ID Photos

New Zealand Visa Photo Requirements (Paper Application)

NZ visa photo (paper): 35×45mm, 2 colour photos, 6-month recency, unedited — INZ rejects AI edits. Preview free — HD download $1, 300-DPI print sheet $2

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Privacy note：Advanced smart enhancements show clear guidance before use. Please make sure you have permission to edit the photo.

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INZ Requirements (Paper Applications)

  • Size: exactly 35mm wide × 45mm high
  • Quantity: 2 original photos per person
  • Colour: good-quality colour photos — black & white not accepted
  • Recency: taken within the last 6 months
  • Background: neutral and plain; only the applicant — no other people or objects
  • Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open; hair off the face and ears; no shadows
  • Glasses: prescription glasses OK if clear and untinted — no heavy frames, no glare
  • Head coverings: religious/medical only, and must not cover the mouth or sides of the face
  • Editing: unedited and unaltered — INZ explicitly bans cropping the head onto a plain background, filters and retouching; AI-enhanced or altered photos cause delay or decline; not a photo of a photo

No Official Pixel Spec for Paper Photos

Paper application photos are measured in millimetres — Immigration New Zealand publishes no pixel dimensions. The '400×514px' seen on third-party sites is simply a ~300-DPI conversion of 35×45mm, not an official figure.

Applying Online Instead?

Online visa applications follow INZ's digital photo spec — a 3:4 portrait JPG between 512KB and 3.14MB with the face covering 70–80% — which is different from the paper rules on this page. Check which channel your application uses before preparing the photo.

Where Our Tool Fits In

INZ explicitly rejects filtered, retouched or AI-enhanced photos, so for a paper visa application use Retouch.im for framing and cropping guidance and submit unedited prints. For uses that accept edited photos: preview free, HD download $1, 300-DPI print sheet $2.

Common Rejection Reasons

  • Photos not exactly 35×45mm
  • Black & white prints (colour required)
  • Filtered, retouched or AI-enhanced images
  • A photo of a photo
  • Taken more than 6 months ago
  • Shadows or a busy background
  • Tinted lenses or glare on glasses

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FAQ

What size and how many photos does a paper NZ visa application need?
Two original colour photos, each exactly 35mm wide × 45mm high, taken within the last 6 months.
Can I use a black & white photo?
No — INZ paper application guides require good-quality colour photos.
Can I use a filtered or AI-enhanced photo?
No. INZ requires unedited, unaltered photos and explicitly warns that AI-enhanced or altered photos can delay your application or lead to a decline.