New Zealand Passport Photo Requirements 2026 – DIA Rules

New Zealand passport photos must be exactly 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall, matching the ICAO standard. The photo must be in colour, clear, and in sharp focus. Black and white photos are not accepted.

The head height — from the top of the head (including hair) to the chin — must be between 28 mm and 34 mm. Notably, this range is slightly narrower at the lower end compared to some European countries (which start at 32 mm). The DIA is strict about this, and photos where the face appears too small are a common reason for rejection.

The face must be centred in the frame, and both eyes should be at the same horizontal level. The top of the head should have a small amount of space above it, but it must not be cropped.

The DIA requires a plain, light-coloured background — ideally white or light grey. The background must be free of patterns, shadows, and gradients, and must contrast clearly with your head and clothing.

When photographing at home, a plain white or light grey wall works well. Move away from the wall to avoid shadows, and use natural light or an even artificial light source from the front. Avoid window light directly behind you, as this creates a silhouette effect and overexposes the background.

Unlike most European countries, New Zealand requires a guarantor to verify your passport application. For photo requirements specifically, the guarantor must sign the back of one of the printed photos, writing “I certify this is a true likeness of [full name]” followed by their signature, name, occupation, and contact phone number.

The guarantor must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, must be over 16 years old, must have known the applicant for at least 12 months, and must not be a family member. Suitable guarantors include a doctor, teacher, police officer, lawyer, or long-standing friend.

For online passport applications through the DIA portal, a digital photo is uploaded instead, and the guarantor requirement works slightly differently — see the DIA website for current online application guidance.

Glasses: Not permitted. Remove all eyeglasses before taking your passport photo, regardless of whether they are prescription or fashion glasses. Transparent contact lenses are acceptable; coloured contact lenses are not.

Expression: Neutral, with your mouth closed and facial muscles relaxed. The DIA requires a plain expression — no smiling, no frowning, and no raised eyebrows.

Eyes: Open and looking directly at the camera. Both eyes must be fully visible. The DIA will reject photos where the eyes are partially closed or the gaze is off-axis.

Head coverings: Not allowed unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons. If worn, the full face from forehead to chin must be clearly visible.

New Zealand passport photos must be a good likeness of you as you look now, taken within the last 6 months. If your appearance has changed substantially — for example due to a significant change in hairstyle, facial hair, or weight — a fresh photo is required.

For children, photos should be updated regularly as children's appearances change quickly. The DIA may reject a child's photo if it no longer resembles the child at the time of application.

The DIA accepts digital photo submissions for New Zealand passport applications processed online through passports.govt.nz. Applicants with a verified RealMe identity can complete the entire application digitally, including uploading the passport photo. When submitting digitally, the photo must:

• Be in JPEG format
• Have a resolution sufficient to maintain 35×45mm at 600 DPI (approximately 827×1063 pixels)
• Show a plain white or off-white background
• Be taken within the last 6 months
• Not be digitally altered beyond standard exposure adjustment and background removal

For in-person applications, printed photos can be submitted at any New Zealand PostShop or participating Australia Post outlet. The identity referee (guarantor) must sign the back of the printed photo and complete the declaration.

Adult New Zealand passport holders (16 and over) can choose between a 5-year and a 10-year passport. The 10-year option costs more but reduces renewal frequency. Child passports for applicants under 16 are issued for 5 years only, because children's appearances change more rapidly and their photos become unreliable for identification after a shorter period.

Every child, regardless of age, must have their own New Zealand passport. The same 35×45mm format and DIA quality requirements apply to child photos. Practical tips for photographing young children:

• Lay infants on a plain white blanket or sheet — the background must appear white or off-white in the final photo
• Parents, guardians, and hands must not appear in the frame
• Eyes should be open and facing the camera; a natural infant gaze is accepted
• No toys, dummies, or accessories should be visible
• Even lighting with no shadows on the face is required