NetherlandsPhoto for a Netherlands residence permit (verblijfsvergunning), MVV and passport in 2026: IND requirements for Ukrainians
A photo for a Netherlands residence permit, MVV visa and passport must be colour, 35×45 mm, with the head (from chin to crown) measuring 26–30 mm for people aged 11 and over, a light grey/light blue/white background, no glasses, a neutral expression, and no older than 6 months.
Key points
5 points- Photo size: 35×45 mm (width × height) — the same for the residence permit, MVV and passport.
- Head height from chin to crown: 26–30 mm for people aged 11 and over (for children under 11 — 19–30 mm).
- Face width: 16–20 mm (excluding the ears) — a specific Dutch requirement.
- Background: light grey, light blue or white, even, without shadows; resolution from 400 dpi.
- The photo must be no older than 6 months; neutral expression, mouth closed, no glasses.
Who applies and where
A Netherlands residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) gives you the right to live in the country for more than 90 days. Most Ukrainians entering for the first time first need an MVV visa — this is an entry visa (a type-D sticker in the passport). The MVV and residence permit applications are submitted at the same time — this is usually done by a sponsor in the Netherlands.
It matters where your photo is taken:
- Netherlands embassy/consulate abroad (MVV): you bring your own paper photo of 35×45 mm, a valid passport and a completed form. Your signature and fingerprints are taken there as well.
- IND desk / Service Point in the Netherlands (biometrics for the residence permit): the IND takes the digital photo itself. Submitting biometrics is free of charge. Do not wear fully white or light grey clothing — the background is shot in light grey.
Official IND photo requirements (2026)
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (width × height) |
| Head height (chin–crown), 11+ | 26–30 mm |
| Head height, children under 11 | 19–30 mm |
| Face width (excluding ears) | 16–20 mm |
| Background | light grey, light blue or white; plain, even |
| Resolution | minimum 400 dpi |
| Photo age | no older than 6 months on the date of submission |
NetherlandsResidence Card · requirements
NetherlandsPassport · requirements
NetherlandsID Card · requirements
Head: look straight into the camera, head not tilted, eyes on the same horizontal line, head centred and fully within the frame.
Facial expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open.
Glasses: remove them if possible. If you wear glasses — your eyes must be fully visible, the lenses clear, without reflections or distortions.
Lighting: even, without over- or under-exposure, without shadows on the face or background, without reflections on the face.
Quality: colour, sharp, with sufficient contrast and detail, without retouching.
Headwear: permitted only for religious reasons, must be plain, contrast with the background and not cover the face.
Most common reasons for rejection
- Background with shadows, spots or the wrong colour.
- Shadow under the nose/chin caused by side or top lighting.
- Smiling, visible teeth, tilted head, looking to the side.
- Head too large/too small (breaching the 26–30 mm range).
- Reflections on the lenses of glasses or eyes not fully visible.
- Photo older than 6 months or retouched.
04Questions
4 answers01What size is the photo for a Netherlands residence permit?
35×45 mm (width × height). The head height from chin to crown is 26–30 mm for people aged 11 and over, and the face width is 16–20 mm excluding the ears.
02Can you have your photo taken wearing glasses?
It is better to remove them. If you keep your glasses on — your eyes must be fully visible, the lenses clear, without reflections or distortions. Dark or tinted glasses are prohibited.
03Where do Ukrainians have their photo taken for the MVV and residence permit?
For the MVV you bring your own 35×45 mm photo to a Netherlands embassy/consulate abroad. For the residence permit biometrics in the Netherlands, the digital photo is taken free of charge by the IND itself at a desk or Service Point.
04What should the background be and how long is a photo valid?
The background must be light grey, light blue or white, plain and even. The photo must be no older than 6 months on the date the application is submitted.
05Official sources
- Government.nl — Requirements for ID photos
government.nl - IND — Biometrics appointment: photo, signature and fingerprints
ind.nl - IND — Provisional residence permit (MVV)
ind.nl - IND — Apply for MVV and residence permit from abroad
ind.nl
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
NetherlandsNetherlands Schengen Visa Photo: 35 x 45 mm, Face 26–30 mm, and When the Visa Centre Takes It for You
Dutch Schengen visa: a colour 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo under 6 months old on a white or light background — unless you apply via a visa centre, which takes it.
Schengen Area
Germany
Spain+6EU ID card photo requirements: sizes and rules by country
The size for an ID card photo in EU countries is not uniform: Spain requires 32 × 26 mm, France needs 35 × 45 mm, and in Lithuania, the initial print must be 40 × 60 mm.
NetherlandsNetherlands introduces new country policy on asylum for Ukrainians without TPD
From 1 July 2026 the Dutch government has, for the first time since the war began, adopted a separate country policy for assessing asylum applications from Ukrainians who do not fall under the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). The IND can refuse status by pointing to relatively "safe" regions of Ukraine, but anyone who already holds TPD is unaffected: their status has been automatically extended until 4 March 2027.
Make the photo for this document
Upload a selfie — we crop it to 35 × 45 mm, replace the background and check it against the document rules. Free.
Residence Card · NetherlandsUpload