New Zealand passport photo rules in plain words
New Zealand Passports, part of the Department of Internal Affairs, takes the photo as an online upload only. There is no printed size to follow. The image is a JPG with a 3:4 aspect ratio, from 900x1200 px up to 4500x6000 px, and the file must be between 250 KB and 5 MB.
- Background: plain and light-coloured.
- Glasses: prescription glasses are fine if they are not tinted or thick-framed, and there must be no glare.
- Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
- Age of the photo: under 6 months old.
- Head height: not specified officially.
- Selfies: not accepted.
What counts as a selfie
A photo you take of yourself at arm's length is a selfie, and it is not accepted. The close lens also bends the face. Take the picture from a distance or ask someone else to take it, then crop it afterwards.
How to take it at home with a phone
Stand in front of a plain, light wall in soft daylight, a step away from it so no shadow falls behind you. Ask a friend to hold the phone at eye level, about one to two metres from you, with the camera in portrait mode. Look straight ahead with a neutral expression, closed mouth and clear eyes.
If you wear glasses, check the screen for reflections and tilt your head slightly down until they disappear. Leave room around the head and shoulders for the crop.
Processing
The photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded. It is cropped to 3:4, the background is made plain and light, and the file is kept in the accepted size range.
Common reasons for rejection
- A selfie taken at arm's length.
- An aspect ratio that is not 3:4.
- An image smaller than 900x1200 px or larger than 4500x6000 px.
- A file under 250 KB or over 5 MB.
- Tinted or thick-framed glasses, or glare on the lenses.
- A photo that is older than 6 months.
Uploading
This is a digital upload, so download the JPG and attach it in your online application. No print is needed. Because there is a minimum file size of 250 KB, avoid recompressing or saving the file again in another app.
If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.
Final checks
Before you submit, look at the preview at full size and confirm that your face is sharp, both eyes are open and there is no shadow behind your head. Keep the original file unchanged, since saving it again can lower the size below the 250 KB minimum. If you have a recent photo that already meets every rule, you can compare it with the result before you decide.