Dutch passport photo rules explained
The Government of the Netherlands, through Netherlands Worldwide, sets the rules. The photo is 35x45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) at 300 DPI, and it is a printed photo.
- Head size: 26-30 mm from chin to crown for age 11 and over. For children up to 10, it is 19-30 mm.
- Background: plain light grey, light blue or white.
- Glasses: allowed with no glare.
- Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
- Age of the photo: no older than 6 months.
- Copies: one.
A smaller head than most passports
Many countries ask for a head of about 32-36 mm. The Dutch range is lower, at 26-30 mm for adults, so the face looks a little smaller in the frame. A photo cropped for another country can be too large for the Netherlands, so use the Dutch setting.
How to take it at home with a phone
Choose a plain wall in light grey, light blue or white and face it under soft, even light. Stand a short distance from the wall to avoid shadows. Have someone hold the phone at eye level, and look straight at the lens with a neutral expression.
Keep your hair off your face, and check any glasses for reflections. Leave room above the head and around the shoulders for the crop.
Processing
The photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded. It is cropped to 35x45 mm, the background is set to a plain accepted colour and the head height is checked.
Common reasons for rejection
- A head larger than the 26-30 mm range, often caused by reusing a crop from another country.
- A patterned or shadowed background.
- Glare on glasses.
- A photo older than 6 months.
- A head covering that hides part of the face.
- For children up to 10, a head outside 19-30 mm.
Printing
This is a printed-photo submission. Print at 35x45 mm and 300 DPI on photo paper, using actual size, and check it with a ruler. The same photo is used for the Dutch ID card.
If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.
Preparing for the application
Because the Dutch head range is narrow, check the preview carefully and compare the head height with the figures above. If you are photographing a child, use the 19-30 mm range for ages up to 10, and the adult range for age 11 and over. Print only a recent photo, since anything older than 6 months can be refused, and keep one copy flat and clean until you hand it in.