All photo formats / Asia & Pacific
New Zealand visa or NZeTA photo
Immigration New Zealand requires online visa and NZeTA photos to be portrait 3:4 JPG files between 512 KB and 3.14 MB, taken within the last 6 months, completely unaltered (no filters, no AI editing, no background replacement), with a plain neutral background, the face covering 70-80% of the frame, eyes open, and a neutral expression with the mouth closed. This tool only reframes and resizes - it never edits your face - and it never uploads anything.
The official requirements
| File size | 512 KB minimum to 3.14 MB maximum |
|---|---|
| File format | JPG or JPEG, portrait, 3:4 aspect ratio |
| Face size | Face covers 70-80% of the image, centred, looking straight at the camera |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Background | Neutral and plain - no shadows, objects, patterns or other people |
| Alteration | Strictly none: no filters, beautification, AI editing or background replacement; not a photo of a photo |
| Glasses | Prescription glasses allowed if clear, untinted, no heavy frames and no glare |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Checked against the official sources below on 7 Nov 2026.
The 512 KB minimum is real and unusual: small, over-compressed files are rejected. This tool exports at high resolution and maximum genuine quality - it will not pad a file to fake the minimum. If your export still falls under 512 KB (very smooth photos can), retake at higher resolution or use the camera's original file.
Selfies are accepted only inside the NZeTA mobile app; for everything else INZ recommends someone else takes the photo. Turning off your phone's automatic enhancement before shooting avoids an 'altered photo' rejection.
How to do it
- Have someone photograph you against a plain neutral wall, standing 0.5 m from it, with even light and no shadows.
- Keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, hair off your face and ears.
- Upload below, frame the face between the guide lines, and create the 3:4 JPG.
- Confirm the size lands between 512 KB and 3.14 MB, then download and upload it in your online visa or NZeTA application.
Common questions
Why is there a 512 KB minimum?
Immigration New Zealand rejects files under 512 KB - they are usually too compressed for biometric checks. This tool never pads files; if the export is under the minimum, use a higher-resolution original.
Can I remove the background digitally?
No. INZ explicitly rejects photos where the head was cut out and placed on a plain background, and any AI or filter edits. This tool only reframes and resizes the original pixels.
Can I wear glasses?
Yes, if they are clear prescription glasses with no tint, no heavy frames and no glare. Sunglasses are not allowed.
Does this also work for an NZeTA?
Yes - the same photo standards apply to online visa applications and NZeTA requests.