Belgium Passport Photo
Prepare a perfect document photo with guaranteed acceptance
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You save time and money - take a document photo conveniently without leaving home
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A really easy format to get passport pictures. Very fast response to my questions via email.
Excellent service. Very good software that enhanced our photos. They also did a manual check and had me redo one of the pictures for free. I have only used online passport photos for more than 10 years. This is by far the best.
Can't thank these people enough, they have gone above and beyond today to produce a lovely passport photograph from my poor photograph. Thank you for all your efforts. I would recommend this company good value, professional and kind.
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Belgian Passport Photo - Size & Requirements
Height: 45 mm
- Head height: 34.5 mm
- Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
How to make a photo?
Requirements for the Belgian passport photo
If you need your first or a new passport, you need to be very attentive when it comes to an attached photo because its standards are stricter than in the past. Nowadays, the picture which will be seen in your passport must be biometric and must comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization Standards. Be aware that if your photo does not satisfy requirements, your municipality will have to reject it.
Belgian Passport Photo specification
There are some fundamental rules you must remember about while capturing a photograph dedicated to your Belgian passport. Read our article when we present them in a nutshell. In 7-10 minutes, you will know everything about the main requirements such as:
- technical details
- size and crop
- minimal resolution
- type of background
- composition of the picture
- facial expression
- items allowed and forbidden in the photo
The passport photo in Belgium must be original (not a photocopy), in color, taken not earlier than six months before you submit your application form. You need to submit one paper photo. In the case of a digital photo - the resolution must be minimum of 400 dpi. For paper prints, the required size is 35 x 45 mm. If you want to be sure that your application will not be rejected, use a professional resizing and cropping Belgium passport photo tool.
Belgian passport photo - take it at home
Your passport will be valid next 7 years and even if the photo inside it does not necessarily need to be pretty, it is good if you like it. That is why people so willingly capture and create their passport photos at home. This is not only money and time saving (but this is also very important!) but they also want to do it with no rush, try different outfits and hairstyles. And it is also much easier and faster than going to the mall and tracking down a photobooth or photography atelier. When you organize your private photo studio at your place, all you need are:
- your smartphone or a digital camera
- somebody who helps you (selfie is not acceptable)
- tripod if you prefer to do it alone
- list of the Belgian passport photo requirements
- Smart Passport Photo Maker which will properly resize, crop and adjust your picture
Technical details for a Belgian passport photo
There are some technical demands for photos used to Belgian passports. If you print them, don’t use an inkjet printer. Home printers are not suitable to produce a high-quality photo. It doesn’t matter if you upload your passport photo online or print it - it must meet some requirements about the quality. Your picture must be:
- at least 400 dpi of resolution (for digital ones)
- clear and focus
- not underlit or overlit
- sharp and well contrasted
- showing your natural skin and eyes colors
- not damaged or scratched (for prints)
Belgian passport photo size and crop
Your photograph dedicated to the passport of Belgium must be in size 35 x 45 mm. The head (from the top to the chin) must not be smaller than 31 mm and not bigger than 36 mm. There must be space left between the crown and the edge of the picture and also on either side of the face. In the crop all your face, neck and the upper part of shoulders must be seen. How to obtain this crop? You don't even need to know all these details if you decide to use the special resizing and cropping passport photo App!
Background in the Belgian passport photo
The background in Belgian passport photos must be light but not necessarily white. It may be cream, light-grey, very light-blue too. The important thing is that the background must be unique (no gradation of color), plain and free of shadows or patterns. No other people or objects must be visible behind the candidate's head. But please don’t think it is difficult to do! It is very easy with a background erasing passport photo App!
Composition in the Belgian passport photo
The main rule in this kind of photograph is the central position of the head. The head also must not be tilted in any direction and the candidate has to look straightly at the camera lens. The en-face view is required. Photos captured at an angle are not accepted so the camera must mu positioned exactly in the front of the face.
Smile in the Belgian passport photo
Smiling in the Belgian passport photos is not allowed. Neither frowning and making grimaces. Your facial expression in this kind of photograph must be neutral, with relaxed muscles, open eyes and shut but not tightened mouths.
Eyeglasses and sunglasses in a Belgian passport photo
Sunglasses and tinted glasses are forbidden in any passport photos, not only in Belgium. However, everyday glasses are allowed but under certain conditions. The first of them is that glasses’ frames cannot obscure your eyes. So if you have massive frames, consider taking your glasses off for a moment of capturing a photo. The second rule is that glasses must not give any glare which often happens. Make sure they don’t because if yes - your photo will be not approved.
