head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration New Zealand
Verified
Quick answer: Background for the New Zealand NZeTA photo: plain light-coloured background (not white). Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
|---|---|
| Background | Plain light-coloured background (not white). |
| Pose | Strictly full face, head without rotation or tilt, shoulders level. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious or medical reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, shoulders visible, without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| Digital resolution | 900 × 1200 to 2250 × 3000 px |
| File format | JPG / JPEG |
| File size | min 512 KB · max 3.14 MB Compress photo to 2 MB — New Zealand NZeTA → |
New Zealand visa photos are reviewed by consular officers who compare the submitted photo against biometric standards set by the issuing country. For digital applications, an automated pre-screening step checks the background colour, head position and file dimensions before the image reaches a human reviewer. Photos that fail the automated check are rejected immediately, without manual review.
Visa photos carry a higher rejection risk than passport photos because requirements vary by visa category — tourist, work, student and transit visas can each specify different dimensions or background rules. Always use the exact profile for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all New Zealand visa categories.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for New Zealand NZeTA applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
How to take it
Background: plain white
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 the required size.
Clear lenses only, 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
| Authority | Immigration New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Source | Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA |
| Verified |
Questions
The New Zealand NZeTA photo must meet the authority requirements shown in the table above. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain light-coloured background (not white). The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Follow the requirements for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all New Zealand visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
Religious or medical 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.