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Make New Zealand Passport Photo

New Zealand states its passport photo in pixels, not millimetres: a 3:4 digital photo at least 900 x 1200px, uploaded with the online application. Prints are not accepted, and neither is a scan of one.

Upload PhotoJPG, PNG

Framing for the Online Checker

  • 1

    Have someone else take the photo

    Selfies are rejected. The camera should be about 1.5m away.

  • 2

    Leave a clear gap around your head

    Include your shoulders and upper chest — do not crop tight.

  • 3

    Stand away from the background

    At least half a metre, so no shadow falls behind your head.

Specifications

The digital format used for New Zealand passport applications.

Dimensions900 x 1200px minimum (3:4)
Maximum4500 x 6000px
FileJPG, between 250KB and 5MB
BackgroundPlain light — not white

Compliance Checklist

  • Not a selfie

    New Zealand rejects selfies outright — someone else must hold the camera.

  • Not a scan of a print

    The file has to be digital from the start; scans are not accepted.

  • Background is light but not white

    Pale grey, blue or cream works better than white.

  • No glasses

    New Zealand does not accept glasses in passport photos.

  • Neutral expression

    Mouth closed, both eyes open.

  • Taken within the last 6 months

    Must reflect your current appearance.

  • Run the official photo checker

    passports.govt.nz has a checker that validates the file before you apply.

At least

900 x 1200px, and the file must be at least 250KB

New Zealand Passport Photo Requirements, Explained

New Zealand states its photo in pixels, not millimetres — and it does not want a white background.

Quick Check: Do's & Don'ts

No Selfies

Rejected outright — someone else holds the camera.

No White Background

Pale grey, blue or cream works better.

At Least 900 x 1200px

3:4 portrait, JPG between 250KB and 5MB.

Room Around Your Head

Shoulders and upper chest in frame.

A Pixel Specification, Not a Print One

3:4 portrait, 900-4500px wide and 1200-6000px high.

New Zealand publishes its passport photo requirement in pixels: a 3:4 portrait image, at least 900 pixels wide and 1200 high, up to 4500 x 6000, as a .jpg between 250KB and 5MB and less than six months old. There is no millimetre size to hit because there is no print.

Scans of printed photos are not accepted. The file has to be digital from the moment it is taken — the same chain-of-custody logic Germany used when it banned paper photos outright, reached without banning anything the applicant does.

There is an official online photo checker that validates the file before you start the application. Run it. It is faster than finding out after submission.

Selfies Are Rejected

Someone else has to take it, from about 1.5 metres away.

New Zealand states plainly that selfies will be rejected. An arm's length is close enough to distort facial proportions, which is exactly what breaks a biometric match.

The passport office asks for the camera to be about 1.5m away and publishes step-by-step guides for taking the photo on an iPhone or a Samsung phone — so a phone photo is not just permitted, it is anticipated. It simply cannot be one you took of yourself.

Background: Light, But Not White

"Light blues, greys and creams work well."

This catches people who prepared against a generic template. New Zealand asks for a plain, light-coloured background and states that pale greys and blues work better than white. There must be strong contrast between your face and the background, with no shadows and nothing behind your head.

Stand at least half a metre away from the background so your body throws no shadow onto it, and make sure no people or objects are in shot.

The No-Glasses Rule

New Zealand removed the glasses exemption years ago.

Glasses are not accepted in New Zealand passport photos. This is stricter than the 'no glare' wording many countries use — there is no version of wearing glasses that passes.

If you have a documented medical reason you cannot remove them, contact the passport office rather than relying on the standard process.

Framing

A clear gap around the head, shoulders and upper chest included.

New Zealand does not publish a head-height range in millimetres or percentages. It asks for your head to be centred with a clear gap around the sides and top, including your hair and ears, and for part of your shoulders and upper chest to be in the frame.

Because no numeric band is published, do not crop tightly to try to hit one. Leave room and let the official checker confirm the framing.

What You'll Actually Download

900 x 1200px, JPG, under 5MB. Computed from this photo's own specification, not typed by hand.

How you submitUpload a fileSubmitted through: Passports Online (passports.govt.nz)
Pixel size
900 x 1200px
File type
JPG
Maximum file size
5MB
Background
Light grey

Requirements verified · Source: passports.govt.nz

Watch out — At least 900 x 1200px, and the file must be at least 250KB

New Zealand Passport Photo Maker (900 x 1200px)

Create the digital photo a New Zealand passport application needs — 3:4 at 900 x 1200px or larger, on a light background that is not white. Free and 100% private.

Get Your Photo in 3 Steps

1. Have Someone Take It

Selfies are rejected. Camera about 1.5m away, on a pale grey or blue background.

Take your glasses off — they are not accepted.

2. Auto Alignment

We produce a 3:4 file at 900 x 1200px with room around your head.

Stand half a metre from the wall to avoid shadows.

3. Run the Official Checker

Validate the file on passports.govt.nz, then attach it to your application.

Upload the file itself — scans of prints are refused.

New Zealand Passport Photo Specifications

Dimensions900 x 1200px minimum, 3:4 portrait
Maximum4500 x 6000px
FileJPG, between 250KB and 5MB
BackgroundPlain light — pale grey, blue or cream, not white
GlassesNot accepted

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What size is a New Zealand passport photo?▼
New Zealand states it in pixels rather than millimetres: a 3:4 portrait image at least 900 x 1200px and no more than 4500 x 6000px, saved as a .jpg between 250KB and 5MB.
Q.Can the background be white?▼
It should not be. New Zealand asks for a plain, light-coloured background and states that pale greys and blues work better than white. Light blues, greys and creams are the colours it names.
Q.Can I take the photo myself?▼
You can take your own photo with your own device, but not a selfie — those are rejected. Someone else has to hold the camera, about 1.5m away. The passport office publishes guides for doing this on an iPhone or a Samsung phone.
Q.Can I scan a printed photo?▼
No. Scans of printed photos are not accepted; the file has to be digital from the start.
Q.How big should my head be in the photo?▼
New Zealand does not publish a numeric range. It asks for a clear gap around the sides and top of your head, with your shoulders and upper chest included, and defers the check to its online photo checker. Do not crop tightly trying to hit a figure.
Q.Can I wear glasses?▼
No. New Zealand does not accept glasses at all — this is stricter than the 'no glare' rule most countries use. Contact the passport office if you have a documented medical reason you cannot remove them.