New Zealand Passport Photo

Passport photos NZ - guidelines

The original New Zealand passport was first issued in 1915. From that moment on, if you wanted to obtain a New Zealand passport, you had to follow a specific process. The most important stage is usually taking your passport photo. NZ’s government has strict rules regarding what your photo should look like and failure to comply can result in your application being rejected.

To avoid common mistakes, we have prepared this guide to help you make the perfect digital photo for your New Zealand passport.. 

New Zealand passport photos - requirements

Your NZ passport photo needs to meet a number of technical requirements, whether you are using a digital or a paper version. The general guidelines are:

• The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
• The passport image should show your full face, neck and part of your shoulders or upper chest
• It must be portrait, not landscape
• A natural facial expression is required
• The passport photo needs to have a plain, light-coloured background (not white)
• Headbands and head coverings are not allowed

The government will not accept selfies or digital scans of printed photos. You can apply for your passport online, for which you will need one digital passport photo, or you can choose the paper form with two identical photos and documentation. If you choose to use our Passport Photo Online application, your photo will be checked twice: firstly by an automated system, and then by our specialized staff.

New Zealand passport photo dimensions

The required resolution for your New Zealand passport photo is between 900 x 4500 and 1200 x 6000 pixels. Additionally, the file size cannot be less than 250KB or more than 10MB. It should be a portrait photo with a 4:3 aspect ratio (3:4 on a smartphone), in JPG or JPEG format, if you prefer to submit an online application, or 35 mm x 45 mm in size if you want to use paper photos.

Validity

You must provide a current photo, which means that your photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. The passport service needs to confirm your current appearance, so if you have changed it in any way, we recommend that you take a new photo.

Photo quality for New Zealand passport 

The passport image must be:

• in colour
• in high resolution
• good-quality

The photo cannot be:

• digitally changed
• damaged in any way
• blurry
• pixelated
• overexposed/underexposed

Background and lighting

In the NZ passport photo specifications, it is made clear that the background of the photo should be plain, light-coloured, but not white. It also isn’t allowed to show any objects or other people. The best light for taking a picture is natural, so choose daylight, whenever possible. The light must be evenly spread out, so that it doesn’t cast shadows on your face. Make sure that there are no reflections or glare.

Head and face

You must have a natural facial expression, with your eyes open and your mouth closed. Your face must be totally visible, centred and pointing directly at the camera. Your hair should be away from your eyes and the sides of your face.

Glasses and head covering

Wearing glasses in the photo is allowed if:

• They are not sunglasses, tinted or thick-framed.
• They don’t cause flash reflection on the lenses.

There must be a gap between the frames and your eyes, which cannot be covered. No head coverings, headbands, hats, or other items are accepted unless they are for religious or medical purposes. Facial piercings will not be allowed if they obscure your face.

What to wear for a NZ passport photo?

Choose normal clothing – no uniforms or camouflage of any kind wil be allowed. Be careful, extravagant outfits may cause problems with your application as well. You should wear the type of clothes you wear on a daily basis.

Photo for NZ baby passport

The NZ passport photo guidelines are a bit more flexible when you are taking a picture of a baby or young child. You are allowed to photograph young children from above if they can’t support themselves yet, using a white sheet or similar as a background. However, you still need to make sure the child’s head is facing the camera and their eyes open, and there can’t be anyone or anything else in the photo - so no toys or dummies!

How can you take a NZ passport photo at home?

Going to a professional photographer can be expensive and time-consuming. But what else can you do, when there are so many photo requirements to fulfil? Fortunately, you have the option to get your NZ passport photo online! All you have to do is get a friend or family member to take a picture of you, or pick an existing photo and upload it to the Passport Photo Online website. We will handle the rest.

New Zealand passport photo maker

Passport Photo Online tool will:

• Replace the existing background with the correct one, if needed.
• Crop your photo to the correct New Zealand Passport Photo Size.
• Check your facial expression, the position of your head, the colour of the photo, and other important elements to ensure they are acceptable.

Prepare your space and yourself

Use a digital camera or a smartphone. Stand slightly away from the light-coloured background. Remember to take a picture in balanced, natural lighting, preferably in daylight. It is a good idea to ask someone else to take the photo, because the camera should be placed 1.5 m away from your face, at eye level. Make sure there are no shadows in the photo – your face must be evenly lit.

New Zealand passport photos - the most common mistakes

Be careful not to cause your application to be rejected by making these simple mistakes.

Do not:

• Submit an old or damaged photo.
• Use a picture that is underexposed/overexposed, or that has shadows.
• Smile or open your mouth in the picture.
• Wear clothes that are not allowed.
• Wear head-coverings or a headband.
• Doctor your digital photos with photo editing software, such as Photoshop.

Photo requirements are based on: www.passports.govt.nz 

Photo requirements are based on: www.passports.govt.nz
Last update: 29/09/23