Austria Passport Photo

Austrian Passport Photo -- The Passbild Rules That Trip People Up

Austria issues around 900,000 passports and ID cards per year through its network of Bezirkshauptmannschaften (district authorities), Magistrate offices in statutory cities, and Austrian embassies abroad. The Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium für Inneres, BMI) sets the biometric photo standards, and the Austrian Foreign Ministry (BMEIA) enforces the same rules for consular applications filed outside Austria. What makes Austria's system distinctive is how strictly the Bezirkshauptmannschaft clerks enforce the rules at the counter -- they inspect your Passbild (passport photo) by eye before the application is even entered into the system, and they will hand it back if anything looks off.

The specifications below apply to the Reisepass (passport), Personalausweis (national ID card), Führerschein (driving licence), and Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit). All requirements are defined in the BMI's official photo guidelines published at bmi.gv.at and align with ICAO 9303 biometric standards. Austria transitioned fully to biometric machine-readable passports in 2006 and has been progressively tightening enforcement since.

Photo Specifications

Dimensions and print quality:

• 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height: 26-36 mm from chin to crown
• Face centered horizontally, eyes in the upper third of the frame
• Printed on matte or semi-gloss photo paper -- no glossy surfaces that cause glare during scanning

Background:

• Pure white, evenly lit
• No shadows, no texture, no visible wall edges or furniture
• The BMI specifically rejects light grey and cream -- white only

Expression, pose, and gaze:

• Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible
• Head straight, not tilted or rotated -- face perfectly frontal
• Direct gaze into the camera lens

What is prohibited:

• Glasses of any kind, including clear prescription frames, since 2018. Austria's biometric standard treats any lens or frame as an obstruction. No exceptions.
• Hats, headbands, and hair accessories that alter the head silhouette. Religious head coverings are permitted only with a written declaration; the face from the bottom of the chin to the forehead must remain fully visible.
• Colored or cosmetic contact lenses
• Uniforms (military, police, work)
• Headphones or earbuds

Recency: The photo must be taken within the last 6 months and must reflect your current appearance. Weight changes, new facial hair, or significantly different hairstyles may require a new photo.

Where to Get Your Passbild in Austria

Passbild-Automat (photo booths): These automated booths are located in most Bezirkshauptmannschaft buildings, U-Bahn stations in Vienna, train stations (OBB), and shopping centers. They cost EUR 5-10 for a strip of 4 biometric photos. The machine guides you through positioning with on-screen instructions and uses a white background with calibrated lighting. The quality is generally reliable and accepted at government counters. Look for machines specifically labeled "Biometrisches Passbild" -- some older entertainment booths produce non-compliant output.

Hartlauer: Austria's largest electronics and photo retailer offers passport photo services at most locations. Price: EUR 9.99-14.99 for a set of biometric prints. Staff are trained in BMI specifications, and the photos are printed on proper photo paper. This is the most popular professional option in smaller Austrian towns where independent studios are scarce.

Independent photo studios (Fotostudio/Fotograf): Studios near Bezirkshauptmannschaft offices and Magistrate buildings specialize in Passbilder. Prices range from EUR 10-25 depending on location. Studios in Vienna's 1st district charge the most; suburban and rural studios are cheaper. Ask for "biometrisches Passbild nach BMI-Vorschriften" to ensure they use the correct setup.

dm drogerie markt and Bipa photo kiosks: Both drugstore chains offer self-service photo printing at many Austrian locations. If you already have a compliant digital photo, print a 10x15cm sheet containing multiple 35x45mm photos for EUR 0.15-0.50. You cut them yourself. This is the cheapest option but requires you to have a properly formatted digital file.

The Bezirkshauptmannschaft Application Process

Unlike some countries where you mail in your application, most Austrian passport applications are submitted in person at your local Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat. You bring your completed application form, your old passport, a birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde), proof of citizenship (Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweis), and one biometric Passbild. The clerk examines the photo against the BMI checklist at the counter. If it fails -- wrong background shade, glasses visible, head too small -- you are sent away to get a new one. This means getting the photo right before you arrive is not just good practice, it prevents a wasted trip.

For applicants living abroad, Austrian embassies and consulates accept applications directly. The same photo rules apply. Processing times are longer -- typically 3-6 weeks compared to 5-10 business days domestically.

Austrian Document Photo Sizes

Children and Infant Photos

Austrian passport photos for children (Kinder) follow the same 35x45mm dimensions but with relaxed enforcement on certain points:

• Children under 5: slight deviations in gaze direction and mouth position are tolerated. The child must still be the only person in the photo.
• Infants: photograph the baby lying on a white sheet, camera directly overhead. Eyes should be open when possible, but partial closure is accepted for babies under 6 months.
• Children aged 5-14: full adult biometric rules apply, including the glasses prohibition.
• No pacifiers, toys, bottles, or parent's hands visible in the frame.

Common Rejection Reasons

Bezirkshauptmannschaft clerks and the BMI's automated screening flag these issues most frequently:

1. Glasses worn -- the most persistent rejection cause despite the ban being in effect since 2018. Even thin frameless lenses are rejected.
2. Background not white -- cream-colored walls, light grey backdrops, and shadows from overhead lighting are all flagged
3. Head size out of range -- the 26-36mm chin-to-crown window is enforced precisely by the biometric scanner
4. Red-eye or digital retouching -- Austria's system detects skin smoothing, eye enhancement, and filter artifacts
5. Photo older than 6 months -- clerks compare the photo to your appearance at the counter
6. Shadows on face -- side lighting creating nose or chin shadows

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use a Passbild-Automat photo for my Austrian passport? A: Yes. The biometric photo booths in Bezirkshauptmannschaft buildings, U-Bahn stations, and OBB train stations produce BMI-compliant photos. Make sure the machine is labeled for biometric/passport photos, not just general photo prints.

Q: Do I need the photo when I go to the Bezirkshauptmannschaft? A: Yes. You must bring a printed, compliant 35x45mm Passbild. The clerk checks it visually at the counter before processing your application. If it does not meet requirements, you will be turned away.

Q: How much does a Passbild cost in Austria? A: Photo booth (Automat): EUR 5-10. Hartlauer: EUR 9.99-14.99. Independent studio: EUR 10-25. Self-printing at dm/Bipa: EUR 0.15-0.50 per sheet.

Q: My Bezirkshauptmannschaft rejected my photo. What was wrong? A: The most common reasons are glasses in the photo, background not pure white, head too large or small in the frame, or detectable digital editing. Ask the clerk for the specific reason -- they are required to tell you.

Q: Are the rules different for the Personalausweis vs Reisepass? A: No. The same BMI biometric photo standard applies to both the Austrian passport and the national ID card. One photo format fits all Austrian documents.

Q: How long does a passport take to process in Austria? A: Standard processing at a Bezirkshauptmannschaft takes 5-10 business days. Express service is available in Vienna for an additional fee. Consular applications abroad take 3-6 weeks.