grey is the safest and most universally accepted choice, free of shadows, texture, and gradients. See background colour rules.
Can I wear glasses in my Austrian passport photo?
It's recommended you remove them. Tinted lenses, reflections, and frames that cover the eyes are common rejection triggers, so a glasses-free photo is the safest route to approval.
Are head coverings allowed in an Austrian passport photo?
Hats and decorative headwear are not permitted. A head covering worn for religious reasons may be accepted provided the full face remains visible from the chin to the forehead, the hairline is not obscured, and no shadow falls across the features. See head covering rules.
How old can my passport photo be when I apply in Austria?
No older than six months at the time you submit your application, whether at a Bezirkshauptmannschaft, a Magistrat, or an Austrian embassy abroad.
Children & Special Cases
Can children use the same passport photo rules as adults in Austria?
Children need the same 35×45mm format, but tolerances relax with age. Children under five aren't required to have a centered head, neutral expression, or forward gaze, and infants under one aren't required to have their eyes open. A supporting hand may be used if hidden from view. See the child requirements section.
Why was my Austrian passport photo rejected even though it was 35x45mm?
Correct outer dimensions are only part of the standard. Most rejections trace back to head height outside the 32–36mm range, an eye line sitting too low, a background with shadows or texture, or a photo older than six months.
Taking, Printing & Submitting
Can I take my own Austria passport photo with a phone?
Yes, as long as the final image meets the Bundesministerium für Inneres specification: 35×45mm, plain light background, neutral expression, and a head height between 32mm and 36mm. Shoot in even daylight facing a blank wall with the rear camera at eye level, filters and beauty modes switched off, then crop to the exact biometric proportions.
How do I print an Austrian passport photo at home?
Print on genuine photo paper of 200 to 250 gsm at 600 DPI where possible. A 4 × 6 inch sheet holds six 35 × 45 mm copies and an A4 sheet holds around twenty, which covers the two photos an Austrian office typically requests. Cut with a guillotine for square edges. See the print at home guide.
Does Austria accept digital passport photo uploads?
Most municipal passport offices capture or scan the photo on-site during your in-person appointment. Austrians applying through a consulate abroad typically submit two printed photos rather than a digital file, so check with your specific office beforehand.
Where do I submit my passport photo once it's ready in Austria?
Austrian residents apply in person at their local Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat passport office, bringing the printed photo to the appointment. Austrians living abroad apply at the nearest Austrian embassy or consulate, which may have its own photo submission process.
Official Sources & References
- Bundesministerium für Inneres (Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior) — bmi.gv.at
- oesterreich.gv.at — official Austrian government service portal for Reisepass applications: oesterreich.gv.at
- European Commission — Schengen Borders and Visa Policy: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents biometric photograph standard: icao.int
- Local Bezirkshauptmannschaft and Magistrat passport offices — appointment booking and on-site photo capture
- Austrian embassies and consulates worldwide — overseas passport application guidance
Related Austria Passport Photo Guides
Create Your Austria Passport Photo Now
Stop guessing at crop margins. Upload one photo and get a Bundesministerium für Inneres-compliant 35×45mm result with the correct head height and background, ready to print before your Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat appointment.