South African Permanent Residence Photo in New Zealand

35 × 45 mm · light grey background · Department of Home Affairs (DHA)

$11.99 digital file

Take my South African Permanent Residence photo

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

Rules last checked against Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on 12 October 2026.

About this photo

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) asks for a South African Permanent Residence photo of 35 by 45 mm. Head height from chin to crown is 29 to 34 mm. Home Affairs asks for professionally printed photos on a light grey or plain cream background and says photos printed at home are not likely to be accepted. No shadows or red eye, natural skin colour. This one is still a paper process, which means printed photos and no online upload. The background must be plain light grey or plain cream, evenly lit and free of shadows. From a phone picture we produce the South African Permanent Residence photo at this size and verify the framing against the Department of Home Affairs rules.

Photo requirements

South African Permanent Residence photo requirements
Photo size	35 × 45 mm
Background	light grey, also accepted: plain cream
Head size	64–76% of the photo height (29–34 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed. No dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames; frames must not cover the eyes; no flash reflection.
Head coverings	Allowed for religious reasons. Religious head coverings only; the face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face must show.
Head position	Facing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rules	Colour photo, not more than 1 month old; Neutral expression, mouth closed; no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows; Face takes up 70-80% of the photograph; Alone in the photo, no toys; No shadows or red eye, natural skin colour; Printed professionally on high-quality photo paper

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 South African Permanent Residence photos

What size is a South African Permanent Residence photo?

South African Permanent Residence photos are 35 × 45 mm. The head should fill 64–76% of the photo height (29–34 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does a South African Permanent Residence photo need?

A plain light grey background (plain cream 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 South African Permanent Residence photo?

Yes. No dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames; frames must not cover the eyes; no flash reflection.

Can I smile in a South African Permanent Residence photo?

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

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious reasons. Religious head coverings only; the face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face must show.

Can I take a South African Permanent Residence 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 Home Affairs (DHA). PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

How much does a South African Permanent Residence 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 Home Affairs (DHA)

Read the rules on the authority's website: Department of Home Affairs (DHA) (dha.gov.za).