passport photos

Be warned -- the passport office is VERY particular about passport photos. We got Emma's done at a pharmacy and they took about 10 shots to get it right. Then when we submitted the photos, they were rejected as there was too much glare off her bald head. So we got them taken again, at a photo store downtown, and they were rejected AGAIN. Finally we went to a photo store directly across from the passport office downtown and had them done there, and they were accepted. There are HEAPS of rules about the photos -- how much of the face needs to be showing, their eyes have to be looking at the camera, their head needs to be straight on, their mouth needs to be closed, there can't be too much glare... Seriously ridiculous.

Then we had to do it all over again for her US passport... Delightful!

Good luck...

I just got off the phone from speaking to Erin at the Department of Internal Affairs (Passport Office) regarding babies' passport photos, and here's the "official word":

• Passport photo requirements in New Zealand are in line with international standards, which is why they are so strict -- the photos have to be scanned through facial recognition software that is used internationally, so they need to be perfect.
• That's why so many babies' passport photos get rejected -- because New Zealand needs to meet international standards for photos in passports in order for you to travel safely and successfully.
• Even if your passport photo (or your child's passport photo) is accepted and is imperfect -- which is rare -- you may still be rejected entry to another country if you get to their border and your passport photo isn't perfect. And as Erin said, "It's a lot more of a hassle being stuck in an airport with a baby waiting for passport clearance than it is getting their photo perfect in their passport before you even travel."
• Don't take your baby's passport photos at home, because it's almost impossible to meet the photo requirements. According to Erin, 99% of the photos that people take at home are rejected. Get then taken at a pharmacy or photo shop, and have the employee put your baby on the floor on a neutral-coloured blanket (grey is good, but not black or white) and stand over them. Take page 3 of the passport application with you to the photo shop or pharmacy and double-check that the photo you pay for meets all of the requirements on that list before you even leave the store. Get a guarantee from the store that if the photos are rejected, you can come back and get them retaken for free.
• You can submit as many photos at a time as you want, so if you're not sure which of the photos are good enough, get your witness to sign them all and send them all in with the application.
• Apply for your child's passport as soon as you're thinking about travelling, because the process can be very drawn out, especially if your child's photos are rejected (as mine were twice, remember!).
• As for knowing whether they've been accepted or rejected, the passport office will debit your credit card or cash your cheque AS SOON AS your application enters the process -- meaning, before they've even checked to see whether your photos are accepted. If your photos are rejected, they will be sent back to you in a letter telling you how to resubmit new ones.  
• Sending a letter to the passport office pleading with them to accept the photos or telling them that your child's photos are the best you could do won't make any difference at all -- the photos will be sent back and you'll have to get them retaken.

I admit that before this conversation, I was definitely one of those grumpy people who thought the NZ passport people were just being too picky or mean, but when Erin started explaining to me about what could happen if the photo wasn't good enough -- along the lines of immigration detention, being deported, being denied entry to the country I was travelling to -- I had an Oprah "light-bulb moment" about the whole thing. Now I'm actually sort of begrudgingly glad it was such a pain to get it all done! At least now I KNOW we won't get rejected at the border anywhere!