New Zealand · New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs) · Verified October 22, 2026
New Zealand Passport Photo — 900×1200 to 4500×6000 px, 250 KB–5 MB, Free Maker
- 900×1200 to 4500×6000 px
- 250 KB–5 MB
- JPG
- Plain light-coloured
Off by default: this authority rejects edited backgrounds. Take the photo against a plain wall instead — we'll check it.
Drop your photo here
Tap to choose, drag and drop, or paste. JPG, PNG, HEIC, WebP.
Processed on your device. Never uploaded.
Drop a photo and ExactFit turns it into a New Zealand Passport Photo that meets New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs)'s rules. For citizens of New Zealand applying or renewing.
New Zealand Passport Photo requirements
| Document | New Zealand passport — online or paper application |
|---|---|
| Issued by | New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs) (New Zealand) |
| Pixels | min 900 × 1200, max 4500 × 6000 |
| Aspect ratio | 3:4 |
| File size | 250 KB–5 MB |
| Format | JPG |
| Background colour | Plain light-coloured |
| Colour | Colour photo required |
| Taken within | the last 6 months |
| Submitted as | Digital upload |
The rules in plain words
- Colour digital photo in .jpg or .jpeg format with a 3:4 aspect ratio.
- Between 250 KB and 5 MB.
- 900–4,500 pixels wide and 1,200–6,000 pixels high.
- Less than 6 months old.
- Clear space around the sides and top of your head; shoulders and upper chest included.
- Plain, light-coloured background with strong contrast and no shadows.
- Neutral expression — no smiling — mouth closed, eyes open.
- Prescription glasses are allowed if not tinted or thick-framed and without glare; no sunglasses.
- No filters, editing or AI tools that change how you look.
How to take a New Zealand Passport Photo at home
- 1Stand about half a metre in front of a plain light-coloured wall. Distance from the wall stops shadows behind your head.
- 2Face a window or soft light so both sides of your face are evenly lit — no harsh overhead light.
- 3Ask someone to hold the camera at your eye level, 1–1.5 m away. Selfies at arm's length make noses look bigger and get rejected.
- 4Look straight at the lens with a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, hair away from your eyes.
- 5Take off your glasses unless you have a medical reason to wear them.
- 6Drop the photo here and download the result — it is ready to upload.
Tips specific to this document
- Selfies are rejected: have someone stand 1.5 m away with the camera at your eye level.
- Babies: lay them on a plain light sheet and photograph from above.
Common reasons photos are rejected
- Selfie distortion.
- Smiling.
- File under 250 KB.
- Edited or filtered image.
Questions people ask
What size is a New Zealand Passport Photo?
New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs) requires 900×1200 to 4500×6000 px, with a file size 250 KB–5 MB. ExactFit sizes your photo to exactly this and shows a checklist so you can confirm before you submit.
What background colour is required?
Plain light-coloured, plain and without shadows or patterns. New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs) does not accept digitally edited backgrounds, so take the photo against a plain wall; ExactFit checks the background but leaves it unchanged by default.
Can I wear glasses?
Prescription glasses are allowed if not tinted or thick-framed and without glare; no sunglasses.
How recent does the photo need to be?
It must have been taken within the last 6 months and look like you do now.
Can I take a New Zealand Passport Photo with my phone?
Yes. Have someone else take it at eye level from about 1–1.5 m away with light in front of you. iPhone HEIC files work directly.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. All processing — face detection, cropping, background and compression — runs inside your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.
Will my photo be accepted?
ExactFit checks every measurable requirement against the official rules, but the final decision is made by New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs). Follow the checklist and the official guidance linked on this page.
Official source
Last verified against the official source: October 22, 2026
ExactFit is not affiliated with any government. Requirements can change; always confirm with the official source. No guarantee of acceptance.
Spotted a change? Tell us and we’ll re-verify within days.