ETA app Photo problems & solution

:) I had the same problem with the UK ETA recently. Downloaded the app, all was fine until the photo (Pixel 8 phone). At age 70+ the repeated error message was that it was unacceptable. Studying the sample pics I wondered if my saggy baggy eyes were the issue if they looked closed?
Yup! I stood in brighter light and kept my eyes as wide open as possible. It worked! I look either terrified or insane, but...ok!
Thank you for your useful tip! Mine is likely less so, but you never know!

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the quality of the cellphone camera, either Android OR Iphone. It's about good lighting, and composition, and maybe size of the picture (how many pixels). I've taken photos for some military I.D. cards and there are strict requirements for the photos, size of photo, square or not, how many pixels, file size, red background, etc... People need to read all the requirements and comply.

Also, try it with or without the camera's "flash". Mostly I never use flash.

I have tried everything to get the picture to be captured.. Finally went to CVS and got a new passport photo and had it sent digitally to me and tried to use the app to capture the picture off of my computer. . My passport is 8 years old and the top half of my headshot in the passport sort of blends in the background, plus my eyes are extremely squinty., I don't know what the problem is. I am thinking about applying for a new passport early, but it says if I apply, the old passport will not be valid. Extremely frustrated. Trip is in 9 weeks. Don't know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated

I've just had an extremely frustrating time trying to get my husband's photo using the Australian ETA app! I was able to get my own done fairly easily and didn't expect to have to retake his photo at least 10 times! He has Parkinson's so I don't know how he would have been able to get a photo by himself; I had to hold up the phone. Each photo attempt was a exercise in torture... "bring phone closer;" "bring phone further away;" "put phone higher;" and my favorite, "open your eyes wider." FFS. We went to different parts of our bright, sunny home, even went outside, tried a flashlight on the counter, tried many different backgrounds. It was unclear why all previous attempts were rejected. We were at our wits end. Finally, it happened. It was accepted. The photo is HILARIOUS. His eyes are pointed upwards, the expression on his face is just weird! The previous photos were so much better in many ways. Whatever. His application was approved. We're going to Australia!!

I'm in the middle of this mess right now with my first trip to Australia only 34 days away. I have tried dozens of times and can never get the photo approved. I never even get to a point where it is rejected. The photo border just never turns from red to green.

Today I established accounts on the "Immi" system for the two of us and applied for visas there. They seem to have gone through so I'm hoping we will be granted visas. The typical processing time link says that 90% are processed within 23 days. Oh, and it costs 200 AUD ($138) each.

My problems with Australian ETA and my iPhone, photo not recognized, et al. I was able to get it to work when I tried the whole process on a friend’s Samsung android phone. Went thru on first try.

Ahah! I just thought of something. Apple phones are trying to foist the .heic photo format on the world. This planet uses .jpg format for everything (except some professional and website uses). If your iPhone is submitting an .heic format photo, I'd expect it to fail. Samsung (and every other phone and camera) defaults to .jpg. There's probably a setting in your iPhone to save photos in .jpg. I would do that, just to be compatible with my friends..

I'm sure it's not the quality of the Samsung camera, Apple phones are known for having very good cameras.

Thanks, Travelerguy!

I checked my phone's settings at it was set to capture in "high efficiency" rather than "most compatible". I switched them and will give it a try.

Still no good.