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35x45mm New Zealand Passport Photo

Written by Olia Potiagaeva, Managing Editor Reviewed by the PhotoGov Editorial Team ★ 4.8 / 5.0 GoogleChecked against Department of Internal Affairs requirements

A New Zealand passport photo will adhere to the strict requirements set out by their National Passport Agency and is a key component of the application process. Not complying with the stringent government guidelines may lead to delays or rejections. Photogov’s sophisticated online technology guarantees that your passport photo fulfills all official specifications so that you can present a perfect photo without any trouble.

Auto-crop the photo to fit the New Zealand passport size (two free ID photos per day, depending on your location)

Full document requirements for photos

How to get a photo - tutorial

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Source: official website www.passports.govt.nz

Get photo for: New Zealand Passport Offline

Step 2/4

Instructions:

How to take a good photo?

1/7 Image format

Photo must be in color. Taken within the last 6 months.

How to take a good photo?

1/7 Image format

Photo must be in color. Taken within the last 6 months.

ID & Passport Photo Tool. Your personal data is processed in accordance with security and privacy standards.

The 35x45mm New Zealand Passport Photo editor crops your image to the selected format and positions the head within the frame. It sizes the picture you upload without changing your facial features, and the built-in photo checker tests the file against the selected format. The selected format is 35 x 45mm. Before you submit the photo, check the photo instructions for the application you are completing.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Avoid Shadows in Background – Stand a little away from the wall to prevent shadows.
Overexposure or Underexposure – Ensure lighting is balanced to avoid excessive brightness or darkness.
Glare on Glasses – If you wear glasses, take them off or slightly tilt your head to reduce glare.
Head Wrong Size – Check that your head is positioned correctly within the frame.

How to Take a Perfect New Zealand Passport Photo

Select a Well-Lit Setting – Utilize natural daylight or artificial lighting to minimize shadows.
Use a Good Quality Camera – A smartphone with a great camera or a professional digital camera gives the best results.
Keep the Correct Placement – Stand 1.5 to 2 meters away for proper framing
Upload Your Image – Our system will resize, adjust background, and pixelate automatically.
Download & Submit – A digitally approved file ready for passport submission

Passport Photo Requirements for New Zealand

Dimensions and Technical Specs

45mm

35mm

65%

55%

Size	35x45mm
Digital Uploads	2400 pixels wide, 1800 pixels high or 2250 pixels wide, 2250 pixels high
Aspect Ratio	7:9
Background	White or light color, with no shadows or patterns
Resolution	At least 600 DPI
File Format	JPEG or PNG
Previous Applicants	Had to upload files of size between 250 KB and 10 MB online

Appearance Standards

Face

Neutral, indigenous with mouth closed and eyes opened.

Head Pose

Center, framed 70-80%

Clothing

Do not wear uniforms or too-casual outfits; stick to solid colors

Accessories

Prescription glasses are allowed if they are not tinted or thick-framed; sunglasses are not. No hats, except for religious or medical reasons.

Example photos:

Below are examples of correct and incorrect photos

How to take your own New Zealand Passport Offline photo

Under the New Zealand passport photo requirements set by the Department of Internal Affairs (Identities and Passports), your photo must be taken within the last six months. Arm's-length selfies may be rejected, so have another person take your photo or use a tripod, following the steps below.

1. Take the photo from 4.5 to 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) away at eye level.

Holding a phone at arm's length distorts facial proportions. Have the photographer stand about 5 feet (1.5 meters) away with the camera at eye level, while you stand at least 20 inches (0.5 meters) in front of a plain, light-colored wall (not pure white) to prevent background shadows. You may wear clear prescription glasses as long as the frames are not thick and there is no glare or tint on the lenses.

Watch "How to take a photo" (00:46)

2. Upload a head-and-shoulders shot with clear margin space

Upload a portrait that shows your head, shoulders, and upper chest with clear margins above and to the sides of your head — the Department of Internal Affairs requires visible space around the head in both digital and printed submissions.

3. Get your digital file

Always keep your original digital photo file even if you print physical copies: if you apply or renew online through the New Zealand passport portal, scanned copies of printed ID photos are rejected.

