head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceNew Zealand Government (govt.nz) — Citizenship Office, Department of Internal Affairs
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended New Zealand citizenship application photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. |
| Pose | Strictly full face, head without rotation or tilt, shoulders level. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Glasses permitted only without reflections and without obscuring eyes. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, shoulders visible, without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For a New Zealand citizenship application the Citizenship Office «accepts passport-style photos» and the image must be «of only you, less than 6 months old, clear, sharp and in focus», showing «your head and shoulders, your face looking directly at the camera, your eyes open and clearly visible — not covered by hair or sunglasses — and a neutral expression, not smiling or frowning, with your mouth closed». «You can wear prescription glasses, as long as your eyes are still visible»; «selfies are not accepted» because they change the way the face looks, so someone else takes the photo; for a baby the page says to lie the child on a plain sheet and photograph from above with the face in full view and the eyes open, with no people or objects in the background. Online, one photo saved as a .jpeg file; by post or in person, two identical photos printed on photo-quality paper, with the witness signing the back of one. The page gives no size in millimetres or pixels for the photo.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for New Zealand citizenship application applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules New Zealand Government (govt.nz) — Citizenship Office, Department of Internal Affairs publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A selfie | A photo taken by another person. |
| A photo more than 6 months old, not clear, sharp and in focus, or of more than one person | A photo of only you, from the last 6 months, clear, sharp and in focus. |
| Eyes covered by hair or sunglasses, or a smile, a frown or an open mouth | Eyes open and visible, a neutral expression and a closed mouth. |
| Online: not a .jpeg file; by post: two prints that are not identical or not on photo-quality paper | One .jpeg online, or two identical photo-quality prints by post or in person. |
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 70–80 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A New Zealand citizenship application is made online (one .jpeg photo and an identity referee) or by post or in person (two identical printed photos, one signed on the back by a witness) to the Citizenship Office.
govt.nz — how to apply for NZ citizenship
One .jpeg photo online, or two identical printed photos by post or in person.
Authority page| Authority | New Zealand Government (govt.nz) — Citizenship Office, Department of Internal Affairs |
|---|---|
| Source | What to get ready before you apply for NZ citizenship — your photo |
| Verified |
Questions
One photo saved as a .jpeg file if you apply online; two identical photos printed on photo-quality paper if you apply by post or in person.
No — the page says selfies are not accepted because they change the way your face looks; ask someone else to take the photo.
Prescription glasses are fine as long as your eyes are still visible; sunglasses and hair covering the eyes are not.
When you apply in person or by post, your witness signs the back of one of the photos and completes the witness section of the form.
The recommended size for the New Zealand citizenship application photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height. Naturalisation and citizenship certificate photos use the same biometric standard as New Zealand passports.
Most citizenship authorities require photos taken within the last three to six months. Because citizenship documents are issued once and used for decades, submit a photo that genuinely reflects your current appearance, not a stylised portrait.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. The photo will be printed on official documents and digitally archived — even minor background issues become permanent in the record. Use a flat, evenly lit wall with no objects or shadows.
Glasses permitted only without reflections and without obscuring eyes. Citizenship documents are checked at immigration, banking and government offices over the document's lifetime. Removing glasses for the photo prevents future verification problems.
It does not need to be identical, but must show the same person clearly. Significant differences in hair, facial hair or weight may prompt the citizenship authority to request a new photo or in-person verification.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the New Zealand citizenship authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: refugee travel document.