Complete guide to official New Zealand passport photo requirements from passports.govt.nz
The New Zealand Government does NOT accept selfies for passport photos because they distort facial proportions. Your photo must be taken by another person standing approximately 1.5 metres away from you. This is a strict requirement that applies to both adult and child passport applications.
3:4 (portrait orientation, taller than wide)
JPG or JPEG only
Between 250KB and 5MB
900-4500 pixels wide, 1200-6000 pixels high
Less than 6 months old
Plain and light-coloured (light blue, grey, or cream recommended)
No shadows on face or background
Stand 0.5 metres away from the background
Photographer should be 1.5 metres away from you
NZ Government does not accept selfies. Someone else must take your photo from 1.5 metres away.
Prescription glasses OK if no glare/tint. Sunglasses are not permitted under any circumstances.
Do not use filters, AI enhancement, or photo editing software that alters your appearance.
Only for religious or medical reasons. Face must be fully visible from chin to forehead.
For printed passport applications, photos should be:
(3.5cm × 4.5cm) - Face should be 32-36mm from chin to crown
Our tool automatically ensures your photo meets all these requirements.