New Zealand passport photo maker
A New Zealand online passport photo is a 3:4 colour portrait between 900 and 4500 pixels wide, saved as a JPEG between 250 KB and 5 MB, on a plain light background with no edits. Frame it here and save it within those limits.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
New Zealand online passport photo requirements
| Shape | Portrait with a 3:4 aspect ratio |
|---|---|
| Pixel size | Between 900 and 4500 pixels wide, and 1200 and 6000 pixels high |
| File size | Between 250 KB and 5 MB |
| File format | JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) |
| Colour | Colour only, not black and white |
| Background | Plain and light-coloured with strong contrast. Light blues, greys and creams work well |
| How recent | Less than 6 months old |
| Editing | Do not edit, apply filters, or use AI tools to modify how you look |
Taken from the official page as indexed by a search engine (the live page blocks automated readers) on 11 November 2026. Source: Department of Internal Affairs: Passport photos · Check your photo meets the technical requirements. Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- Your head centred, with a clear gap around the top and sides, and your shoulders and upper chest included.
- A neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes open.
- Face not tilted or turned, with hair away from your eyes and the sides of your face.
- No shadows or objects in the background. Stand at least half a metre in front of it.
- Prescription glasses are allowed if they are not tinted or thick-framed, there is a clear gap between your eyes and the frames, and there is no glare. No sunglasses.
- A digital original. Scans of printed photos are not accepted.
The top reason photos are rejected
According to the passport office, the most common reason is that the camera was too close. A lens near the face makes the nose larger and the ears smaller, and the photo no longer matches your real proportions. The fix is distance: ask someone to stand about 1.5 metres away with the camera at your eye level, and crop afterwards. For the same reason, selfies are not accepted.
Two checks, not one
The photo is first tested by an online photo checker, which looks at measurable things such as aspect ratio and file size, and is then assessed by a passport officer. An aspect-ratio error is a common failure at the first step; a photo saved from this page is exactly 3:4. A file under 250 KB also fails, which often happens when a photo has been sent through a messaging app that shrinks it. Use the original file from the camera.
Why NZ passport photos fail
- Camera too close to the face, which distorts it.
- A selfie.
- Wrong aspect ratio, often after cropping by eye.
- File smaller than 250 KB or larger than 5 MB.
- An edited or filtered photo, or a black-and-white one.
✓ Good: plain background, even light, neutral face
✕ Shadow on the wall and face
✕ Busy background
✕ Glare on glasses
✕ Selfie taken too close
✕ Too dark, orange light
More on this in why ID photos get rejected. The examples use an off-white wall. The background row in the table above gives the exact colour this document asks for.
How to use this tool
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m, at eye level, in even daylight in front of a plain wall.
- Add the photo above. The tool finds your face and frames it to the size on this page.
- Check the green lines: one on the top of your head, one on your chin. Drag or zoom to adjust.
- Read the automatic checks, then download. Nothing in the photo is retouched, only cropped and resized.
Questions about the New Zealand passport photo
Can I take my own New Zealand passport photo?
Yes. The passport office says you can use a professional service or take a photo with your own device. Someone else must take it, from about 1.5 metres at eye level; selfies are not accepted.
What size is a New Zealand passport photo?
For the online application: a 3:4 portrait between 900 and 4500 pixels wide and 1200 and 6000 pixels high, saved as a JPEG between 250 KB and 5 MB.
Can I wear glasses in an NZ passport photo?
Prescription glasses are allowed if they are not tinted or thick-framed, your eyes are clear of the frames, and there is no glare. Sunglasses are not allowed.
Why does the photo checker say my file is too small?
The file must be at least 250 KB. Photos sent through messaging apps or saved from social media are often compressed below that. Start again from the original camera file.
Guides for this photo
- Why passport and ID photos get rejectedThe reasons authorities list themselves, and how to avoid each
- How to take a passport photo at homeDistance, light, background and pose, step by step
- Are edited or AI passport photos allowed?What ten authorities say about retouching, filters and AI
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not