NEW ZEALAND VISA PHOTO GUIDE
New Zealand visa photo requirements guide
Choose the application channel first. Then prepare only the artifact and values that belong to that route.
Last reviewed: August 17, 2026
Quick answer
- Select NZeTA web, NZeTA app, Immigration Online, paper, or an SMC form before preparing a file.
Start with the channel
New Zealand visa and NZeTA routes are not interchangeable. NZeTA web, the mobile app, Immigration Online, paper applications, and SMC forms have different artifact boundaries.
NZeTA web face photo
- Format
- JPG / JPEG
- Aspect ratio
- 3:4
- Recency
- Within 6 months
- File size
- 500 KB–3 MB
- Published guidance
- JPG / JPEG; portrait 3:4; within 6 months; unedited. The exact web runtime validator remains unresolved.
NZeTA mobile app
- Published guidance
- An external photo artifact is not required on the verified in-app path. Selfie guidance is app-specific.
- Published guidance
- NZeTA web accepts a recent face-photo path, while the mobile app has its own capture and selfie guidance. The verified app path does not establish an external passport-PDF product.
Immigration Online face photo
- Format
- JPG / JPEG
- Aspect ratio
- 3:4
- File size
- 500 KB–3 MB
- Published guidance
- JPG / JPEG; the current page says 3:4, 500 KB–3 MB, while error guidance separately says 900–2250 px × 1200–3000 px and 500 KB–3 MB. The conflict remains unresolved.
Immigration Online passport page
- Format
- JPG / JPEG
- File size
- 10 MB
- Published guidance
- JPG / JPEG; information page and MRZ visible; general guidance says under 10 MB. Route forms can have different limits.
Paper Visitor Visa photo
- Physical size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Published guidance
- 35 × 45 mm; 2 photos; paper route only.
SMC public form passport
- Format
- JPG / JPEG
- File size
- 5 MB
- Published guidance
- JPG / JPEG; the SMC public form example says under 5 MB; one file and route-specific.
Supporting documents
- Published guidance
- PDF/JPG/JPEG guidance is route-specific. Keep one logical document per PDF; password-protected or compressed files may be rejected.
Before submitting
- Do not turn the country name into one universal photo validator.
- Confirm the current visa or NZeTA route before preparing a file.
- Do not silently choose the narrower or more familiar range.
- Use the live portal error guidance and current official page together.
- A public upload control does not prove a transformed JPEG is policy-compliant.
- AI, beautification, background replacement, and digital alteration are not treated as permitted.
- Do not merge passport, face photo, and supporting-document requirements.
- Password-protected or compressed files may be rejected by Immigration Online.
- Confirm the form-specific limit before uploading.
- This guide does not submit an application or guarantee acceptance.
FAQ
What are the online New Zealand visa photo requirements?
The current page says JPG / JPEG, portrait 3:4, within 6 months, and 500 KB–3 MB. Separate error guidance says 900–2250 px × 1200–3000 px and 500 KB–3 MB; this guide keeps that conflict visible.
Is the passport information page the same as the face photo?
No. It is a separate document artifact. Use JPG / JPEG, show the information page and MRZ, and treat 10 MB as general guidance rather than a universal route limit.
What is required for a paper Visitor Visa photo?
The paper route uses 35 × 45 mm photos and requires 2 photos. Do not use the paper size as an online pixel rule.
Can I use the NZeTA app selfie rule for Immigration Online?
No. NZeTA web, the NZeTA mobile app, and Immigration Online are separate channels. The app-specific selfie guidance must not be generalized.
Does this guide guarantee acceptance?
No. It organizes current official route-specific guidance. Re-check the live instructions before uploading, especially because online photo limits are not fully consistent. The paper size is 35 × 45 mm; online guidance uses JPG / JPEG and a maximum of 3 MB.
Official sources used for this snapshot
- Immigration New Zealand - Official NZeTA website Checked: 2026-08-17
- Immigration New Zealand - Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA Checked: 2026-09-03
- Immigration New Zealand - Fixing errors when uploading a photo Checked: 2026-09-03
- Immigration New Zealand - Visitor Visa Checked: 2026-08-09
- Immigration New Zealand - Providing your passport for an online application Checked: 2026-08-09
- Immigration New Zealand - File formats for uploading documents and photos Checked: 2026-08-17
- Immigration New Zealand - Skilled Migrant Category visa application form Checked: 2026-08-09
Available guide
Create your photo in the browser
Prepare the photo for New Zealand Visa (Paper) directly in your smartphone or computer browser. Creating and reviewing are free.
What this tool creates
- the required face photo (for printing)