New Zealand · passport
New Zealand passport photo: light background, not white
New Zealand passport applications are digital-first: you upload a JPG in 3:4 portrait orientation between 900×1200 and 4500×6000 pixels, 250 KB to 5 MB. The background must be plain and light but not white, ideally light grey, with strong contrast and no shadows.
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 1200×1600 px JPEG
- Background
- light grey
- Head height
- —
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: PassportClerk never replaces backgrounds, which matters more than usual for New Zealand, because the Department of Internal Affairs rejects edited photos outright. If your wall is pure white, photograph against a light grey one instead; our checker tells you honestly whether the shade will pass.
How our New Zealand Passport photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official New Zealand Passport specification (35×45 mm, 1200×1600 px, light grey background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a New Zealand Passport photo?
A New Zealand passport photo is a digital-first photograph: a JPG in 3:4 portrait orientation between 900×1200 and 4500×6000 pixels and 250 KB–5 MB, on a plain, light-coloured background that must not be white. That is the most distinctive background rule of any English-speaking country. The paper alternative is a 35×45 mm print with the head including hair about 80% of the image height.
The Department of Internal Affairs rejects scans of prints, selfies and AI-edited images, and runs its own online photo checker. Prescription glasses are now allowed if they are untinted, thin-framed and free of glare, reversing the older ban that many guides still quote.
Scans of printed photos, selfies and AI-edited images are all rejected. This page measures your framing and background, including whether the backdrop is too white, then delivers a compliant file plus a 35×45 mm sheet for the paper route.
New Zealand Passport photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 1200×1600 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 1200×1600px JPEG · max 5120 KB |
| Background | light grey |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- Digital uploads: 3:4 portrait between 900×1200 and 4500×6000 px, JPG, 250 KB–5 MB.
- Background must be plain and light but NOT white. Light grey works well.
- Scans of prints, selfies and AI edits are all rejected; prescription glasses are allowed if untinted with no glare.
- Paper route: 35×45 mm with head including hair about 80% of the image height.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
New Zealand Passport photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
New Zealand Passport photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (1200×1600px, under 5120 KB)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 1200×1600px
- Plain light grey background, evenly lit
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your New Zealand Passport photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official New Zealand Passport requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't the background be white for a New Zealand passport photo?
The official requirement is a plain, light-coloured background that is explicitly not white, because the system needs contrast between your head and the backdrop. Light grey or a pale neutral tone works. Our background check measures the shade and uniformity.
What are the digital photo requirements?
JPG only, 3:4 portrait, minimum 900×1200 px, maximum 4500×6000 px, file size 250 KB–5 MB, taken within the last 6 months. No scans of prints, no selfies, no AI edits or filters.
Can I wear glasses in an NZ passport photo?
Yes, though this changed. Prescription glasses are allowed if the lenses are untinted, the frames are thin, there's no glare, and there's a visible gap between your eyes and the frames. Many older guides still say glasses are banned; the current official guidance allows them.
What about the paper application?
Paper applications use a 35×45 mm print with the head including hair about 80% of the image height, on the same plain light (not white) background. The print sheet in your purchase is cut to exactly 35×45 mm.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07