I have read the instructions on the Oz embassy site however I would like to get some current feedback from members on the following: How long did it take to process and receive back in the mail ? I notice that the photograph requirements are quite strict so can any members suggest a suitable photo place that does previous Oz embassy pics, I live in Nonthaburi ,thanks for yr kind feedback.

No response...

Side note: exact same requirements for German Passport.

(35 * 45 mm, face height 32 to 36 mm).

Found this sample on the link below.

 

The face height might be a bit short but show them the req. for Australia.

 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100046331990696

"

Your photos must be:

35–40 mm wide

45–50 mm high.

The height of your face, from your chin to your crown, must be 32–36 mm.

"

Bet they can make that.

https://www.passports.gov.au/help/passport-photos

3 hours ago, 1948wjm said:

How long did it take to process and receive back in the mail ?

I can recall @DrJack54 reported a turnaround time of about 3 weeks for a mail in application.  He may also have some hints about photo's.

10 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I can recall @DrJack54 reported a turnaround time of about 3 weeks for a mail in application.  He may also have some hints about photo's.

Yes my process time was from date of posting application to Oz embassy Bangkok to receiving new pp in mail to my condo was 20 days. 

Regarding pics be particular with this. 

The application has very clear instructions. 

I did not go to my corner print shop. 

I drove to a print/photo shop specifically dealing with passport photos. 

Can't recall the correct term... Something like cannot be "digital photos" 

 

Note: existing pp does not form part of the application. You retain it. 

For the photo page of old pp for application, I just took photo on cell phone and cropped it. 

Such a simple procedure compared to nightmare stories of some other countries. 

 

13 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

For the photo page of old pp for application, I just took photo on cell phone and cropped it. 

Such a simple procedure compared to nightmare stories of some other countries.

What I do for immigration pictures. Using

To meet the above rules you need some simple skills with a photo editor.

Then I go to a Kodak shop and have it printed.

Be happy that you still can do paper prints by postal mail.

I have to visit consulate in Bangkok. Biometric picture taken with some high tech device plus thumbprints and signature on a pad.

39 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Something like cannot be "digital photos" 

Not sure what you want to say but all photo studios nowadays work with digital cameras, edit on computer/PC and print on glossy photo paper.

31 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Not sure what you want to say but all photo studios nowadays work with digital cameras, edit on computer/PC and print on glossy photo paper.

What I was referring to (poorly expressed) is that  Just make sure they don’t photoshop to enhance.

 

In any event the first page of Oz pp renewal form has clear details of requirements. 

It's a very simple process. As for the photo page of existing pp that was done in seconds using phone to take picture and edit function to crop. 

30 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Just make sure they don’t photoshop to enhance.

Yes that's it. The pictures of Thai officials on website are comical in a way.

Edit refers to proportional crop and resize.

 

Bangkok (or Thailand?) immigration boss:

 

8 year old(!) picture of him 

Double checked but it is supposed to be Phanumas Bunyalak (ภาณุมาศ บุญญลักษม์).

Then commander of region 2 Bangkok metro police.

Significant brown spot over the right jaw seen on every real picture.

 

Mine took two and a bit weeks two years ago. That included the time to electronically send a new photo after the original was rejected. Pretty astounded by the good service and quick turnaround (not to mention the appalling cost).

Yes they are paranoid about pp photo . I probably submitted about five before got picture accepted. They stress high resolution, I went to kodak, specialty shops .

 

In the end had kodak shop send image to friend who then redefined it, imagine what Dr Jack is defining. Good luck.

I renewed my wife's Australian passport last year. The photographs are a nightmare. It is the not the photograph itself, but the very high quality type of printing that they require. I cannot remember the special name but it is in the instructions. I think it has "flow" in it somewhere. I live in Krabi, and it was just not available here. I tried online and it was still not available. In the end I sent the digital file to Bangkok and the Embassy agreed to print it, which was straightforward. The postal arrangement worked well and the new passport was received by post here in Krabi without issue.

All in all it was easier than renewing my UK passport which I did last month, but had to go to Bangkok to submit, and then found some small print that required a colour photocopy of every page of my old passport, which cost me Bt 500 to be done next to the VFS office. I has also gone to Bangkok on my own, and taken my notebook to do some work while waiting, but found that I could not take it into the VFS office! Had to go downstairs to leave it in a locker, all of which made me late for my appointment. Then had to pay someone to pick the new one up for me as they will not use the Thai post.

Hope that helps.

