What the APEC Business Travel Card is
The APEC Business Travel Card helps business people move across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies. For New Zealand citizens it opens visa-on-arrival or no-visa entry to participating economies, faster processing at immigration checkpoints and use of special APEC lanes at airports. The plastic card is about the size of a credit card and shows the holder's name, nationality, card number and photograph. The photo you send is the face that border officers will see on the card for years, so it is worth getting it right the first time.
NZ APEC Business Travel Card photo size explained
The photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, the same frame as a standard passport photo. The head takes up about 65% of the photo height, measured from the chin to the top of the head, and the eyes sit about 55% of the height up from the bottom edge. Printed at 600 DPI, a New Zealand APEC Business Travel Card photo keeps fine detail sharp. Getting the head height right by eye is hard, so our tool measures the crop for you instead of leaving it to guesswork.
Background and colour
Use a plain light grey background with even light and no shadows, patterns or objects behind you. The photo must be in colour, recent and show your natural skin tone, without filters, beauty modes or heavy editing. Our maker replaces the background on your selfie, so you do not need a grey wall at home or a studio visit.
Face, pose and expression
Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression, your mouth closed and both eyes open. Keep your head level, not tilted or turned, and make sure your hair does not cover your eyes. It is safest to take off glasses, which can cause glare and reflections in the photo. Keep your whole face inside the frame, from the chin to the top of the head. A recent photo matters too: the photo should show you as you look today, because it stays on a card that is usually valid for five years.
A printed photo, not an online upload
The New Zealand APEC Business Travel Card photo is a printed passport-sized photograph that goes in with the form and your other documents. This format is not meant for online submission: you prepare the file online, then print it at 600 DPI on photo paper and cut it to exactly 35×45 mm. Read the official application guide for the current instructions before you submit your application.
Printing at home or at a shop
Download the finished file and print it on glossy or matte photo paper at 600 DPI. A home inkjet works if it prints sharp colour; a local print shop or kiosk is another easy option. Before you cut, look at the print in daylight: the skin tone should look natural, the grey background even and the edges of the face crisp. Cut along the guide lines so the result is exactly 35×45 mm, without white borders or uneven corners.
Who can apply
The card is for citizens who travel for legitimate business, hold a valid passport and have no criminal convictions or outstanding warrants. Along with the photo you prepare a completed application form, a copy of your passport and evidence of your business activities, such as business registration, a company letterhead or invitation letters. Applications go to Immigration New Zealand; check the current fee on the official website, as it is not listed here.
How to apply, step by step
- Check that you meet the eligibility rules for business travellers.
- Prepare your 35×45 mm colour photo with a light grey background.
- Fill in the application form and copy your passport.
- Add evidence of your business activities.
- Submit the application to Immigration New Zealand and pay the fee.
- Wait for processing and receive the card by mail.
NZ APEC Business Travel Card photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm, printed at 600 DPI.
- Head about 65% of the photo height and centred.
- Plain light grey background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- No glasses; your full face stays inside the frame.
- Recent sharp colour print with no filters.
Renewal and replacement
The APEC Business Travel Card is usually valid for five years. You can renew it before it expires, and the renewal works much like the first application, so plan for a new photo that shows how you look now. If your card is lost or stolen, report it straight away and apply for a replacement with a fresh photo. Processing time varies, so apply well before your planned trips, and check the entry rules of each APEC economy before you travel.
Other documents
Need a photo for another document as well? See the New Zealand passport photo, the New Zealand visa photo or the Kiwi Access Card pages.
