head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)
Verified
Quick answer: Background for the New Zealand visa 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 visa → |
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) sets the visa and NZeTA photo on one page, and it is a digital photo: a JPG or JPEG between 512 KB and 3.14 MB, taken in portrait mode with a 3:4 aspect ratio, looking like you were photographed within the last 6 months, not edited or altered — no filters, beautification or AI editing tools, no cropping your head onto a plain background, no digitally removed glasses or jewellery — and not a photo of a photo. Your face covers 70–80 % of the image and sits in the middle, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression and the mouth closed, the head straight, hair not covering the face or ears (the ears must show unless a scarf is worn for religious or medical reasons) and eyes open.
You may wear prescription glasses if they are clear and not tinted, with no heavy frames and no glare or reflection. Lighting has no shadows on the face or background and good contrast; INZ suggests standing 0.5 m from the background with the photographer 1.5 m in front of you.
The background is neutral and plain, with no other people or objects. A selfie is accepted only in the NZeTA mobile app. For a paper visa application the photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for New Zealand visa applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Immigration New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A file under 512 KB or over 3.14 MB, not a JPG or JPEG, or not in 3:4 portrait | Use a JPG of 512 KB to 3.14 MB in portrait mode with a 3:4 ratio. |
| An edited, AI-enhanced or filtered photo, a cut-out background, or a photo of a photo | Use an unedited photo taken directly, with phone filters switched off. |
| A face smaller than 70 % of the image, off centre, or turned to the side | Centre the face at 70–80 % of the frame, looking straight at the camera. |
| Hair over the face or ears, a covered mouth, closed eyes, or an open mouth | Show the face and ears, eyes open and mouth closed. |
| Tinted or heavy-framed glasses, glare or reflection, shadows or a patterned background | Take glasses off if they cause glare; use even light and a plain neutral background. |
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
A New Zealand visa is applied for online through your Immigration New Zealand account, uploading the digital photo; an NZeTA is requested online or in the NZeTA mobile app, where a selfie is allowed; a paper application uses a 35 × 45 mm print.
immigration.govt.nz — your online account; errors show when you submit the photo
JPG 512 KB to 3.14 MB, 3:4 portrait, face 70–80 %, unedited, within 6 months.
Authority page| Authority | Immigration New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) |
|---|---|
| Source | Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA |
| Verified |
Questions
A JPG or JPEG of 512 KB to 3.14 MB in portrait mode with a 3:4 ratio, looking like it was taken within the last 6 months, unedited and not AI-altered, the face 70–80 % of the image and centred, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression and the mouth closed, hair off the face and ears, eyes open, and a plain neutral background.
Online: a 3:4 portrait JPG between 512 KB and 3.14 MB. On a paper visa application: 35 mm wide and 45 mm high.
Yes, prescription glasses if they are clear and not tinted, without heavy frames covering the face and without glare or reflection; INZ says it may be best to remove them if they cause problems.
No AI or editing is allowed, and a selfie is accepted only in the mobile app for an NZeTA; for a visa have someone else take a plain photo.
The New Zealand visa photo requirements are in the table above. The head occupies 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.