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Order an honorary justice photo identification card

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If you wish to request a new photo ID card, please write to HJSS at JP@justice.vic.gov.au and provide the following details:

Photo ID cards - examples

How to take a good digital photo

As a representative of the Department of Justice and Community Safety, it’s important that your identification photos are professional, clear and of an acceptable quality.

Ask a friend for help

It’s much easier to take an acceptable photo with someone else’s help. Alternatively, you can purchase passport-quality photographs instantly at participating Post Offices or Officeworks stores.

diagram showing that the head should take up 70-75% of vertical width of the photo, and 60-70% of the horizontal width.
  • Minimum dimensions: 900 x 1200 pixels
  • File size: greater than 500KB and less than 3MB
  • Portrait orientation
  • Face fills 75% of photo
  • In focus and clearly visible

JPG, PNG, PCT file formats are accepted.

examples of acceptable photos are face on with the head the correct size. Unacceptable examples are hair obscuring face, side on to camera, insufficient contrast and background not plain.

Steps to follow when someone else is taking your photo with a camera or mobile phone

Set up – Lighting

  • Find a well-lit space with a plain light-coloured background – for example, pale greys and blues work better than white
  • Avoid standing directly under a light source as it can create glare and shadows
  • Your light source will be most effective behind and above your photographer.

Set up – Where to stand

  • Stand 0.5 metres in front of your background, to help reduce shadows
  • The photographer should stand 1.5 metres away from you, to help keep your facial features in focus
  • The photographer should hold the camera at your eye level, to help you avoid tilting your head up or down
  • Select your best photo to download to your computer or laptop to print or email.

Taking the photo with your mobile phone

  • Open the camera on the mobile device and take the photo
  • It may take a couple attempts to get a clear photo with neutral expression, no blur and no shadows behind you
  • Open the Photos application on your phone and select your best photo.

Edit your photo

  • Press the appropriate Edit button.

Straighten your photo

  • If needed, straighten your image by dragging the Straighten dial under (usually under the photo).

Crop and zoom your photo

  • You should be able to see your shoulders and gap around your head, including hair and ears
  • Drag any corner of the frame to crop the image.

Save your photo

  • When you are happy with the changes, press Done.

Email the photo to yourself

  • Send the photo to yourself using your phone's email function. (Other applications may compress the file, making it unsuitable)
  • Send it as the actual size to maintain high quality of photo.
  • Enter the appropriate email address, then press Send.

Save the photo from your email

  • Log in to your email account on a computer or laptop
  • Open the email and the attached photo, and then save your photo
  • Save your photo somewhere you can easily find it again, such as your desktop.
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