New Zealand Baby Passport Photo
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New Zealand Baby Passport Photo Guide
Height: 2000 px
- Head height: 70 %
- Bottom of the Photo to the Eye Line: 54 %
How to take a photo?
New Zealand Baby Passport Photo Guide
It is important to mention that all children, no matter how old, from infants to older children, need their own identity and travel document. Usually, before a baby's arrival, parents or guardians have to plan everything like getting the paperwork, passports, visas, residency cards done within the first weeks of their child born. It might be stressful but it is important to be ready for welcoming a baby into the world.
The next important thing is a photo document. How to take the right one when a baby is not listening to me, holds a toy and has their eyes closed? Exactly… You have to know what your child cannot do while taking NZ baby passport photos.
New Zealand Passport photo guidelines for babies
While the process of applying for a passport for your baby might be even more stressful than applying for an ordinary adult passport, you have to prepare for it! But don’t worry, we will help you with the process. You will know everything, from the photo size to the facial expression, head position, background color, quality, what to avoid, what mistakes not to repeat and finally, how to take the right photo of your baby at home! Read these guidelines to meet all the official NZ requirements regarding baby passport photos.
The first important thing to know is that photos should be taken within the last 6 months. If you take a picture of a newborn, we recommend taking it no sooner than 30 days before filing the application – it will show the current likeness.
The general rules regarding children appearance in the NZ baby passport photos:
- The photo should show the full-face front view, exposed entirely and centred.
- The baby must be alone in the photo.
- Holding toys or other items is not allowed.
- Newborns (under 1) do not have to have their eyes open.
- They are also allowed to have an open mouth.
- Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera.
- Some sort of grimaces are allowed but try taking many photos to be able to choose the best where your child looks fine and the facial expression is as neutral as possible.
New Zealand baby passport photo size
The dimensions of the New Zealand baby passport photo are 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height. These are measurements helpful for the printing and file by mail. The electronic image file should be a portrait photo with a 4:3 aspect ratio or 3:4 on a smartphone in JPG or JPEG format for a baby passport photo online application. The photo size should be between 250KB and 10MB and the pixels dimensions between 900 and 4500 pixels wide and 1200 and 6000 pixels high.
Quality
The quality of photos is important. They should be high-resolution, not digitally changed, not blurry and in focus. Remember about taking a color photo with natural contrast. It should show the natural color of your baby's skin, hair, and if possible, eyes.
Background
Use a plain, light sheet or a blanket for a background. It is also a good idea to feed the newborn first and to let a baby sleep before any action. Additionally, prepare some toys to catch the baby's attention just for a few seconds.
Lighting
Try to take a picture in good lighting, preferably in daylight. Avoid a flash lamp because of two reasons: first, your child will have a red-eye effect which is not allowed in the passport photos, second, it can distract your baby from posing and the flash can be a little bit of shock.
Accessories
Often, babies hold something from toys in hands to dummies in their mouth. However, accessories or any objects such as items as well as other people or their hands cannot appear in the photo. The child has to pose alone.
New Zealand Baby passport photo at home - do it yourself!
You probably have been thinking about an easier way than carrying your little one to the photography studio. Well, the thing is you do not have to. You don’t have to leave your house at all! After reading this simple 5 steps guide you will know how to take photos of your child by yourself.
- Prepare the background - a wall with coloured wallpaper will not suit the passport requirements, try to find a light-coloured wall or use a t-shirt, pillowcase, sheet, etc. and put your baby on it.
- Make sure the light is right - it is best to take a baby passport photo in daylight as the room gets a lot of natural light. Make sure to put your child in a place where no shadows obscure their face and the photo is correctly exposed.
- Position your child - now, when your background and light is right, it is time to position your baby. The easiest will be to put them on the bed covered with a white sheet that you can stand up on them and photograph.
- Keep an eye on your child - make sure that nothing covers their face like toys, baby pacifiers, hands, etc.
- Take as many photos as you can - especially little babies, they change their facial expression almost constantly so try to capture all of those to choose the best one!
After the photoshoot, you should try our photo tool which will make the process so much easier for you! Read below, how it works.
