New Zealand Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

New Zealand passport photo requirements hold one surprise that catches most people out: the background must be light, but not white. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is specific about this, and a plain white photo that would pass in the US or UK gets rejected here.

This guide breaks down every current New Zealand passport photo rule for 2026 — the 35 × 45 mm size, the light (non-white) background, the 32–36 mm head height, and the two-photo rule for paper applications.

New Zealand Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications set by the DIA for the New Zealand passport photo:

Get any one of these wrong and the photo can be rejected, so it is worth checking each before you submit.

Passport Photo Dimensions and Head Position Rules

Exact Passport Size Photo Dimensions

The finished photo must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall in a portrait format — the standard international size.

Head Size, Placement, and Photo Measurement

Your face must fill 70–80% of the photo height, with the head measuring 32–36 mm from chin to crown and a small margin of space above the head. Centre your face and look straight at the camera.

Getting these millimetres right by hand is where most people slip up. The simplest fix is to create your New Zealand passport photo with a tool that crops and resizes to the exact official spec automatically.

Background Requirements

Light, but not white

The DIA requires a plain light background that is explicitly not white. A light grey or off-white is the most commonly used and accepted colour. This is the single biggest reason New Zealand photos get rejected.

Common background mistakes

• Using a plain white background (not accepted)
• Coloured, patterned, or textured walls
• Shadows falling behind the head or shoulders
• Other people or objects in the frame

Pose, Expression, and Lighting Rules

Expression and eyes

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, looking directly at the camera. No smiling or head tilt.

Lighting

Use even, front-facing light so there are no shadows on your face or background. Keep your hair clear of your eyes and make sure both edges of your face are visible.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Passport Photo Criteria

Glasses

Photos are best taken without glasses to avoid glare. If worn for medical reasons, the eyes must be fully visible with no reflection, tint, or frames covering them.

Head coverings

Head coverings are not permitted except for religious or medical reasons, and even then the full face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.

Digital vs. Printed Passport Photo Specifications

Printed photo

For a paper application, provide two identical 35 × 45 mm colour prints on photo-quality paper with a light (non-white) background.

Online photo

If you apply online, take a high-resolution portrait photo (not landscape) with a 4:3 aspect ratio and save it as a JPG (JPEG). The same composition rules apply — a light non-white background, neutral expression, and 32–36 mm head height.

Top Reasons New Zealand Passport Photos Get Rejected

• White background instead of the required light non-white tone
• Head too small or too large — outside 70–80% face coverage
• Wrong size — not 35 × 45 mm
• Only one photo submitted instead of two (paper applications)
• Shadows on the face or behind the head
• Smiling or a non-neutral expression
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet New Zealand's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Stand 2–3 feet from a plain, evenly lit wall — you will correct the background to a light non-white tone afterwards.
2. Have someone photograph you at eye level from about 4 feet away, or use a tripod and timer.
3. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, and no glasses.
4. Shoot in colour at the highest resolution your phone or camera allows, in portrait (4:3) orientation.
5. Upload it to a tool that sets a light grey or off-white background and crops to the exact 35 × 45 mm spec.
6. Print two identical copies for a paper application, or save a JPG for online lodgement.

Beyond New Zealand: Other Countries' Requirements

Specifications differ widely between countries — New Zealand's light non-white background is unusual, while the US uses a white 2 × 2 inch square and Canada a 50 × 70 mm photo. If you travel or apply internationally, you can check the rules and generate a compliant photo using our passport photo tool for 150+ countries.

Conclusion

A compliant New Zealand passport photo comes down to three things: the 35 × 45 mm size with a 32–36 mm head height, a plain light background that is not white, and a neutral, recent photo taken within the last six months. Nail those and you avoid the most common rejection reasons.