New Zealand photo requirements

New Zealand photo requirements are set by Department of Internal Affairs, Te Tari Taiwhenua (passports.govt.nz); Immigration New Zealand for visas and NZeTA. We publish 2 documents: 1 passport and 1 visa. Every document here is uploaded as a digital file; 2 documents accept a digital upload. Each page quotes the official rule for size, head height, background and file, links the source we read, and shows the date we last checked it (most recently 2026-10-10).

Passports

New Zealand Passport Photo (digital 3:4, 900-4500 x 1200-6000 px, 250 KB-5 MB)For the digital photo uploaded with an online New Zealand passport application (adult, child, renewal or replacement) through passports.govt.nz, by New Zealand citizens anywhere in the world. Paper applications take a print from a photo service instead; scans of prints are refused. Not for a New Zealand visa or NZeTA (Immigration New Zealand's rule differs) or a driver licence.1500 x 2000 pxuse a plainverified 2026-10-10

Visas

New Zealand Visa and NZeTA Photo (digital 3:4, 512 KB-3.14 MB, face 70-80 %)For the photo uploaded with an online New Zealand visa application or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) request to Immigration New Zealand, by visitors, students, workers and residents of any nationality. Paper visa forms take a 35 x 45 mm print instead (see the gotchas). Not for a New Zealand passport, whose rule is different.900 x 1200 pxbe neutral and plainverified 2026-10-10

Authorities and portals

Passport authority: Department of Internal Affairs, Te Tari Taiwhenua (passports.govt.nz); Immigration New Zealand for visas and NZeTA
Sources we read: Department of Internal Affairs, Te Tari Taiwhenua (New Zealand Passports), 'Passport photos', with ICAO Doc 9303 for the head band; Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), 'Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA'

We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.