International passport (Netherlands): 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo, head 26–30 mm from chin to crown.
| Document | Photo size | Head, chin to crown | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| International passport | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 26–30 mm | government.nl |
| ID card | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 26–30 mm | government.nl |
| Visa | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 26–30 mm | netherlandsworldwide.nl |
| Driving licence | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 26–30 mm | government.nl |
In the Netherlands you bring a printed photo to the municipality when you apply for a passport, an identity card or a driving licence; a Schengen visa photo follows the same Dutch requirements:
- Passport
- Identity card
- Driving licence
- Schengen visa
Photo for a Dutch passport and identity card
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Government of the Netherlands, requirements for photos
- Size: 35 × 45 mm (width × height), in colour, printed on high-quality smooth photo paper at a minimum resolution of 400 dpi. The photo must not be a copy or edited.
- Head size: From chin to crown the head measures 26–30 mm for anyone aged 11 or over, and 19–30 mm for children under 11. The head is 16–20 mm wide, ears not included, and sits in the centre of the photo.
- Background: Plain and all one colour — light grey, light blue or white — with enough contrast against the head. No shadows on the face or the background, no reflections.
- Age of the photo: No more than 6 months old on the day you apply.
- Pose and expression: Look straight into the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed; head not tilted, eyes on a horizontal line, shoulders straight.
- Children: Children under 6 do not have to meet the position and expression rules. If a small child needs support, the support must not be visible.
- Head coverings: A head covering worn for religious reasons is allowed if it is plain, in one colour and contrasts with the background.
- Who takes the photo: Usually a photographer or a photo booth, but no rule forbids making it yourself as long as the photo meets the specification. The national identity service (RvIG) is testing photos taken at the municipal counter; until that becomes the rule, you bring a printed photo.
- The generator frames the head at 26–30 mm. Print it on smooth photo paper at 400 dpi or more — a print on plain paper is refused.
Photo for a Dutch driving licence
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Government of the Netherlands, requirements for photos
- Requirements: The same specification as for the passport and identity card: 35 × 45 mm, head 26–30 mm, a light grey, light blue or white background, no more than 6 months old.
- At the municipality: When you apply at the municipal counter, you bring the printed photo with you.
- Renewing online: To renew online through the RDW, a photographer connected to the RDW takes your photo and sends it digitally with your signature. A photo you make yourself cannot be used on that route — apply at the municipality instead.
Photo for a Dutch Schengen visa
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Netherlands Worldwide, Schengen visa checklist
- Requirements: A colour photo, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, no more than 6 months old, on a white or light-coloured background. It must meet the Dutch photo requirements — the same as for the passport, so the head is 26–30 mm from chin to crown.
- When you do not need one: If you apply through an external service provider (a visa application centre), you do not submit a photo: a digital photo is taken at your appointment.
- Check your consulate's checklist: it tells you whether you bring a photo or are photographed at the appointment.
Make your Netherlands document photo now
Upload a photo and get a compliant 3.5 × 4.5 cm result in seconds. Free, and the photo never leaves your device.
Make a photo: International passportMake a photo: ID cardMake a photo: VisaMake a photo: Driving licence
Everything happens in your browser — the photo is never uploaded to a server.