Head coverings in Belgian passport photos
If a headscarf is a part of your religious attire, you are allowed to pose in it in your Belgian passport picture. The same rule applies to every head covering used for religious purposes. Just make sure that your headgear does not cover any part of your face as your facial features must be clearly visible.
Every fashion head covering such as headbands, hats or caps are not allowed in the passport photo in Belgium. Avoid huge hair decorations too, as they can obscure your face.
Jewellery and piercing in BE passport photos
If you like jewellery, you may wear it for the moment of capturing a Belgian passport photo. Just make sure that any part of it (eg. massive earrings) does not cover your face. If you have a permanent facial piercing, you do not need to remove it for the photo. Remember only, that piercing must not give reflections on your skin.
Hairstyle and beard in a Belgian passport photo
Formerly that was the requirements of showing the ear, so a candidate could not have their hair down. Now it is allowed. You can do your hair however you like, just remember that it must be some space left between the side edges of the photo and your head, so if your hair is very voluminous, the good idea might be to wear them up.
If you have a beard, you are not obliged to shave it for the passport photo. Just keep in mind that your face must be still recognizable.
Clothing in Belgium passport photo
For the moment of capturing a Belgian passport photo you can wear whatever your wish besides military uniforms. There is no official dress-code but we have some tips for you.
- Wear something in colors different that the background’s color
- Do not wear a turtleneck shirt - it doesn’t look in this specific “short” crop
- Do not wear a tank top - in the photo, you will look like naked
- Do not wear clothes in military patterns (moro, camouflage etc.) and resembling uniforms
Lights in a Belgian passport photo
Every professional photographer tells you that the best light is daylight. So if you have this possibility, capture your picture facing the window. The light must evenly illuminate both sides of your face. Every shadow on your face may disqualify the picture. Do not use a flash lamp because sometimes it causes the “red eyes” effect. Color of your eyes must be natural so pictures with “red eyes” will be rejected too.
Belgium Passport Photo Originality
We all have our favourite photos from holidays or parties, we look attractive in them and many people ask if it is allowed to cut out the head from such a pretty photo and send it as a passport photo? The answer, unfortunately, is: no.
The photo dedicated to the passport must be originally taken. It cannot be a photocopy either. Selfies are forbidden too. You must not crop your face from a larger photo or use the zoom function.
“Originality” requirement means also that the picture must not be altered in any way. It includes using Photoshop or other computer programs. Do not retouch the picture and do not use any graphic filters. Every picture is checked by artificial intelligence and if this tool detects an interference, the image is automatically rejected.
Belgian passport photo Tool
This passport photo tool online does all the work necessary to adjust your picture to certain requirements. It resizes and crops your image to the demanded 35 x 45 mm and head size, removes the background and at the end verifies if everything is correct. Then the App sends your ready to print picture to your address email. If you wish, you can print it in some one-hour photo store or attach to your application.
Passport in Belgium - photo validator
If you want to be sure that your passport photo complies with ICAO Standards, you must check if all requirements are satisfied.
If you want to be 100% sure, use a Belgian passport photo app which verifies if it is correct. If not, you may capture more shots till to the satisfactory effect. You pay only for what you buy at the end and you can take an unlimited number of shots.
Passport photo App for iPhone
We have good news for users of devices working on iOS: you can download our Intelligent Photo App from the AppStore. This helps to prepare and store your photo shots and use them for more documents. You may upload them directly to online applications or print them - depending on which way of applying you pick up. But if you don’t need at the moment a passport or visa photo, why not have some fun and create a beautiful portrait-style photograph?
Passport Photo App for Android
Smartphones like Samsung, LG, Huawei, HTC, Lenovo and Sony are working under the Android operating system and especially for Android, we designed a Photo Editor to download from Google Play Store. Use this app to create, store and correct your passport-style pictures. You can choose between more than 100 photo templates to different documents such as visas, passports, driving licences etc. and pay only once for this what you
want to get. The App sends your done picture directly to your email address, saved as a JPEG file.
Passport Photo with the guarantee of satisfaction
Maybe you still have doubts about taking a passport photo at home. Maybe you think that if you go to the photography studio, you pay much more, but you will have a guarantee for the picture. We have good news for you: we give you a 100% warranty for the passport photo you order on our website! Our tool based on artificial intelligence adjusts and verifies your image to the specifications and we will send you a ready passport picture. If for some reason an institution you send the photo to does not approve it - we will return you the money. So, the risk does not exist! You have a perfect passport photo for just a part of the normal price or you pay nothing. Does it sound fair to you?
Frequently Asked Questions
💡 Can I apply for my passport in Belgium online?
No. To apply for a passport, you need to go to your municipality's passport service. A personal meeting is necessary in order to take from you the fingerprints and other biometric data.
