Imagine waking up each morning knowing that your portfolio is quietly generating income—without you lifting a finger.

That's the magic of passive income, and thanks to the Australian share market, it may be more achievable than many realise.

However, $50,000 a year in passive income won't happen overnight. Not unless you are already sitting on a mountain of cash.

But with patience, consistency, and smart investing, it can be a realistic target. Here's a step-by-step guide explaining how you could get there with ASX shares.

Step 1: Understand your end goal

To generate $50,000 of passive income each year, you will need a portfolio that produces just under $1,000 per week or almost $4,200 per month. At an average dividend yield of 5%, this implies a total portfolio value of $1 million.

This is your destination. Now let's figure out the path to get there.

Step 2: Focus on building capital first

The reality is you likely won't start with a million-dollar portfolio. Most investors build towards it over time.

That's why the first stage of the plan isn't about chasing high-yield shares—it is about growing your portfolio through a combination of high-quality growth stocks, broad-based ASX ETFs, dividend reinvestment, and regular contributions.

Think of this as your accumulation phase, where every dollar earned by your portfolio is reinvested to grow the base.

Step 3: Invest regularly in quality

Consistency is your best friend when it comes to investing.

Let's say you start with $20,000 and then invest $1,000 a month into ASX shares and ETFs. Assuming a 10% average annual return (not guaranteed, but a fair target), you could grow your portfolio to $1 million in just over 21 years.

Even if you can't invest that much monthly, smaller amounts still add up significantly over time thanks to the power of compounding.

Focus on quality during this period. Companies like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), or Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) could be worth considering. Alternatively, ETFs such as the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) could also be top picks for the long term.

Step 4: Transition to an income focus

Once you have reached your $1 million milestone, it is time to pivot your portfolio from growth to income generation.

At this point, you will want to fill your portfolio with reliable dividend payers. Shares and ETFs yielding 4% to 6% are ideal, especially if dividends are fully franked.

We don't know which ASX shares will be top picks in 20 years, but if you were building this portfolio today, you might want to consider APA Group (ASX: APA), Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), and the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY).

A diversified mix like this could help you reach an average yield of 5%, which would turn your $1 million into $50,000 per year in passive income.

Foolish takeaway

Generating $50,000 a year in passive income with ASX shares is a long-term game. But if you build with discipline, invest regularly, and transition wisely from growth to income, the goal is well within reach.