Reviewed against Immigration New Zealand on 16 July 2026
The current online visa and NZeTA standard uses a recent, natural JPG or JPEG in 3:4 portrait format. INZ troubleshooting guidance adds a 900 × 1200 to 2250 × 3000 pixel range. Paper visa photos use 35 × 45 mm.
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Official range: 900 × 1200–2250 × 3000 px, 3:4 JPEG, 512 KB–3.14 MB
Online visa or NZeTA
3:4 JPG or JPEG
512 KB–3.14 MB on the main standards page.
Upload troubleshooting
900 × 1200–2250 × 3000
Published resolution range, width × height.
Paper visa application
35 × 45 mm
NZeTA applications are online only.
Immigration New Zealand warns that an AI-enhanced or altered photo can delay an application or contribute to a decline. Its prohibited list includes changing brightness, contrast, colour or sharpness, smoothing or slimming the face, reshaping features, removing objects, and cropping the head onto a plain background. PassPhoto still offers the maker, but it displays this note before processing because Immigration New Zealand may reject the edited result.
Digital requirements
These specifications combine the current INZ standards page with its upload-error guidance. Your own visa form can show a smaller route-specific upload ceiling, so follow the form when it is more restrictive.
Main file-size standard
Published on the current visa and NZeTA photo standards page
File type
Use a natural colour portrait, not a photo of another photo
Image shape
Width to height; keep the image upright when uploading
Troubleshooting pixels
Published by INZ for upload resolution and format errors
Face coverage
Face centred, straight, and fully visible in the frame
Photo age
It must identify you and show your current appearance
The main photo-standards page says 512 KB–3.14 MB. The upload-error page and INZ photographer PDF say 500 KB–3 MB and add the pixel range. Those numbers closely correspond when decimal and binary file units are displayed differently, but INZ does not explicitly state that conversion. This checker follows the main-page labels and separately enforces the troubleshooting pixel range; it does not override a stricter limit shown inside your application.
Set up the photo correctly
INZ asks the subject to stand half a metre from the background and the photographer to stand about 1.5 metres in front. This reduces shadows and close-camera facial distortion before the image is captured.
No patterns, other people, objects, or background shadows.
Centre the face with a clear gap around the head.
No head turn, tilt, smile, or open mouth.
Hair must not hide the face or ears, subject to the head-covering exception.
No blur, dark areas, glare, red eye, or reflection.
Bold clothing and background patterns can confuse the upload system.
NZeTA mobile app
A selfie is allowed only when you use the official NZeTA mobile app and the app offers that capture option. Extend your arm, hold the phone at eyebrow height, and keep the light source behind the phone. NZeTA applications cannot be made on paper.
Paper visa application
The physical photo for a paper-based visa application must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. The paper form controls the required quantity and any route-specific details. Do not apply the 35 × 45 mm rule to an online upload or NZeTA capture.
Face visibility
Glasses
Straight answers
Immigration New Zealand requires an online visa or NZeTA photo to be a JPG or JPEG in 3:4 portrait format. Its main standards page publishes 512 KB to 3.14 MB. Its upload-error guidance gives a pixel range of 900 x 1200 to 2250 x 3000 and labels the file-size range 500 KB to 3 MB. Follow the limit shown in your own application if it is more restrictive.
The current main standards page uses 512 KB to 3.14 MB, while the troubleshooting page and professional-photographer PDF use 500 KB to 3 MB. The numbers closely correspond to different decimal and binary unit conventions, but INZ does not explicitly explain that conversion. This checker uses the current main-page byte labels and displays the discrepancy instead of hiding it.
A photo for a paper-based visa application must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. Follow the current paper form for the required number of photos and any route-specific instructions. An NZeTA cannot be applied for on paper.
Only when applying through the official NZeTA mobile app and the app gives you the selfie option. Stretch your arm as far as possible, hold the phone at eyebrow height, and keep the light source behind the phone. For other applications, ask someone else to take the photo.
No. INZ says not to manipulate or digitally alter a visa or NZeTA photo with AI or other editing tools. It specifically prohibits filters, beautification, changes to colour, brightness, contrast or sharpness, face reshaping, skin smoothing, face slimming, and digitally removing objects.
No. INZ specifically lists cropping the head and shoulders to place them on a plain background as an unacceptable alteration. Take a new photo against a real plain, neutral background with no people, objects, or shadows.
Clear prescription glasses are allowed when they are not tinted, do not have heavy frames covering the face, and create no glare or reflection. INZ recommends removing them if they cause upload problems.
No. It checks the selected file locally for JPEG type, 3:4 ratio, the published troubleshooting pixel range, and the main-page file-size labels. It cannot assess identity, age, alteration history, face coverage, expression, lighting, focus, background, or route-specific form limits. Immigration New Zealand makes the decision.
No. Online visa and NZeTA applications use a digital JPEG route, while a paper visa application uses a 35 x 45 mm printed photo. Follow the instructions shown for your application.
Primary sources
Immigration New Zealand is authoritative. These three sources were reviewed on 16 July 2026. A limit shown in your own application or error message takes priority.
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