Additional Compliance Tips

No Digital Edits – Do not retouch or change facial features.
Natural Light Only – Avoid colored lighting that alters skin tone.
Face Fully Visible – No hair covering the eyes or forehead.
Focus & Sharpness – Ensure the image is sharp and free of pixelation.

Print and Submit Directorates

Digital Applications – Check the pixel size, file format (JPEG, PNG, PDF), and resolution before uploading.
For Physical Applications – Print your photograph on high-quality matte or glossy paper.
Check Your Government Compliance – Our system helps confirm your photo meets government requirements before submission!

How to take a New Zealand Passport Offline photo using a phone

So long as your smartphone has a good quality camera, you can certainly use it to take a picture for your passport. With that being said, however, selfies are not acceptable, so follow these steps:

Ask someone to take your picture for you.
Position them 5-7 feet away so that only your upper body is in the shot.
Alternatively, use a tripod set up between 5-7 feet away. Move it as necessary to get the perfect picture.

How to take New Zealand Passport Offline photos for babies and kids

For New Zealand baby passport photos, the infant's full face must be clearly visible with both eyes open, and no other people, hands, or objects may appear in the frame.

Lay your baby flat on a plain, light-colored sheet stretched smooth to avoid wrinkles or shadows, and photograph them directly from above.
Take the picture while your baby is awake and looking up — New Zealand does not accept infant passport photos with closed eyes.

PhotoGov Features

Our online passport photo tool offers several features to help you create the perfect photo:

Crop

Our in-built cropping feature allows you to trim new passport photos and ensure that they don’t have uneven edges. This allows you to neaten up your picture and ensure it’s the proper size for your passport.

Resize

You can also resize your picture as needed through PhotoGov, meaning that the end result will be a perfectly proportioned image that will fit just right into your passport. Additionally, you don’t need to worry about stretching or squishing the image and ruining the quality.

Background removal

If you can’t find a neutral background against which you can take a satisfactory picture, don’t worry; we have a background removal tool that can help you achieve the same results.

Auto-adjustment

With the click of a button, you can have our auto-adjustment tool immediately optimize your image to meet brightness, color, and contrast standards.

How can i convert my photo to passport size?

While you can convert the size of pictures using a variety of methods, the best option is to use our passport photo tool - PhotoGov. That way, you can rest assured you’ll have a high-quality, properly sized end product, one that isn’t distorted or blurred by stretching or compressing.

I Already Have a Digital Passport Photo. How Do I Print It?

First, make sure your digital photo was taken within the last six months and shows your upper shoulders with clear space around your head. Upload the file to PhotoGov to format it to the New Zealand print template, then print it on high-quality photo paper for your paper application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the requirement for how recent my New Zealand passport photo needs to be?

It should be dated within the last six months to reflect your current appearance.

Am I allowed to wear glasses in my passport picture?

Yes, prescription glasses are allowed if they are not tinted or thick-framed. Sunglasses are not allowed.

Can I send a digital photo for a New Zealand passport?

Yes, digital photos must comply with the official size, resolution, and format requirements.

What if my photo is not accepted?

You may resubmit as many times as necessary until your photo is formatted correctly.

Is my passport photo acceptable for other documents?

Yes, provided it complies with the specific document’s requirements.

Is a head covering permitted?

Yes, for religious or medical reasons, but facial features must be fully visible.

How do I check my photo meets the file size limit?

Use our built-in compression tool to reduce file size without sacrificing quality.

Is it OK to use a selfie for my passport photo?

No. Use a tripod or ask someone to take the photo for you.

Can I Use the 35x45mm New Zealand Passport Photo Editor on an iPhone or Android Phone?

Yes. Open photogov.net in the phone browser, upload a picture and download the finished file. No app is required; the PhotoGov app for iOS and Android does the same job if you prefer it.

Do I Need to Create a Size Template for the 35x45mm New Zealand Passport Photo?

No. PhotoGov applies the selected format automatically: the tool sets the frame and the head position for you. Before you submit the photo, check the photo instructions for the application you are completing.

Official Government Sources

Checked against the Department of Internal Affairs photo requirements: https://www.passports.govt.nz/passport-photos · Last checked: 08.10.2026