Easier to do in the embassy than by mail, I did mine at Phuket but Bangkok also does them, got my pic from a local kodak camera shop that does passport pics, just give them the requirements and they do it, paid my money and picked up my passport a few weeks later

21 hours ago, seajae said:

Easier to do in the embassy than by mail, I did mine at Phuket but Bangkok also does them, got my pic from a local kodak camera shop that does passport pics, just give them the requirements and they do it, paid my money and picked up my passport a few weeks later

Might be easier if you're in Bangkok.

 

It's pretty simple by mail IMO.

embassy in BKK is quite anal on the pictures, renewed mine last year had pictures taken at the post office in melbourne before coming to thailand, wanted to have the right pictures..

rejected.

Had to go to the recommended shop around the block from the embassy to get redone,I must admit that the ones made in bangkok had better contrast than the melbourne ones.

2 hours ago, Will27 said:

Might be easier if you're in Bangkok.

 

It's pretty simple by mail IMO.

I drove to Phuket, lady was great and made it very simple, Bangkok has always been a pain as the thai ladies think they run the place and try to make out they have the final say, had to get the head aussie lady to sort them out a couple of times when they refused to do as was required even when I produced the email sent to me from the head aussie lady on what to do. 

1 hour ago, seajae said:

Bangkok has always been a pain as the thai ladies think they run the place and try to make out they have the final say

Crikey, you identified this issue also. 

 

I thought I was the only one who has had a bad experiences, quite a few times now. 

 

 

4 hours ago, georgeesarn said:

embassy in BKK is quite anal on the pictures, renewed mine last year had pictures taken at the post office in melbourne before coming to thailand, wanted to have the right pictures..

rejected.

Had to go to the recommended shop around the block from the embassy to get redone,I must admit that the ones made in bangkok had better contrast than the melbourne ones.

Now you can renewal it by mail, it's so much more convenient.

Last year when I renewed my Aussie Passport by mail, the only small hiccup was the photo. I received an email from the Embassy that to use the same shop( local village) but tell them to not use any editing software and then send the original by email back to the Embassy.  Quickly did this and photo passed muster. Got my new Passport about 2/3 weeks later. Very easy but not cheap. 

4 hours ago, Phantom57 said:

Last year when I renewed my Aussie Passport by mail, the only small hiccup was the photo. I received an email from the Embassy that to use the same shop( local village) but tell them to not use any editing software and then send the original by email back to the Embassy.  Quickly did this and photo passed muster. Got my new Passport about 2/3 weeks later. Very easy but not cheap. 

I had the same problem with the photo as well.

I had to email them a digital copy.

 

Oz passports are ludicrously priced when you factor in the overseas surcharge.

On 10/27/2025 at 9:43 AM, Will27 said:

Oz passports are ludicrously priced when you factor in the overseas surcharge.

Price going up again on the 1st Jan 2026.

 

https://au.news.yahoo.com/australian-passport-fee-set-to-rise-again-on-january-1-233120158.html

On 10/27/2025 at 4:43 PM, Will27 said:

I had the same problem with the photo as well.

I had to email them a digital copy.

 

Oz passports are ludicrously priced when you factor in the overseas surcharge.

I'm about to renew my Aussie passport online, how do you get a digital copy to email? Does the photo shop email the digital copy to you first? And don't the photos have to be signed by someone who knows you, and are the signed photos sent by post?

14 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I'm about to renew my Aussie passport online, how do you get a digital copy to email? Does the photo shop email the digital copy to you first? And don't the photos have to be signed by someone who knows you, and are the signed photos sent by post?

I took a usb stick to the shop where I got my photo's and they put the photo's on it.

I emailed them to the Embassy as an attachment.

For a renewal, I didn't need the photo's signed.

1 minute ago, Will27 said:

I took a usb stick to the shop where I got my photo's and they put the photo's on it.

I emailed them to the Embassy as an attachment.

For a renewal, I didn't need the photo's signed.

Thanks. Did you do that in Pattaya? Get the photos I mean.

Just now, giddyup said:

Thanks. Did you do that in Pattaya?

Chiang Rai.

9 minutes ago, Will27 said:

Chiang Rai.

Did you send any hard copies by mail or just the email attachments?

3 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Did you send any hard copies by mail or just the email attachments?

I originally sent hard copies with the application which were refused.

They (Embassy) emailed me and asked for digital copies.

2 minutes ago, Will27 said:

I originally sent hard copies with the application which were refused.

They (Embassy) emailed me and asked for digital copies.

But the digital copies were the same photos? So it was the printing of them that was the problem?