New Zealand Visa and NZeTA Photo Requirements: 3:4 Portrait JPG, 512 KB to 3.14 MB, Face 70–80 %

Immigration New Zealand uses the photo you upload as biometric information, so its rules are more technical than most. The page “Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA” and the technical sheet for professional photographers set out the file, the framing and the lighting. Here they are in one place.

File and format (online applications)

The photo must also be of you, not edited or altered, and not a photo of a photo. If there is a problem you get an error message when you submit it with the online application, and a photo that does not meet the standards makes the application take longer — you may be asked for a new one.

Face, expression and head coverings

• Your face covers between 70 % and 80 % of the image and is in the middle of the frame.
• You look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed; the face is not turned to the side or at an angle.
• Your eyes are open and the image is in focus.
• Hair must not cover your face or ears — the photo must show your ears unless you wear a scarf for religious or medical reasons.
• Head coverings are removed unless worn for religious or medical reasons, and then must not cover the mouth or the sides of the face.

Glasses, light and background

• Glasses: prescription glasses are allowed if they are clear and not tinted (no sunglasses), do not have heavy frames that cover your face, and create no glare or reflection. If glasses cause problems it may be best to remove them.
• Light: no shadows on the face or the background, and good contrast between face and background. Immigration NZ suggests standing 0.5 metres from the background with the photographer 1.5 metres in front of you.
• Background: neutral and plain, showing only you and no other people or objects. Avoid t-shirts with pictures and patterned clothing: patterns can create technical issues.

Selfies and paper applications

Immigration NZ recommends having someone else take the photo. A selfie can be used only if you apply for an NZeTA in the mobile app; then stretch your arm as far as possible, hold the phone at eyebrow height and keep the light source behind the phone. A paper visa application takes a photo 35 mm wide and 45 mm high — more instructions are on the paper forms. An NZeTA can only be requested online.

Common reasons for a new-photo request

1. A face that fills too little or too much of the frame (outside 70–80 %).
2. Hair or a head covering over the ears, mouth or sides of the face.
3. Open mouth or a turned head.
4. A file below 512 KB or above 3.14 MB, or a landscape image.
5. Patterned clothes or objects in the background.

Our New Zealand visa photo tool sets the 3:4 frame and exports a JPG inside the file limits; the NZeTA photo tool does the same for an NZeTA.