Independent guide to official photo rules

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NZeTA and New Zealand Visa Photos for Australian Residents

Australian citizens need no NZeTA, but Australian permanent residents do. Here are the NZeTA and New Zealand visa photo rules.

Based on official sources · last checked

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Quick answer

What photo does an NZeTA need for Australian permanent residents?

Australian citizens need no NZeTA, but Australian permanent residents do. Immigration New Zealand asks for a JPG of 512 KB to 3.14 MB in a 3:4 portrait ratio, with your face filling 70–80% of the image, a neutral expression and a plain background, taken within the last 6 months.

Australian citizens do not need an NZeTA, a visa or the International Visitor Levy to visit New Zealand. Australian permanent residents do need an NZeTA, although they do not pay the levy, and other residents of Australia may need an NZeTA or a visa depending on their passport. Immigration New Zealand uses one set of rules for NZeTA and visa photos: a JPG of 512 KB to 3.14 MB in a 3:4 portrait ratio, with your face filling 70–80% of the image.

NZeTA and New Zealand visa photo requirements

File JPG or JPEG, 512 KB to 3.14 MB
Shape Portrait, 3:4 aspect ratio
Face Covers 70–80% of the image, centred, looking straight at the camera
Expression Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Background Plain and neutral, no patterns, objects or other people
Glasses Clear, untinted lenses, no heavy frames and no glare
Head covering Religious or medical reasons only
Editing No filters, AI edits or background removal
Photo age Taken within the last 6 months
Printed photo 35 mm wide × 45 mm high, for paper applications only

Make NZeTA photo

Immigration New Zealand line drawing of a head and shoulders centred in a portrait frame, with measurement lines: A, the length of the head, is 75% of the frame height; B, the width of the head, is 70% of the frame width; C and D, measured from the bottom of the frame, mark the eye line between 50% and 70% of the height
INZ's head-position diagram from its 2023 guide for photographers: the head fills 75% of the frame's height and 70% of its width, with the eyes between 50% and 70% of the height Image: Immigration New Zealand (Taking acceptable visa photos, September 2023, page 3) · View the original © Crown copyright, immigration.govt.nz, CC BY 3.0 NZ.

Selfies only in the app

Immigration New Zealand accepts selfies only in the NZeTA mobile app, and still recommends that someone else takes your photo where possible.

NZeTA for Australian permanent residents

Apply in the official NZeTA app or on the Immigration New Zealand website with your passport and an acceptable photo, or a phone that can take one. The NZeTA costs NZD 17 in the app or NZD 23 on the website and is valid for 2 years. Australian permanent residents do not pay the International Visitor Levy.

New Zealand Traveller Declaration

Every traveller, including Australian citizens, completes the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before arrival. It does not ask for a photo.

How to get your New Zealand visa photo right

  1. Check what your trip needs. Read the guide above to see whether your New Zealand trip needs a visa or travel authorisation, and whether that application asks for a photo.
  2. Take a new photo. Take a recent photo facing the camera in even light, on a plain, neutral background, no more than 6 months old, ideally with someone else holding the camera. Compare it with the sample photos on this page.
  3. Crop it to the New Zealand size. Crop without stretching or editing, to match the requirements table. Photo size: 35 × 45 mm (paper only); Digital / submission: 3:4 portrait JPG; File: JPG, 512 KB–3.14 MB.
  4. Apply through the official channel. Upload or attach the photo as the official website, app, embassy or visa centre asks. Its current checklist takes priority over this guide.

Sample photos

Correct photo example
Correct
Correct photo example: clear glasses, no glare
Clear glasses, no glare
Rejected photo example: glare on glasses
Glare on glasses
Rejected photo example: head too small
Head too small

Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the New Zealand visa size.

New Zealand visa photo FAQ

Australian citizens do not. Australian permanent residents do, but they do not pay the International Visitor Levy.

Only in the NZeTA mobile app. Immigration New Zealand recommends that someone else takes your photo where possible.

Digital photos are JPG files of 512 KB to 3.14 MB in a 3:4 portrait ratio. Printed photos for paper applications are 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.

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Official sources

Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.