Which New Zealand visa photo do you need?
A New Zealand visa lets a foreign national enter, stay, study or work in New Zealand for a set period. There are visitor, work, student and resident visas, and each NZ visa type has its own form. This page makes the printed photo for a paper (offline) NZ visa application that you hand in at an embassy, consulate or visa office. A printed photo is not suitable for online submission: if you apply online, you upload a digital photo file instead, and that file follows its own online rules. Check which way you apply before you prepare your visa photo, because the two formats are not the same.
New Zealand visa photo size explained
The printed New Zealand visa photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, a portrait format of about 1.38 × 1.77 inches. In our template the head size is about 65% of the photo height from chin to the top of the head, and the eyes sit at about 55% of the height from the bottom edge. That keeps the face large enough to check and leaves a small margin above the hair. A print at 600 DPI keeps fine detail sharp at this small size. A 2×2 inch photo made for another country is the wrong size here, so do not reuse it.
Official New Zealand visa photo requirements
Immigration New Zealand publishes the full rules on its acceptable photos page; read it before you print. For a paper application, the visa photo we prepare is:
- A recent colour photo, sharp and without filters.
- The right size: 35×45 mm, with the head about 65% of the photo height.
- Set against a plain light grey background.
- Printed at 600 DPI on glossy photo paper, not matte paper.
Our online photo maker also checks the pose, expression, lighting and sharpness before you download the photo.
Photo quality: what makes a good visa photo
The photo has to show your face clearly. It should be recent and look like you do today. It must be in focus from the chin to the top of the hair, with natural skin colour and no red eyes. Grainy, overexposed or dark photos are hard to check, and so are photos with heavy retouching or beauty filters. Even light from the front keeps both sides of the face visible. If your hair falls over your eyes or your forehead, move it back so the eyes and the outline of the face can be seen in the photo.
Digital file and print size
The photo you download from our online maker is ready to print in the right size. At 600 DPI, a 35×45 mm photo is about 827×1063 pixels, so the print stays sharp when you cut it out. Do not resize the photo in an image editor or a print dialog: print it at 100% (actual size) so 35 mm stays 35 mm. Before you cut, measure the printed photo with a ruler. If the size is off, check the print settings for options like "fit to page", which change the photo size.
Make the photo online in three steps
You do not need to book a photo studio in New Zealand or abroad. Take a photo with your phone, upload it to our online tool, and the AI crops the photo, centres the head, replaces the background and checks the photo against the requirements. The online check takes a few seconds and tells you if something needs a retake, such as closed eyes or a shadow. When the photo passes, you get a free download in the 35×45 mm size and a print sheet with several copies. The whole process runs online in your browser, so you can make your photo at home at any time.
Why visa photos are rejected
A photo that does not meet the rules can delay your application. Typical problems are the wrong photo size, a head that is too small or too large in the frame, shadows on the face or background, a smile or open mouth, glare from glasses, and a photo that is not recent. A photo printed on matte paper or cut unevenly is also a problem for a paper application. Our online photo check looks for each of these issues, so you know the photo meets the rules before you print it.
Background colour for the NZ visa photo
Our photo template uses a plain light grey background. A plain light background gives good contrast with your hair and face and shows no shadows. You do not need a studio wall at home: take the photo against any wall in good light, and our AI replaces the background with an even light grey colour.
Printing the photo for a paper application
For a paper application, print the photo on glossy photo paper. Matte paper is not suitable. Download the free print sheet, print it at 600 DPI at a photo kiosk or at home on glossy paper, and cut the photo to the exact 35×45 mm size along the guides. Check that the print is sharp, that the colours look natural and that the background has no streaks. The application asks for photographs in the plural, so print the whole sheet and keep a spare copy of your visa photo.
Paper application vs online application
This print is not suitable for online submission. A scan of a printed photo is not a good substitute either: a scan loses sharpness and often shows a paper texture. If you apply online, use the New Zealand visa online photo format, which is a digital file and not a print. If you apply on paper, use this page: the photo is printed in the 35×45 mm size and attached to the paper application form. Our online maker can prepare both, but the photo you download here is the print version for the offline application.
How the paper NZ visa application works
The usual steps for an offline New Zealand visa application are:
- Choose the visa type that fits your trip on the Immigration New Zealand website.
- Download and complete the paper application form for that visa.
- Gather your passport, supporting documents and recent passport-sized photos that meet the photo requirements.
- Submit the application package at the nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate; you may need an appointment.
- Pay the visa fee, which depends on the visa type, and wait for processing.
Processing times depend on the visa type and the number of applications; the Immigration New Zealand website shows the current estimates.
What goes in the application package
Besides the visa photo, a paper NZ visa application usually includes the completed form for your visa type, a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in New Zealand, and supporting documents. Depending on the visa, these can be proof of funds such as bank statements or pay slips, flight bookings, accommodation details, health insurance and police clearance certificates. Add the payment receipt if you have one. Put the printed photos in with the form so nothing is missing when you hand the package in.
Visa types and the visa photo
Immigration New Zealand issues visitor visas, work visas, student visas and resident visas. Each visa comes with its own conditions, such as how long you may stay in New Zealand or whether you may work while you are there. Some applicants also need a medical examination, proof of health insurance or a police clearance certificate as part of the visa process. Whatever the visa type, our paper visa photo is the same: a recent colour print in the 35×45 mm size with a plain light grey background. If you prepare applications for several people, make a separate visa photo for each person.
Before you travel to New Zealand
Once your visa is approved, check that the details on it are correct and keep a copy with you when you travel. Read the conditions attached to your visa, for example the length of stay. Travel insurance is a good idea for any trip to New Zealand. Keep your original phone photo too: if you need another print later, you can upload it again to our online maker and get a fresh print sheet in a few seconds.
NZ visa photo for children
Our tool makes a child's visa photo in the same 35×45 mm size and with the same plain light background. A baby can lie on a plain light sheet, and the photo is taken from above. The face should be fully visible, with no hands, toys or dummies in the frame. Our online tool crops and checks a child's photo the same way as an adult's.
Visa photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm for the printed visa photo.
- Head about 65% of the photo height, eyes about 55% from the bottom.
- Plain light grey background with no shadows.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- No glare from glasses; your full face stays inside the frame.
- Sharp colour print on glossy paper at 600 DPI.
Other New Zealand document photos
Need a photo for another New Zealand document? See the New Zealand passport photo, the Kiwi Access Card photo, the APEC Business Travel Card photo or the Certificate of Identity photo. Each one has its own size and rules.
