New Zealand Passport Photo Maker
Official 35 × 45 mm for passport in New Zealand — cropped correctly, then 6 copies on one printable sheet.
A photo of your face never leaves your deviceDrop your photo here
or click to browse — a phone selfie against a plain wall works
JPG · PNG · WebP · HEIC from iPhone
Requirements change. Confirm with Department of Internal Affairs before printing — official specification.
Three steps
No account at any point, and the photo never leaves your device.
Add your photo
A phone photo against a plain light grey or light blue is preferred over pure white works. HEIC straight from an iPhone is fine — it is converted here.
Match 32–36 mm chin to crown
Drag and zoom until your chin and the top of your head sit on the two dashed lines. That range is what Department of Internal Affairs measures, and getting it wrong is the usual reason a photo comes back.
Print 6 at once
Download a 4 × 6 sheet holding 6 photos at 35 × 45 mm, then cut along the guides. One cheap print instead of a booth.
New Zealand requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height | 32–36 mm chin to crown |
| At 300 dpi | 413 × 531 pixels |
| Background | Plain light grey or light blue is preferred over pure white, uniform and shadow-free. |
| Glasses | Not allowed. Not accepted, in line with most biometric passport programmes. A medical exemption requires supporting documentation. |
| Expression | Neutral only. Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. |
| Authority | Department of Internal Affairs |
| Per 4 × 6 sheet | 6 photos |
What makes New Zealand different
Like the UK and Ireland, New Zealand prefers a light grey or light blue background rather than pure white — which catches out anyone who prepared an American-style photo. The head-height range is slightly larger than the British one despite the same 35 × 45 mm frame.
What catches people out
- New Zealand prefers a light grey or light blue background rather than pure white, which surprises people who prepared a US-style photo.
- Most adult renewals are now done online with a digital photo rather than prints.
- Photos must be less than six months old.
A pure white background with too little contrast against the face, and photos older than six months.
Where the photo goes
Most adult renewals are done entirely online with a digital photo, so prints are needed less often than elsewhere. First applications and children still commonly use printed photos.
Printing 6 for the price of one
At 35 × 45 mm, 6 photos fit on a single 4 × 6 inch print — the cheapest product at any kiosk or online print service, against a booth that charges for a set of four.
Print at actual size and turn off "fit to page", "scale to fit" and borderless printing. Each of those resizes the image by a few percent, which is enough to push the head outside the 32–36 mm chin to crown that Department of Internal Affairs requires.
Our main passport photo page covers the general advice on lighting, distance and expression that applies wherever you are applying. The rules above are the ones specific to New Zealand.
Common questions
What size is a New Zealand passport photo?
35 × 45 mm, with the head measuring 32–36 mm chin to crown. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in a New Zealand passport photo?
Not accepted, in line with most biometric passport programmes. A medical exemption requires supporting documentation.
Can I smile?
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
What background colour is required?
Plain light grey or light blue is preferred over pure white, uniform and shadow-free.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The cropping happens inside your browser using your own device. A photo of your face is never transmitted, which is also why there is no account and no watermark.
Other countries
The rules genuinely differ — background colour, glasses and expression are not the same everywhere.