EU residence permit cards: why the Netherlands sets an ear-to-ear face width and Sweden takes the photo itself

Residence permit photo requirements compared: the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden

Because the EU regulation does not set any public millimetre values, photo parameters depend on the country where the application is made. We checked the parameters of three countries that take different approaches to biometrics.

EU Regulation 1030/2002: what is harmonised and what is hidden

The foundation for all residence permit cards in the European Union is Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals, consolidated to include later amendments. It sets the physical characteristics of the plastic card itself, but the requirements for facial image quality are set out in technical specifications.

Under the regulation, residence permits must be issued as stand-alone documents in ID-1 or ID-2 format, based on the specifications of ICAO Doc 9303, 7th edition, 2015. The card must be made entirely of polycarbonate or an equivalent synthetic polymer with a service life of at least 10 years. The photograph, like other biographical data including the holder's signature, is integrated into the core material of the document. This personalisation is carried out using laser engraving or another equally secure technology.

An identity photograph shall be securely integrated into the card body and secured by a diffractive optically variable image device (DOVID).

The regulation pays particular attention to optical security: the photograph must be securely embedded in the card body and protected by a diffractive optically variable image device (DOVID); a separate DOVID is provided to protect the portrait.

The regulation itself, however, contains neither millimetre frame widths nor percentages for how much of the area the face should fill. Article 2(1)(e) states that quality requirements and common standards for the facial image and fingerprints are adopted as additional technical specifications. Under the procedure in Article 7(2), these specifications may be declared secret and not published.

National rules: from exact millimetres to digital photo transfer

With no public EU-wide millimetre standards, applicants have to rely on the rules of their country of residence. In this verified database of 241 document profiles, 52 set the background as white, 23 name a specific non-white shade, and the rest require a light background without fixing an exact colour. Figures as of 22 Sep 2026.

The Netherlands: millimetre precision and two application routes

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) refers to the same requirements that apply to Dutch passports, published on rijksoverheid.nl. The photo must have a fixed format of 35 × 45 mm. The digital file must have a resolution of at least 400 dpi, and the photo must be no older than 6 months at the time of application.

The Netherlands sets the face height from chin to crown: from age 11, a minimum of 26 mm and a maximum of 30 mm; up to and including age 10, a minimum of 19 mm and a maximum of 30 mm. The face width, from the point where one ear attaches to the other, is 16 mm to 20 mm. The ears themselves need not be visible as long as the width of the face can be seen. Background: light grey, light blue or white; even, single-coloured, without a gradient, and with sufficient contrast between the head and the background.

Headwear is allowed for religious or philosophical reasons. It must be a single colour and contrast with the background. If you need to prepare a correct digital or print file before applying, you can make an EU residence permit card photo online with our system.

Germany: a reference to passport rules and fixed fees

In Germany, photo requirements are set out in § 60(1) of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) by reference to § 4 of the Passport Ordinance of 19 October 2007; the foreign national must be clearly recognisable from the photo, and the face and head must not be covered.

The competent authority may permit OR prescribe exceptions regarding headwear if identity can still be sufficiently established. The applicant's obligation in Germany is, at the authority's request, to provide a current photo OR to take part in having it made. The photo may only be altered in the manner provided for by the Residence Act or the ordinance itself. The authority stores the photo for inclusion in the document and for later comparison with the actual appearance of the document holder.

German fees for a residence permit card are set out in § 45 AufenthV. Issuing an Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Blaue Karte EU or ICT card costs 100 euros. An extension of up to three months costs 96 euros, and of more than three months 93 euros. A change of purpose of stay together with an extension costs 98 euros. Issuing a Mobiler-ICT-Karte costs 80 euros, and extending it 70 euros.

Since 1 May 2025, biometric photos for residence documents must be created digitally at government offices or by connected photo studios/shops that send them through a secure channel.

Sweden: no reuse and the status of the card

In Sweden (Migrationsverket), biometrics are not reused. Data is not kept between applications. You must be photographed and give fingerprints again every time you need a new card, including when extending your permit.

The Swedish residence permit card is valid for as long as the permit, but for no more than three years. The card is not considered an official identity document or a travel document, and it cannot be used to prove your identity.

Why applications are rejected: an analysis of refusals and delays

Even though the plastic card is standardised, applications are often held up precisely because of the photos. An analysis of official guidance from the authorities points to several structural reasons why photos are rejected.

• Relying on the myth of a “single European format”. Regulation 1030/2002 governs the card, not the photo. The EU's technical specifications for facial image quality may be classified and not published, so there is no single photo format for a residence permit card.
• Ignoring the second face dimension in the Netherlands. The Dutch standard sets not only the height of the face but also its width: 16–20 mm from ear attachment point to ear attachment point. This is a second dimension, independent of height, on which a photo can be rejected even when the head height is formally correct. The IND states the consequence plainly:

  Een foto die niet aan de vereisten voldoet, levert onnodige vertraging op.

  (A photo that does not meet the requirements causes unnecessary delay.)
• Mistakes about reusing biometrics. The reuse models differ fundamentally. The Swedish authority photographs the person from scratch every time. The IND reuses biometrics if they were provided less than 6 months earlier.
• Different media depending on the application route. In the Netherlands, the same route yields two different media: at an embassy, a staff member scans the paper photo you bring; at an IND desk, the staff member takes the photo. Applicants learn this only from annex 7102, which does not need to be sent with the application.
• Misreading the headwear rules. The German wording on headwear cuts both ways: the authority may “permit OR PRESCRIBE” an exception, meaning it can require headwear to be removed or require it to be worn if identity cannot otherwise be established.

Step by step: how biometrics are taken in different countries

The procedure for photographs and fingerprints is tied closely to where you apply. Here is how the process works under national rules.

1. Determining how the photo is obtained. In Sweden, photos are taken at the authority or at a mission abroad. For children under 2, the IND requires a submitted photo taken by a photographer; at an IND desk, a staff member takes the photo. In Germany, since 1 May 2025, the photo is created by the authority or a connected photo studio and sent through a secure channel.
2. Providing biometrics and returning the old card. A Swedish card is issued only with fresh biometrics: the photo and fingerprints are taken at every issue. The old residence permit card must be returned when you collect the new one. In the Netherlands, the IND reuses existing biometrics if the applicant provided them less than 6 months earlier at an IND desk or at an embassy abroad.
3. Paying the fees. In Germany, issuing an Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Blaue Karte EU or ICT card costs 100 euros (§ 45 AufenthV). Extending it for up to three months costs 96 euros, and for longer 93 euros.
4. Waiting for production and delivery. In Sweden, if the photo is taken at an embassy or consulate general, delivery to the mission takes up to four weeks; if it is taken at Statens servicecenter, the card arrives at your home address within two weeks.

Sources

This article is based on official European Union regulations and national legislation of the member states. All data was current at the time of the last check.

• Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits (consolidated text) — EUR-Lex (Council of the European Union) (checked 22 Sep 2026).
• § 60 of the German Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) — Bundesamt für Justiz (checked 22 Sep 2026).
• § 45 of the German Residence Ordinance (residence permit fees) — Bundesamt für Justiz (checked 22 Sep 2026).
• Photo requirements (Eisen aan de pasfoto) — Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands) (checked 22 Sep 2026).
• Form 7102 “Vingerafdrukken, pasfoto en handtekening” — IND (Netherlands) (checked 22 Sep 2026).
• Explanation of the residence permit card (Uppehållstillståndskort) — Migrationsverket (Sweden) (checked 22 Sep 2026).
• Requirements for issuing documents — Service Berlin (checked 22 Sep 2026).