Dutch ID card and passport photo: 35 × 45 mm requirements
For a Dutch identity card or passport, your photo must be a colour photo that meets the official photo criteria. The issuing authority decides whether to accept it.[1][2]
Photo size and head position
The photo must be 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in), with the width listed first. Your face must be 16–20 mm wide, excluding the ears.[1]
For age 11 and over, the head height must be 26–30 mm, measured from the chin to the crown. For children under 11, it must be 19–30 mm, measured from the chin to the crown. The head must be shown in full and centred. The guidance sets no top-margin or eye-height measurement.[1]
Face forward, keep your head level, eyes horizontally aligned and shoulders straight. These position rules help the photo match the required framing.[1]
Background and lighting
Use a plain background that is all one colour and one shade. It must be light grey, light blue or white, and contrast sufficiently with your head.[1]
Light your face evenly. The photo must not be overexposed or underexposed, and there must be no shadow on your face or the background. Avoid reflections on your face or from accessories.[1]
A window can provide soft light at home. Stand a short distance in front of a plain wall so your shadow falls away from it. Take a few pictures and check for uneven light, blur and glare before choosing one.
Expression, eyes, glasses and head coverings
Use a neutral expression, look straight at the camera and keep your mouth closed. Your face and eyes must be fully visible. Your ears do not have to show if the full width of your face is visible.[1]
You may wear glasses, but your eyes must remain fully visible. The lenses must be fully transparent, with no disruptive reflections or shadows.[1]
Your head must be uncovered unless the covering is for reasons of religion or belief, or you have hair loss due to medical treatment and wish to cover your head. A religious or belief-related covering must be plain, one colour and contrast with the background; permitted coverings must be one colour and an even shade. Your face must remain fully visible.[1]
Rules for children
Children under 6 are exempt from the listed eye-alignment, head-tilt, shoulder-position and expression rules. Any support used must not be visible.[1]
Children under 6 do not have to keep their eyes horizontally aligned, hold their head level, keep their shoulders straight, look straight at the camera, keep a neutral expression or close their mouth. Any support used must not be visible in the photo.[1]
Take the photo at home
Ask someone to take the picture, or use a steady camera at eye level. Stand facing the camera against the plain background. Keep your face relaxed, eyes open and mouth closed; move hair away from your eyes. For a young child, settle them in a safe position and make sure any supporting hand or object is outside the frame.
Take several colour photos in even light. Check that your head is fully shown and centred, the image is sharp, and your eyes and face are clear. Choose a natural-looking image that has not been changed with photo-editing software. The official criteria call for a true likeness, sufficient contrast and detail, an undamaged photo, and a photo no more than six months old on the application date.[1]
The guidance requires at least 400 dpi, but it gives no digital upload pixel dimensions or file-size limit. It also requires high-quality, smooth photo paper.[1]
Print and check before applying
The official guidance calls for a colour photo, and the photo criteria require a print on high-quality, smooth photo paper.[1][2] If the kiosk offers a 4 × 6-inch print, place your 35 × 45 mm image on that sheet at its exact size. Do not stretch it to fill the sheet. Choose photo paper, then check the finished print with a ruler before cutting it out. Keep the photo sharp and undamaged.
The official criteria specify no required kiosk, printing service or exact pixel dimensions. The photo must still meet the stated size and quality rules, including minimum 400 dpi. A correctly sized image on a 4 × 6-inch sheet does not by itself guarantee acceptance.[1]
Common problems include a head that is cropped or off-centre; the wrong head height; a patterned or shaded background; shadows, glare, blur or poor contrast; eyes that are hidden; an open mouth or tilted head; visible support under a child; and an old, damaged, copied or digitally altered photo. These conflict with the listed official criteria.[1]
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Dutch passport or ID photo?
It must be 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in), width by height.[1]
How tall should my head be in the photo?
From chin to crown, 26–30 mm for age 11 and over, or 19–30 mm for children under 11.[1]
Can I wear glasses in a Dutch ID photo?
Yes. Your eyes must be fully visible, and the lenses must be transparent without disruptive reflections or shadows.[1]
Can I wear a head covering?
Only for reasons of religion or belief, or to cover hair loss due to medical treatment. Your face must be fully visible, and the covering must meet the official colour and shade rules.[1]
Can I take the Dutch ID photo at home?
The criteria listed by the government describe photo size, quality and appearance. They require a colour photo, at least 400 dpi and a print on high-quality, smooth photo paper.[1][2]
How old can the photo be?
It must be no more than six months old on the date you apply.[1]