How much do passport photos cost in Australia?
By the PhotoPrep team · Every price on this page was checked against the source on 10 July 2026. PhotoPrep is one of the services listed below.
Between $20.95 and $24.95 if someone takes the photo for you in a store. From $6 if you use an online service with a photo from your phone. And under 20 cents if you already have a compliant digital photo and just need it printed.
Current prices, checked 10 July 2026
| Where | Price (AUD) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Ted's Cameras (in store) | $24.95 | Minimum 4 prints, taken by staff, free reshoot if rejected |
| Priceline Pacific Fair (one store's published price) | $24.95 | Prints plus digital copy. Priceline pricing varies by store |
| Australia Post (in store) | $23.50 | 6 photos at 35 × 45 mm, free retake if your photos are rejected |
| Officeworks (in store) | $20.95 | Photos with a compliance certificate, biometric checking system |
| PhotoAiD (online) | $9.95 | Digital file of an AI-prepared photo |
| PhotoPrep (online, that's us) | $6 or $12 | Free compliance check first. $6 unlocks the file + a print-ready sheet of 4; $12 adds AI styling |
| DIY: print your own at Kmart or Big W | $0.15 to $0.19 | One 6 × 4 inch print of a photo sheet you already have |
Sources at the bottom of the page. Australia Post raised its price from $22.99 to $23.50 on 1 July 2026.
What you are actually paying for
The in-store price covers three things: someone else operates the camera, the prints come out the right size, and if the photo is rejected the store takes another set at no charge. That safety net has value, especially if your application is time-critical.
Online services work differently. You take the photo yourself on your phone, and the service crops it to size, fixes the background, and gives you a file. It costs less and you can do it from home at any hour. The catch is that the photo still has to pass the government's rules, and a file on your phone is not prints in your hand.
Two things we found while checking prices for this guide. Kmart and Big W no longer offer a passport photo service at all, despite what a lot of older articles say. Their photo sites are print-only now. And Chemist Warehouse does not publish a passport photo service either. Pharmacy availability is patchy in general, which is why the only pharmacy price in our table is a single named store.
The cheap path most people miss
Kmart prints a 6 × 4 inch photo for 15 cents. Big W charges 19 cents. A 6 × 4 sheet fits four passport photos, and an Australian application needs two. So if you have a photo that already meets the rules, arranged on a print-ready sheet, your total printing cost is under 20 cents.
The hard part is not the printing. It is knowing whether your photo actually complies: 35 × 45 mm, face 32 to 36 mm chin to crown, neutral expression, no shadows, plain light background. Get one of those wrong and you are making a second trip. The full requirements are here if you want to check your own work against them.
Why people pay $23.50 anyway
Mostly, fear of rejection. The in-store price is an insurance premium, and for years that insurance was the only way to know your photo would pass. That has changed. You can now check a phone photo against the published rules before spending anything, which removes the main reason to pay four times as much. The one thing a store still does that no online service can is hand you prints on the spot, so if you need photos within the hour, a store is your only option.
Where we fit
We built PhotoPrep for the gap in the middle: you want the cheap DIY path, but you also want to know the photo will pass before you spend anything. Upload a phone photo and we grade it against the published Australian rules, item by item, for free. If it fails, we tell you before you pay, not after. If you go ahead, $6 gets you the file plus a print-ready sheet of four, sized for that 15 cent Kmart print. We do not print anything ourselves. Photos are deleted within 48 hours, and we are not affiliated with any government agency.
Upload a phone photo and see the full pass/fail checklist before you pay anything.
Check my photoCommon questions
Can I take my own passport photo in Australia?
Yes. The Australian Passport Office publishes the photo rules and there is no requirement to use a shop. Your photo must be 35 x 45 mm with your face taking up 32 to 36 mm chin to crown, front-on, neutral expression, plain light background. Most phone cameras are more than good enough.
How many photos do I need for a passport application?
Two identical printed photos for a standard Australian passport application. A 6 x 4 inch print sheet holds four, so one 15 to 19 cent print covers you with spares.
Why is there such a big price range?
You are paying for different things. In store, staff take the photo, print it, and usually carry the risk with a free retake. Online services prepare a file from your own phone photo and leave printing to you. Doing both yourself costs almost nothing but nobody is checking your work, which is the part that catches people out.
What happens if my photo gets rejected?
Australia Post and Ted's Cameras both offer a free retake or reshoot if their photos are knocked back. Online services vary, so check the fine print before paying. PhotoPrep grades your photo against the published rules before you pay anything, so you find out about problems first.
Sources
- Australia Post — Passport & ID photos (price and retake policy, checked 10 Jul 2026)
- Officeworks — Passport & ID photos (checked 10 Jul 2026)
- Ted's Cameras — Passport photos (checked 10 Jul 2026)
- Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair — Passport photos (single-store price, checked 10 Jul 2026)
- PhotoAiD — Australian passport photos (digital price, checked 10 Jul 2026)
- Kmart Photos — Prints and BIG W Photos — 6x4 print (checked 10 Jul 2026)
- Australian Passport Office — Photo guidelines
Prices change. If you spot one that has, email us and we will fix it. Not affiliated with the Australian Passport Office or any government agency.