Netherlands Passport Photo
35×45mm with the face measuring 26-30mm from chin to crown. Dutch rules accept a light grey, light blue or white background. The photo must be taken within the last 6 months.
- Printed size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Digital size
- 551 × 709 px
- Background
- Light grey, light blue or white
- Head height
- 26-30mm (chin to crown, age 11+)
Size & specifications
Netherlands Passport Photo — requirements
| Printed size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 551 × 709 px |
| Head height | 26-30mm (chin to crown, age 11+) |
| Background | Light grey, light blue or white |
| Resolution | ≥ 400 DPI |
| Recency | Within 6 months |
| Glasses / expression | Optional; lenses fully transparent, no glare or shadow · Neutral expression, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed |
| Digital format | Colour, at least 400 dpi, on smooth photo paper |
One upload, two deliveries: the pixel-exact digital file and a 300 dpi print-ready sheet.
What each line means
Printed size — print at exactly 35 × 45 mm. A few millimetres off and most offices hand the form back before anything else is checked.
Digital size — the digital file must measure 551 × 709 px. Anything smaller gets refused by many online systems before a person sees it.
Head height — your head, crown to chin, should span 26-30mm (chin to crown, age 11+). Too small reads distant; too large and the crop will not fit.
Background — a plain Light grey, light blue or white background, with no shadows or gradients. A wall lit unevenly is the fastest route to a refusal.
Resolution — 400 dpi keeps a face sharp in print. Below that, features soften and agencies ask for a retake.
Recency — Within 6 months. Hair, glasses and weight change faster than people assume, and the officer compares the photo with you at the counter.
Glasses / expression — glare on lenses hides the eyes, and hidden eyes are an automatic rejection in most systems. If you wear glasses, read this line twice.
Digital format — some portals accept a single file type and quietly refuse everything else. Check what you are handing over before you upload.
Source: Netherlands Worldwide (Dutch government information service) · www.netherlandsworldwide.nl
Photo examples
What passes — and what gets rejected.
How to take a Netherlands Passport Photo with your phone
Head height range
The Dutch passport photo is 35×45 mm. The head must measure 26-30 mm from chin to crown, the tightest band on this site's European pages. Four millimetres of tolerance means the framing has to be deliberate: if the camera is too far back, the head is undersized; if it is too close, it overshoots.
Accepted background colours
The Netherlands accepts light grey, light blue or white. All three are registered options. Each requires a uniform, evenly lit background with no shadows on the face or the wall. This tool can set the background to any of the three.
Glasses requirements
Glasses are allowed, but the lenses must be fully transparent, with no glare and no shadow on the face. Removing them is simpler, and the municipalities that review the file do not penalise that choice.
Digital file
The Dutch document also travels digitally at 551×708 px. One framed shot here exports the print and the file together; the ratio and background are checked before download.
Why Netherlands Passport Photo gets rejected
Head height errors
Municipalities return photos when the head falls outside 26-30 mm. The narrow band leaves little room for improvised distance, and studio shoots drift out of it in both directions.
Background faults
Busy or dark backgrounds, shadows on the face, and gradients across the wall. All three accepted colours share the same uniformity rule.
Photo age and file checks
Shots older than the required recency fail regardless of quality. The page checks the ratio and background before download.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Netherlands Passport Photo?
The standard size is 35 × 45 mm (551 × 709 px at 400 DPI). The tool crops and scales your photo to exact requirements automatically.
Can I smile in the photo?
Requirements call for: Neutral expression, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed. When in doubt, keep a neutral face with both eyes open.
How recent must the photo be?
Within 6 months Old photos are a common rejection reason.
Is my photo private?
Yes. Uploaded photos are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted within 24 hours. We never share or resell uploads.
Can I make a Netherlands Passport Photo on my phone?
Yes. Upload a selfie taken in even light and the tool does the rest: it checks your photo against the Netherlands Passport Photo requirements, replaces the background and crops it to 35 × 45 mm. The preview is free — you pay once, only if you keep the file.
Can I print my Netherlands Passport Photo at a photo shop?
Yes. Alongside the digital file you get a 4×6 inch print sheet at 300 DPI, with the photo at the exact 35 × 45 mm. Photo shops and drugstore kiosks print the 4×6 format as a standard option.
Which background colour does the Netherlands accept?
Light grey, light blue or white — all three are registered options; the tool can set the background to any of them.
Can I wear glasses?
They are optional: lenses must be fully transparent with no glare and no shadow on the face. Removing them is the simplest route.