💡 How many photos need I to bring while applying for my Belgian passport?
One printed photo. It must be in color and satisfy certain indicated requirements.
💡 Can I cut out my head from the larger picture and send it as a passport photo?
No. Your passport photo must be original, not cut out from another image.
💡 Can I wear eyeglasses in my Belgian passport photo?
Yes, you can but their frames must not obscure or drop shadow on your eyes and glasses must be transparent and not give reflections.
💡 Can I wear a head covering in the Belgian passport photo?
Yes if it is a part of your everyday used religious attire and you travel internationally wearing it. Just keep in mind that a headgear must not cover any part of your face.
💡 Can I wear a hat or cap in my Belgian passport picture?
No. Fashion head covering in passport photos are not allowed.
💡 What is the required size of paper Belgian passport photo?
It is the usual size for biometric passport photos in European Union: 35 mm x 45 mm.
💡 How big must be the head in the Belgian passport photo?
The height of the head from the crown to the chin must be between 31 and 34 mm.
💡 How to resize my Belgian passport photo to the required dimensions?
You can use the resizing passport photo App which adjusts the photo size in one second.
💡 How can I crop my Belgian passport photo?
You do not need to do it on your own. Just download and use the passport and visa photo cropping app to have it done instantly.
💡 How must be the background in BE passport photos?
The background in Belgian passport photos must be light but it may be color different than white. Cream or light-grey are suitable. The background must be also plain and free of spots and shadows.
💡 How to obtain the required background in Belgian passport photo?
All you need to do is to download a background removing photo app. This App removes the wrong background and exchanges it into a required one in one second.
💡 Must the Belgian passport photo be professionally taken?
Not at all! You can take your passport photo on your own and use the online passport photo maker to adjust it quickly to the requirements.
💡 Can I take a Belgian passport photo with my smartphone?
Sure you do! The passport photo taken with an iPhone or another smartphone can be the same quality as the professionally taken one. Just make sure if it satisfies all the requirements and use a smart passport photo editor to resize and crop it correctly.
💡 Can I retouch my Belgian passport photo with Photoshop?
No, do not do it. Your passport photo must be original - not altered by any computer program or software.
💡 What is the required resolution for a digital Belgium passport photo?
Your digital photo for a Belgian passport must be at least 400 dpi.
💡 How may I verify if my DIY Belgian passport photo is correct?
You may make a check-list and control every point of the photo specification or let it verify the picture to artificial intelligence. Just download our validating photo app and see the result.
About the document
Belgian passport
The Belgian passport is a document issued by the Kingdom of Belgium permitting traveling internationally and entering the countries where the Belgian ID card is not enough to cross a border. This is also a document proving the identity of its holder.
The institution responsible for issuing and renewing Belgian passports is the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, formerly known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Types of passports in Belgian state
The most common is a Standard Passport (with a burgundy cover) issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips. In our article, we focus on this document. It is biometric (contains a chip with the personal data of its user and their fingerprints) and has 7 years of validity.
Other types of Belgian passports are:
- Diplomatic Passport – document dedicated for Belgian Royal Family, members of the governments, ministers and representatives.
- Service Passport – passport issued to civil servants within the federal public services, ministries, parliaments and judicial services sent on an official mission abroad by the Belgian authorities.
- Temporary Passport - document with a dark green cover, valid only 6 months, issued in emergency situations.
- Emergency Travel Document - not a passport, but an identity and travel document when a person’s passport has been lost abroad.
Documents you need to bring
When applying for a passport in your municipality's passport service, you must have with you following documents:
- the identity card or any other proof of your identity
- previous passport (if you had one which was issued during the last 10 years)
- a color passport-style photo of yourself meeting given requirements
- if your last passport was stolen, bring a copy of the police report documenting the theft
If you want to keep your previous passport as a souvenir, don’t worry. The municipality officer will cancel it and return it to you.
Next steps of the application
After submitting all the documentary, it will be verified. Remember that your passport photo. must comply with strict criteria and If it does not comply with one or more of them, your municipality will refuse it and ask you to produce a new picture.
Once the municipality verifies your identity and documents and everything is correct, you will be asked to provide the digital fingerprints of 2 fingers and signature.
After approximately 5 working days you will get the information at a mobile phone number or an email address given when applying - you will receive an SMS or an email at the exact moment your passport arrives.
Generally speaking, you must collect your passport in person. If for some reasons you want another person to be able to collect your passport, you must provide him with a power of attorney.
If you need an emergency procedure, ask about the acceleration in your municipal administrative service. In some situations your passport may be issued the next working day.
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