Who needs these papers
New Zealand issues two special booklets for people who cannot get a passport from their country of origin. The Certificate of Identity is for non-citizens living in New Zealand, often permanent residents, who have no valid passport and need to travel abroad and come back. The second booklet is issued to people granted refugee status in New Zealand, so they can travel outside the country, return, and keep their recognition as refugees under international law. Both look and work much like a passport, and both need the same kind of passport-style picture.
One paper form for both booklets
The two booklets share one application form, published by the New Zealand passport office as the COI-RTD form (PDF). It is a paper application, so the photos are printed and sent with it rather than uploaded. Applicants are asked for two recent passport-sized photos, together with proof of identity and, for refugees, evidence of refugee status. Read the guidance in the form itself before you print, since it is the official word on the picture rules.
The 35×45 mm format explained
Photos for both New Zealand booklets are 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, the format set in our template for this document. In our template the head takes about 65% of the photo height from chin to crown, and the eyes sit at about 55% of the height measured from the bottom edge. That leaves a little space above the hair and shows the top of the shoulders. A print at 600 DPI keeps fine detail sharp at this small scale, so faces and hair edges do not look soft.
Wrong proportions are the most common reason a print is sent back. A phone picture cropped by hand often ends up with the head too small, too large or off centre. Our maker measures the face and crops to the exact proportions, so you do not need a ruler or editing software.
Background, light and expression
Use a plain, light background with no texture, objects or shadows behind you. Our photo maker replaces whatever is behind you with an even light grey, which is the colour in our New Zealand template for this document. Your face must be evenly lit, with no shadow across one side and no glare on the skin. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression, mouth closed and both eyes open. Hair should not cover the eyes, and the picture must show your full face from chin to the top of the head.
Glasses, head coverings and children
The simplest choice is to take off your glasses, which avoids reflections and frames over the eyes. If you wear a head covering, check the form guidance before you take the picture. For a baby, lay the child on a plain light sheet, take the picture from above, and let the AI do the cropping and background.
Printing your New Zealand photos
Download the finished file and print it on glossy or matte photo paper at 600 DPI. A single 10×15 cm print can hold several 35×45 mm photos, which is cheaper than a photo booth. Cut along the edges carefully so each print keeps its exact dimensions, and hold the prints by the edges so the face stays clean. Keep a spare in case the office asks for another copy later.
After you apply in New Zealand
Once your application is approved, the new booklet is issued for collection or sent by mail. According to our document notes, both booklets are typically valid for up to five years and can be renewed before they expire; a renewal needs new photos in the same format. If a booklet is lost or stolen, report it to the local authorities and apply for a replacement with fresh pictures. Holders may face entry rules that differ from country to country, so check the visa rules of your destination before you book a trip.
Made online, sent on paper
Our tool works online, but the application itself does not. You make and check the picture online, download the file, and then print it, because the New Zealand form for these booklets expects physical photos attached to paper. In our records this document is marked as not suitable for online submission, so do not plan to upload a file anywhere for it. Print two copies from one file so both prints match, and keep the file on your phone or computer for a reprint.
Many applicants live far from a New Zealand photo studio, or simply want to avoid a trip and a booth fee. A picture taken at home in daylight, then cropped and checked online, gives the same result. The only part that has to happen outside is printing, which any photo kiosk or home printer with photo paper can do.
Other New Zealand documents with the same photo
If you are also applying for another New Zealand document, check its own photo page, since the format and background can differ. See our pages for the New Zealand passport (paper form) photo, the New Zealand visa (paper form) photo and the Kiwi Access Card photo. Business travellers can also check the New Zealand APEC Business Travel Card picture requirements.
Tips for applicants
Before you send anything, compare your print with the checklist below and with the guidance printed on the New Zealand form. Fill in the form completely, since missing details can slow down processing. Check the current fee on the official New Zealand website, as fees can change, and keep copies of everything you send. If your appearance changes a lot before you apply, take a new picture instead of reusing an old one.
Why head size and position matter
Officers compare the face in the picture with the face of the person in front of them, and later with the booklet itself. A head size that is too small leaves too few details for that comparison, while a head that fills the whole frame cuts off the chin or the crown. That is why our template keeps the head at about 65% of the height and the eyes at about 55% from the bottom. If you crop by hand, measure the head from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair, not to the top of a hat or a hairstyle that adds volume.
The size of the printed image matters as much as the crop. If a print shop scales the file to fit its paper, the result can be a few millimetres off. Ask for printing at 100% (actual size) with no fit-to-page option, then measure the print with a ruler: 35 mm across and 45 mm down. A print at the wrong scale is easy to fix at the kiosk and hard to fix once the form has been sent.
Photo checklist
- Correct dimensions: 35 mm wide, 45 mm high.
- Head about 65% of the photo height, eyes about 55% up from the bottom.
- Plain light background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred, full face visible.
- Sharp colour print at 600 DPI, no filters or edits to your features.
- Two identical recent photos for the paper form.
