New Zealand Refugee Travel Document Photo Online

35 × 45 mm · white background · Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)

$11.99 digital file

Take my New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo

Wrong size, background or crop? We fix it free or refund you in full. Refund policy

Rules last checked against Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) on 25 October 2026.

About this photo

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) asks for a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo of 35 by 45 mm. Head height from chin to crown is 32 to 36 mm. You can take it at home on a phone: have someone stand a couple of metres away at eye level rather than holding the phone yourself. There is no upload step: the photo is handed in as a print with the paper application. Behind you: plain white or light grey or off-white, lit evenly so no shadow falls on the face or the wall. Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera. The New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo comes back sized, with a clean background and a head-size check, before you are asked to pay.

Photo requirements

New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo requirements
Photo size	35 × 45 mm
Background	white, also accepted: light grey, off-white
Head size	71–80% of the photo height (32–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.
Head coverings	Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.
Head position	Facing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rules	Taken within the last 6 months; Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera

Do

Illustration of an accepted photo: neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera on a plain background — Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera

Don't

Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is smiling with teeth showing — No smiling with teeth showing

Illustration of a rejected photo: light reflects off the glasses and hides the eyes — No glare on glasses

Illustration of a rejected photo: a shadow falls across the face and background — No shadows on the face or background

Illustration of a rejected photo: the head is tilted to one side — Do not tilt your head

How it works

1. Take or upload a photo
Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.
2. We size and check it
We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.
3. Download and use it
Pay once, then download the digital file and the print sheet straight away.

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Questions about New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photos

What size is a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo?

New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photos are 35 × 45 mm. The head should fill 71–80% of the photo height (32–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo need?

A plain white background (light grey, off-white is also accepted), with no shadows, patterns or objects. We replace the background for you, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.

Can I wear glasses in a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo?

Yes. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.

Can I smile in a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo?

No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.

Can I take a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo at home?

Usually, yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Check the instructions for your application route, because final acceptance is always decided by Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

How much does a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document photo cost in New Zealand?

$11.99 for the digital file, paid once. It includes a print-at-home sheet you can print at any photo shop.

What if something is wrong with my photo?

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Official source: Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)

Read the rules on the authority's website: Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) (passports.govt.nz).