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New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document photo requirements

The photo rules set by Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs for the New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 5 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What are the New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document photo requirements?

You need two identical colour photos, 35 x 45 mm and less than 6 months old, that meet the printed passport photo rules. A witness with a valid New Zealand passport writes your full name, their signature and the date on the back of one photo. You apply on paper form PAS205.

A certificate of identity and a refugee travel document are issued by Te Tari Taiwhenua - the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) - to people who are not New Zealand citizens and need to travel. The photo rules are the same as for printed New Zealand passport photos; the witness rules are slightly stricter.

A certificate of identity is for a person who cannot get a passport from their country of citizenship and is valid for up to 2 years. A refugee travel document is for a person with refugee status confirmed by Immigration New Zealand and is valid for up to 5 years. The applicant must be physically present in New Zealand. Application is on paper form PAS205 only. The fee is $144 plus $7 courier delivery (not refundable if declined), and DIA says to allow a minimum of 20 working days plus delivery time.

New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs:[1]

Print size35 mm wide x 45 mm high; 2 identical colour photos
Head heightHead, including hair, at most 80% of the photo: 35 mm high and 28 mm wide on the form's template
BackgroundPlain and light, but not white, with strong contrast and no shadows
ColourColour
Photo ageLess than 6 months old
Print qualityHigh-quality, high-resolution photo paper, or colour film or low-gloss coated thermal paper from a high-resolution printer. Not accepted: matt paper, heavy-backed thermal paper, ink-jet prints, or photos altered in any way

Key requirements

  • Positioning

    The head is centred, with a clear gap around the sides and top of the head, including hair.

  • Pose

    Face the camera straight on, head straight, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression, no hair across the face or eyes.

  • Quality

    The photo must be in focus, with no red-eye and no reflected light on the face. PAS205 says DIA scans the photos against international travel standards and photos that do not meet the requirements will not be accepted and will delay the travel document.

  • Unacceptable examples on the form

    Head too big, expression not neutral, frames too heavy, frames obscuring eyes, light reflection on lenses, tinted lenses obscuring eyes, scarf covering chin or edges of face, face partially covered by head covering, shadows on background, and contrast too dark.

  • Witness

    The witness must have a valid New Zealand passport (an expired one is not accepted, unlike for a New Zealand passport application), have known the applicant for 1 year or more, and be 16 or older. The witness must not be related to the applicant (parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin), be their spouse or partner, or live at the same address.

  • Back of one photo

    The witness fills in section 11 of PAS205 in their own handwriting and writes the applicant's full name, their own signature and the date on the back of one photo.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Use two identical colour prints, less than 6 months old
  • Use a plain, light, non-white background with strong contrast
  • Use a business that provides a passport photo service (strongly recommended by PAS205)

Don't

  • Do not use matt paper, heavy-backed thermal paper or ink-jet prints
  • Do not alter the photos in any way
  • Do not wear heavy-rimmed frames, sunglasses or tinted lenses
  • Do not cover the face with a scarf or head covering

Glasses

Eyes must show clearly with no reflection; no heavy-rimmed frames, sunglasses or tinted lenses.

Headwear and religious dress

No head covering or headband unless it must be worn for religious or medical reasons. In that case the applicant completes the statutory declaration in section 6 of PAS205 and ticks the head covering statement, signing in front of an authorised witness (Justice of the Peace, Member of Parliament, lawyer, Registered Legal Executive (Fellow of NZILE), or a government officer authorised to take statutory declarations). The face must remain visible.

Babies and children

A travel document for a child under 16 needs consent from a parent named on the child's birth record or a legal guardian, in section 7 of PAS205.

Two printed photos are required. The form cannot be completed online.

Where to submit the photo

On paper form PAS205 only, by post or courier (DIA recommends a courier for tracking) or in person at a Passport Office counter (EFTPOS accepted). By post or courier, pay by credit or debit card details on the form (Diners Club not accepted; do not post cash). Include the $144 fee plus $7 courier, both photos and original documents (not photocopies or certified copies), such as the passport or travel document used to enter New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand's letter confirming residence or refugee status; they are returned with the travel document. For a certificate of identity, explain on the form why a passport cannot be obtained and send a letter from the embassy explaining why it cannot issue one.

How to get your New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document: plain and light background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: positioning; pose; quality; unacceptable examples on the form.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. Two printed photos are required. The form cannot be completed online.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. On paper form PAS205 only, by post or courier (DIA recommends a courier for tracking) or in person at a Passport Office counter (EFTPOS accepted). By post or courier, pay by credit or debit card details on the form (Diners Club not accepted; do not post cash).

New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document photo FAQ

35 mm wide and 45 mm high, the same as printed New Zealand passport photos. Your head, including hair, can be at most 80% of the photo: about 35 mm high and 28 mm wide on the PAS205 template, centred with a clear gap around the top and sides.

No. You apply on the paper form PAS205, by post, by courier or in person at a Passport Office counter, with two printed photos.

No. For a certificate of identity or refugee travel document, the witness must have a valid New Zealand passport. This is stricter than for a New Zealand passport application, where a current or expired passport is accepted.

DIA says to allow a minimum of 20 working days once it has all the information and the correct payment, plus delivery time.

A certificate of identity is valid for a maximum of 2 years and a refugee travel document for a maximum of 5 years, from the date of issue.

Only if you must wear it for religious or medical reasons. You then complete the statutory declaration in section 6 of PAS205, signed in front of an authorised witness such as a Justice of the Peace. Your face must not be covered.

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Official sources

  1. Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs. Certificate of identity or refugee travel document passports.govt.nz. Checked 29 October 2026.
  2. Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs. PAS205 Application for a certificate of identity or refugee travel document (PDF) passports.govt.nz. Checked 29 October 2026.
  3. Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs. Paper application forms passports.govt.nz. Checked 29 October 2026.
  4. Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs. Passport photos passports.govt.nz. Checked 29 October 2026.
  5. Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs. Identity referee or witness passports.govt.nz. Checked 29 October 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"New Zealand certificate of identity / refugee travel document photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/new-zealand/certificate-of-identity-photo

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