New Zealand Visa: Key Documents to Prepare

If you’re applying for a New Zealand visa, you’ll need to provide several important documents to support your application. Here’s a simple guide to what you need and how to get it right from the start.

Visa Photo Requirements

Getting the right photo for your visa application is crucial. To avoid delays, we recommend having your photo taken by a professional photographer who understands immigration photo standards.

For in-person applications:
- Your photo must be 3.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm high.
For online applications:
- Your photo must be a JPEG or JPG file
- File size: 500 KB to 3 MB
- Image dimensions: 900 x 1200 pixels or 2250 x 3000 pixels

Tips for Taking Your Visa Photo:

Your photo must be in portrait format, not landscape.
It must be a photo of you, not a photo of a photo, travel document, or passport page.
Use even lighting to avoid harsh shadows. The photo should not be too bright or too dark. The photo must be sharp and in focus, not blurry.
The photo must be unaltered—do not use filters or photo-editing software.
Your photo must be taken by someone else, not a selfie.
The camera should be 1.5 metres from your face. Avoid cropping too close or standing too far.
Use a plain, light-coloured background (not white), with no patterns or objects.
Make sure there is no one else in the background of your photo.
Your face must be clearly visible. Tuck long hair behind your ears. Face the camera directly with your head straight.

Your Passport

You must submit your passport as proof of identity with every visa application to New Zealand.

For online applications:
Upload a clear electronic copy of your passport. After applying, you may be asked to send your passport to a Visa Application Center (VAC).
For paper applications:
Submit your original passport or a certified copy. Providing your original passport may speed up the process.

Important: Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.

Proof of Good Health

Depending on your visa type and personal situation, you may be required to undergo a medical examination or chest x-ray.

You are considered to be in good health if:

You do not pose a health risk to New Zealanders.
You won’t place excessive demands on the country’s health or special education systems.
You are fit to work or study, depending on your visa.

Health check guidelines:

Must be completed within three months of your application.
You must visit a panel physician approved by Immigration New Zealand.
Results will be submitted through the eMedical system, an online health processing tool.

Police Certificate (For Some Visas)

If you’re applying for a visitor, student, or work visa, and:

You’re over 17 years old, and
You’re planning to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months,

You will need to submit police certificates from:

Any country where you hold citizenship
Any country where you’ve lived for more than five years since turning 17

Proving Your Relationship (For Partnership Visas)

If you’re applying for a visa based on your relationship, you must prove that you and your partner are:

In a genuine and stable relationship
Living together in the same home

What counts as “living together”?

It means sharing a home, not just:

Visiting each other frequently
Living as flatmates
Sharing a holiday rental

Acceptable evidence of living together:

Joint home ownership or mortgage
Joint lease or rent receipts
Joint utility bills
Mail addressed to both (or each) of you at the same address

Some partnership visa categories (like the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa) require 12 months of cohabitation before applying. Always check your specific visa category.

Proving your relationship is genuine:

You’ll need to show that:

People know about your relationship
You make decisions together
You spend free time together
You raise children together (if applicable)

Evidence can include:

Marriage or civil union certificates
Birth certificates of shared children
Joint bank accounts or financial arrangements
Shared assets or credit agreements
Personal letters, emails, or chat history
Photos together and social media posts
Letters of support from friends and family

Final Tips

Every visa category comes with its own set of requirements, so it’s important to understand what applies to your situation. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry — we’re here to help. At Visa Advisers, we can provide a personalised checklist tailored to your visa type and circumstances, so you’ll know exactly what documents to prepare and submit. Our team is here to guide you through every step of the process and make your visa journey as smooth as possible.