Austria · Bundesministerium für Inneres
Austria Passport Photo Maker
Every Austrian passport photo is checked against the Bundesministerium für Inneres standard before it ever reaches a passport office: 35×45mm, a head height of 32–36mm, and a plain, evenly lit background. 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, 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
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.
Biometric framing
Head height is measured and adjusted to land inside the 32–36mm chin-to-crown range.
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.
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
- Austria Passport Photo Requirements
- Passport Authority Overview
- Passport Application Process
- Child Passport Photo Requirements
- Passport Renewal Photo Rules
- Taking the Photo at Home
- Austria vs US Passport Photo
- How to Create an Austria Passport Photo
- Common Rejection Reasons
- Frequently Asked Questions
Austria Passport Photo Requirements
These specifications follow the Bundesministerium für Inneres standard, harmonized with the Schengen biometric photo format and ICAO Document 9303.
| Photo Size | 35mm × 45mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 35mm |
| Height | 45mm |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey, evenly lit, no shadows or texture |
| Head Size | 32mm–36mm chin to crown (approx. 70–80% of frame height) |
| Resolution | Minimum 600 dpi for print submission |
| File Format | JPEG (for digital capture at the office); print copies on photo paper |
| Glasses Rules | Not recommended; tinted lenses and reflections are not accepted |
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
Printing requirements
Print on genuine photo paper at 600 dpi if a physical copy is needed — inkjet paper from a home printer often looks washed out at the counter.
Common mistakes
Selfies taken too close distort facial proportions, and patterned walls or visible furniture are an automatic background rejection.
Austria Passport Photo vs US Passport Photo
Travelers applying for both documents often assume one photo works for both. It doesn't — the formats diverge on size, framing, and submission method.
| Austria Passport Photo | US Passport Photo | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35mm × 45mm | 2in × 2in (51mm × 51mm) |
| 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 |
How to Create an Austria Passport Photo Maker Result
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.
Incorrect dimensionsPhoto isn't cropped to the exact 35×45mm frame.
Wrong backgroundPatterned walls, shadows, or off-white tones instead of plain, even lighting.
Head too largeChin-to-crown measurement exceeds the 36mm ceiling, often from standing too close to the camera.
Head too smallHead height falls under 32mm, usually from standing too far back.
Shadows on the faceOverhead or side lighting creates shadows under the eyes, nose, or chin.
Glasses glareReflections or tinted lenses obscure the eyes — removing glasses avoids this entirely.
Photo older than six monthsEven a flattering older photo is invalid past the six-month window.
Visible digital editingFilters, skin smoothing, or AI retouching are flagged and rejected on detection.
Frequently Asked Questions
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. A phone photo works well if it's taken in even daylight facing a blank wall, then cropped and corrected to the exact biometric proportions before printing or uploading.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, a background with shadows or texture, or a photo older than six months.
Can children use the same passport photo rules as adults in Austria?
Children need the same 35×45mm format, but tolerances relax with age. Very young children aren't required to have a centered head, neutral expression, or open eyes, and a supporting hand may be hidden from view in the frame.
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.
Create Your Austria Passport Photo Maker Result 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.