New Zealand baby passport Photo Tool
While you meet the above rules and you know how the process of applying for your New Zealand child’s passport looks like, you might want to use our PhotoAiD service. The photo tool, available on the website or in the AppStore for iOS or GooglePlay on Android devices, perfectly crops, edits and verifies your New Zealand baby’s passport photo. All you have to do is:
- Upload a picture of your baby.
- Choose a passport as your document you want a picture for
- Let the photo editor work for you! It automatically resizes your photo to the official requirements of New Zealand. Then, edit the background and verify if the NZ baby passport photo meets the standards of the chosen document.
- If the picture is correct you receive your ready photo via email or choose to be delivered to your house!
The whole process is very simple and it will work fantastically on iPhone or any other smartphone you choose! Moreover, it takes less than a minute and the app is free of charge. Choose the right photo editor!
Last update: 4/06/23
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ How do you take a NZ baby passport photo?
The best way is to lay your baby on the floor on a plain, light coloured blanket or sheet. The child's head should be in the middle of the picture. Children aged less than one year old do not have to have their mouth open and eyes directly looking at the camera but it is appropriate way of posing.
❓ Do baby passports need photos?
Of course! Since, babies as adults, have their own identity and travel documents they need to have the right photo in passports, visas, etc. However, the requirements are a little less strict so read carefully.
❓ How do I apply for a New Zealand passport for my baby?
You need to complete and send a paper application form. The required documents are: consent from a parent or guardian, 2 passport photos and a witness’s passport details — a non-family member who has known your child for more than 1 year or since birth. They need to complete and sign the witness section of the form and sign the back of 1 of the passport photos.
❓ Should I change my baby's passport photo?
You should change your baby's passport photo only after the validity will end. Your child passport lasts five years so there is no need to change the photo earlier than that even if your child ages significantly and doesn't really look like similar.
❓ Can baby has their mouth open in NZ passport photo?
Technically yes, the rules regarding passport photos for babies are not that strict like for adults. However, the appropriate way of posing is with eyes open looking directly at the camera and mouth closed.
❓ Can I take a passport photos for my baby?
Yes. You can take photos by yourself, at home as long as you know the NZ requirements regarding baby passport photos. Then, you can start capturing and upload your ready photo to our photo editor to make it fast and for free!
❓ How much is a NZ child passport?
Children passports cost NZD $111 and take up to 10 working days. They are valid for 5 years.
❓ Who is entitled to a NZ passport?
If you were born in NZ or have been granted NZ citizenship as well as if you were born overseas and at least one of your parents is a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant, you can register as a New Zealand citizen by descent and get a New Zealand passport.
❓ Can a NZ newborn fly without passport?
No. All children to be able to travel overseas, including newborn infants, must have their own passport.
About the document
New Zealand Baby Passport
Officially, there is nothing like a “baby passport” because babies and children get a normal (the same as adults) New Zealand passport which is just valid for a shorter period (5 years, not 10). New Zealand Passport is a document issued to New Zealand citizens, adults and children which gives them the right to travel internationally.
NZ passports have been issued by the Department of Internal Affairs since 1915. They are also an indication of New Zealand citizenship, which facilitates the process of securing assistance from New Zealand consular officials abroad.
Who is eligible for a New Zealand passport?
You can get a New Zealand passport if:
- you are a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant and have a child overseas, you can register them as a citizen by descent and get them a New Zealand passport.
- you were born in NZ or have been granted NZ citizenship you can register your child as an NZ citizen by descent and get them a New Zealand passport.
- your child is a citizen by descent when they are born or adopted, but to get your child a New Zealand passport you must register them.
- If you are a citizen by descent you can travel on a New Zealand passport and are entitled to live and work in NZ. You mostly have the same rights as any NZ citizen.
To get your child an NZ passport, you need to register their citizenship. You can order them a passport at the same time when you fill out the form. Once you turn 16, you apply for citizenship as an adult.
New Zealand baby passport application requirements
If you’re applying for a child’s first New Zealand passport, you need to complete and send a paper application form. The required documents are:
- consent from a parent or guardian
- 2 passport photos
- a witness’s passport details — a non-family member who has known your child for more than 1 year or since birth. They need to complete and sign the witness section of the form and sign the back of 1 of the passport photos.
New Zealand baby passport fees
Children passports cost NZD$111 and take up to 10 working days. They are valid for 5 years.
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