head 58–67 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), the Netherlands
Verified
Quick answer: A Netherlands residence card photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background; note: IND warns against clothing that blends with a light grey background. Head occupies 58–67% of photo height (26–30 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 58–67% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 26–30 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain light background; note: IND warns against clothing that blends with a light grey background. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Fully white or light grey clothing is not recommended — the background is light grey. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For a Dutch residence document the IND takes the photograph itself: «At the Desk or Service Point, the IND will take a digital passport photo and take your fingerprints. The IND does not accept photos taken elsewhere by a photographer.» The appointment is free of charge — an expat centre may charge an additional fee — and you can only book it after the IND has sent a letter saying it needs your photo, signature and fingerprints. The photo is taken against a light grey background, so the IND asks you not to wear completely white or light grey clothing; a head covering for religious or philosophical reasons is allowed if it does not cover the face, and a plain coloured one that is not light grey is recommended. The one exception is a child under 2: for them you send a passport photo taken by a photographer with the «Appendix Passport photo» form instead of making a biometrics appointment, and that photo follows the Dutch ID photo rules: 35 mm × 45 mm, face width 16–20 mm, face length 19–30 mm for a child under 11 (26–30 mm from 11), colour, sharp, not older than six months, light grey, light blue or white plain background. Bring your valid passport or travel document and the appointment code from the confirmation e-mail, and your previous residence document if you had one.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Netherlands residence card photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), the Netherlands publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph taken elsewhere by a photographer and brought for an adult applicant (the IND does not accept it) | No photograph to bring — the IND takes a digital passport photo at the biometrics appointment. |
| Completely white or light grey clothing, or a head covering with reflective material or busy patterns, in the IND photo | Darker or coloured clothing and a plain coloured head covering that is not light grey. |
| A head covering that covers the face | A head covering for religious or philosophical reasons that leaves the face uncovered. |
| For a child under 2: a photo that is not 35 × 45 mm, older than six months, or not taken by a photographer | A 35 × 45 mm photo from a photographer, taken in the last six months, with the appendix form. |
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 58–67 % of the photo height (26–30 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Dutch residence permit is applied for with the IND; after the IND's letter you book a biometrics appointment at an IND desk, service point or expat centre, where the photograph is taken.
Amsterdam, Den Haag, Haarlem, 's-Hertogenbosch, Zwolle, Enschede, Utrecht, Maastricht, Goes or Nijmegen — see the IND page
The IND takes the photo; bring the valid passport and the appointment code. A child under 2 sends a photographer's photo with the appendix form instead.
Authority page| Authority | Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), the Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Source | IND biometrics appointment and Dutch photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
Not as an adult: the IND takes a digital passport photo and your fingerprints at the biometrics appointment and does not accept photos taken elsewhere by a photographer.
Yes, providing biometrics is free of charge; if you choose an expat centre you may have to pay an additional fee.
A passport photo taken by a photographer, sent with the Appendix Passport photo form instead of a biometrics appointment; it follows the Dutch ID photo rules — 35 × 45 mm, face length 19–30 mm for under 11, light grey, light blue or white background.
Not completely white or light grey clothing, because the photo is taken against a light grey background; a head covering for religious or philosophical reasons may stay on if the face is uncovered, preferably plain coloured and not light grey.
The Netherlands residence card photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 58–67% of the photo height.
Usually no older than six months; some immigration offices ask for a more recent one. Take a new photo that looks like you on the day you apply.
Plain light background; note: IND warns against clothing that blends with a light grey background. A plain, evenly lit wall without shadows or pattern is enough — the tool sets the required background colour.
Only if the size and rules are the same and the photo is still recent. Otherwise take a new one: the same selfie can be turned into photos for both documents.
Take a new photo: it should show how you look now — hairstyle, beard, glasses.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the Netherlands immigration office.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, national visa (Type D), refugee travel document, residence card for family member of an EU citizen, Schengen visa.