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 — light grey is ideal — 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 — source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: PassportClerk never replaces backgrounds — and for New Zealand that's doubly important, 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 it works
01
Choose your document
58 documents across 29 destinations, each with the official specification built in.
02
Add your photo
Ten checks measure it live on your device — nothing is uploaded.
03
Pay once, download everything
Exact-spec file, print sheet and compliance report. One price, no subscription.
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 — 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 — untinted, thin-framed, glare-free — 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 in the browser — including whether your background is too white — and 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 — we keep you compliant by not touching it |
- 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.
- No scans of prints, no selfies, no AI edits; 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
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (1200×1600px, under 5120 KB)
- Compliance report — everything we measured, printable
- 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 PassportClerk
Private by architecture
The free check runs on your device, and paid photos are deleted after 48 hours.
Measured, not guessed
Ten checks against the official specification — with the numbers shown, not a vague thumbs-up.
Exact files, first time
Correct pixels, DPI and file size for the portal, plus a print-ready sheet.
Fair by default
One price, no subscription. Wrong files? We fix them or refund you.
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 — 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 — 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.
Compliance, honestly
- We validate 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.
- You get a measured report, not a guarantee — final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07