Dutch Passport Photo: Effortless Experience

Netherlands Passport Photo Requirements

If you want to have a Dutch travel document authorising you to cross every border in the world, you have to apply for a passport. In order to do it you need to go to the City Office where you are registered and bring indicated documents and one printed color photo which is intended to identify you and shows a true likeness of yourself. Be aware that the submitted by picture will be approved only if it satisfies all the specified requirements. You do not have to take it professionally, the home-taken pictures are also allowed, but this is your responsibility to know and meet the criteria.

Why take a Dutch passport photo at home?

Of course, you may drive to the mall, track down a photo booth or make an appointment for a professional photographic session but don’t you care about your precious time? What if we tell you that you can have exactly the same quality of the picture as taken professionally but you may invest in taking it not more than 3 minutes? Yes, it is possible, if you know all the Dutch passport photo criteria and use a smart passport photo App. With this tool you can:

• create a perfect photo in a couple of seconds
• resize and crop your passport photo
• remove the unsuitable background and replace it with the correct one
• verify if your image meets all the requirements
• save money and time!

Does it sound good to you? If yes, check our guidelines and enjoy your saved time and money!

How to take a perfect Netherlands passport photo yourself?

You may still be filled with doubt and asking yourself: is it really possible to take a picture at home? The answer is: yes, of course! And many people worldwide do it successfully every day! We provide you with a complete Duch passport photo guide and with an App to resize, crop and adjust the background in passport photos.

All you need to take your perfect picture to your Dutch passport is:

• the smartphone, digital camera or tablet (remember that you cannot use your webcam),
• tripod or another person to help (selfie is not acceptable),
• list of requirements about size, background, forbidden items etc. (read next paragraphes to find it)

Passport and document photo editor online

Following our advice and tips you will know how to take a picture with your smartphone and turn it into a correct passport photo in a couple of seconds. In order to do it you must know how to pose in the photograph, use lights and avoid mistakes. We will help you with removing a wrong background, resizing and cropping your image.

Ready? Check how the Dutch passport photo must be.

General Dutch passport photo criteria

If you want to get the passport quickly and without any problems, you need to check twice if your application form is filled in properly. The same applies to your attached photograph. It must be just perfect in terms of criteria, otherwise, it may be rejected and all the process of application will take more time. Please remember that your photo must be:

• recent - not older than 6 months
• in color - colors must be natural
• properly exposed - not overlit or underlit
• focus and sharp
• original - not altered by any computer software

Netherlands passport photo required size and format

The required dimension for a Dutch passport photo is 35 x 45 mm. In inches this is 1,38’’ x 1,7’’ (width x height).

How to obtain this strictly defined size? Has it done automatically? If you download and use an intelligent Dutch passport photo resizing App, the program will resize any picture to a demanded size.

Dutch passport photo demanded crop and composition

In the crop all your head with hair, neck and the upper part of the shoulders must be visible.

Make sure that your head is centred and that there is some minimal space left between the top of your head and the upper edge of the photo.

Width of the head from ear to ear must be between 16 mm and 20 mm and the head’s height from chin to crown: between 26 mm and 30 mm. You do not know how to obtain this exact crop? Don’t worry! Just see our Passport photo online cropper, pick up the template you need and upload your image. Artificial intelligence will perfectly resize and crop your image in just one second!

The background in the passport photo in the Netherlands

You must pose in the photo on the light grey, pale blue or white background. There must be sufficient contrast between it and your head as insufficient contrast reduces the clarity of the photograph in the document. The background must be uniformly lit (free of shadows), plain and all one color and one shade (uniform and plain).

No other people or objects must be visible in the picture with you. 

But what to do if we do not have a blue, white or grey wall in our apartment Fortunately, we don’t need it! Thanks to a background removing photo app you can capture a picture wherever you like! This tool quickly removes every type of background from your image and exchanges it into the required one!

The facial expression in NL passport photo

Dutch passports are biometric and must comply with international standards as an inter alia way of posing and facial expression. Only the en-face views are accepted. You are not allowed to smile or open your mouths. Neutral facial expression is a requirement. You have to open your eyes and not blink. Do not tilt your head and relax your facial muscles. 

Dutch passport photos lighting

The requirement about lights in every official document is that the face must be symmetrically illuminated on both sides. It means that there must not be any shadows on your face. How to do that? You may use a flash lamp but sometimes a flash causes glare on the skin or provoke a “red eyes effect”. Such photos are being rejected because this is not the natural color of the eyes. On the other hand, if you use normal lamps, your face may not be lit evenly.

The best option is to use daylight. We advise you to stay approximately 1,5-2 m from the window during the day. Your skin will be well illuminated and colors will be true.

Eyeglasses in a passport photo (Netherlands)

The main rule is that glasses must not be tinted or dark (like sunglasses) and cannot give a reflection. If you make sure that the frames do not cover your eyes or drop the shadow on your skin, you can keep your glasses while capturing a picture to a Dutch passport.

Hijabs and other head coverings in a Dutch passport photo

In the Netherlands, you can keep your hijab, turban, yarmulke or other headgear while taking a picture to the passport. The main rule is that if your head covering is a part of religious attire, you can keep it. However, any fashion head coverings such as for example headbands, hats or baseball caps are prohibited. If you decide to keep your head covering make sure that this item does not obscure your face. Your facial features must be clearly visible in the photo. Wear a headgear in one color, contrasting to the background. You are also allowed to cover your head for medical reasons. In such a case you may be asked to submit a declaration signed by a competent doctor or medical organisation.

To sum up… - Main Rules for Dutch passport Photos

To avoid a mistake and a delay in processing your application remember that your picture must be:

• in size 35 x 45 mm, resolution 400 dpi
• in color
• printed
• clear, focused  and sharp
• taken against plain white, light blue or light grey background
• shot with the face centred and head not tilted in any direction

In the photo you must look straight at the camera, open your eyes, mouth closed and have a neutral facial expression. Do not hesitate to verify your photo with a Validating Dutch Passport Photo App to be completely sure that you satisfied all the requirements!

Dutch passport photo Maker

Dutch Passport Photo Maker is an online passport photo editor which enables you to take and prepare your passport photo at any time and in any place. You can not even know what are requirements about the background or size because with this tool you can in one second remove an unsuitable background, resize and crop your picture.

Your photograph will be also verified if it meets all requirements. This is important if you want to be sure that attached to your application form picture is correct and avoid a rejection.

• Android Photo App
• iPhone Photo App

Save money and time with Dutch passport photo Generator

If you use the intelligent Passport Photo Tool Online, you can make as many shots as you wish and you will pay only for those you like. Isn’t it a great way to save your money and time? You do not have to drive anywhere and make an appointment in a photography studio, you can choose the convenient moment when you have time and are in a good mood. And you pay only for 100% correct photos with a warranty of acceptance by authorities! We offer you the best prices. Check them out and create your correct photo for passport, ID card, visa or any other document quickly and easily!

Last update: 6/6/23