Photo requirements · Netherlands

Netherlands Passport Photo Requirements 2026

A Dutch passport photo must be 35×45 mm on a plain light grey or white background. The head — from chin to crown — must measure 26 to 30 mm, which is unusually small compared with the typical Schengen 32–36 mm. The Rijksdienst voor Identiteitsgegevens applies these biometric specifications to Dutch passports. The Netherlands has notably strict rejection rates — about 1 in 6 photos taken at home are rejected for technical issues.

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Quick specs

Photo size

35 × 45 mm

1.378 × 1.7717 inches

Head height

26–30 mm

Background

Plain light grey is the official requirement.

Authority

Rijksdienst voor Identiteitsgegevens

Documents covered

The same official specification applies to all of the following documents:

Document	Size	Head
Netherlands Passport	35 × 45 mm (1.378 × 1.7717 in)	26–30 mm
Netherlands ID Card	35 × 45 mm (1.378 × 1.7717 in)	26–30 mm
Netherlands Driving Licence	35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)	32–36 mm

Detailed requirements

Background

Plain light grey is the official requirement. Pure white is accepted in practice. No shadows, no patterns.

Expression and eyes

Strictly neutral expression — no smile, no frown. Mouth closed. Both eyes open, looking directly at the camera.

Glasses

Since 2020, the Netherlands has banned glasses in biometric photos. You must remove them, including reading glasses.

Headwear

No headwear except for daily religious wear. Hair must not cover the eyebrows or eyes.

Recency

The photo must have been taken within the last six months and must look exactly like you do now.

Digital format

For online services, photos must meet Dutch biometric requirements: 35×45 mm at 300 DPI, JPEG, head 26–30 mm chin-to-crown, with the face passing facial recognition.

Country-specific notes

The Netherlands has one of the strictest biometric standards in the EU, and a relatively high rejection rate for at-home photos.
The Dutch head-height range (26–30 mm) is notably smaller than the typical Schengen 32–36 mm — this is the most common cause of at-home photo rejection.
Even reading glasses are not allowed since 2020.
Photos are validated automatically by the Dutch system before your appointment — meaning you can find out if a photo will be rejected before submitting.

Common rejection reasons

These are the most frequent reasons passport offices reject submitted photos.

1 Wearing glasses of any kind — including reading glasses.
2 Background too dark, patterned, or with shadows.
3 Smiling or showing teeth.
4 Head tilted even slightly.
5 Insufficient lighting on the face.
6 Hair covering the eyebrows or eyes.

How to take it yourself in 3 steps

Find a plain light background

Stand 0.5 m from a plain light grey or white wall. Diffuse daylight from in front, no shadow behind your head.

Remove your glasses, neutral expression

Camera at eye level, 1.5 m away. No glasses. Look straight ahead, mouth closed, neutral expression.

Verify Dutch biometric standards

Photo must be 35×45 mm with head 26–30 mm (the unusual Dutch standard, smaller than Schengen). Our app checks every Dutch biometric rule before producing a print-ready file.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Dutch passport photo? +

A Dutch passport photo is 35×45 mm with the head 26–30 mm from chin to crown. The Dutch head-height range is unusually small — most other EU countries use 32–36 mm.

Why is the Dutch head height different from other EU countries? +

The Netherlands uses a national standard of 26–30 mm head height (chin to crown), which is smaller than the typical Schengen 32–36 mm. This is one of the most common reasons foreign-style photos get rejected in the Netherlands.

Can I wear glasses in a Dutch passport photo? +

No. Since 2020, the Netherlands has banned glasses of any kind in biometric photos, including reading glasses.

Why do so many Dutch passport photos get rejected? +

The Netherlands applies some of the strictest biometric standards in the EU. Common rejection reasons include the unusually small head-height requirement (26–30 mm), glasses, smiles, shadows, and head tilt.

Does the same photo work for a Dutch driving licence? +

Yes — passport, ID card, and driving licence all use the same 35×45 mm biometric specification with the Dutch 26–30 mm head-height standard.

Can I take a Dutch passport photo at home? +

Yes, if it meets every biometric rule including the unusual 26–30 mm head height. The high rejection rate makes app-based verification especially helpful — our app checks every rule before you save.