20 Oct 2025

Airbrushed visa photos causing Immigration NZ headaches

From Nine To Noon, 10:30 am on 20 October 2025

Immigration New Zealand is dealing with a growing problem with people applying for visas, with photographs that have been filtered and airbrushed.

The department last week was forced to take to social media reminding people that photos must show your true face - not your "enchanted, AI-edited, or fairy godmother-filtered" version. The department receives and assesses about one million applications a year. Richard Owen is Risk and Border general manager at Immigration New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand is dealing with a growing problem with people applying for visas, with photographs that have been filtered and airbrushed.

Photo: Supplied Immigration NZ/ Facebook