Netherlands Schengen Visa Photo: 35 x 45 mm, Face 26–30 mm, and When the Visa Centre Takes It for You

The Netherlands Schengen visa photo follows the Dutch passport photo rules. The official NetherlandsWorldwide checklist for a tourist Schengen visa asks for a colour photo, no more than six months old, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, with a white or light-coloured background. One line in the same checklist saves many applicants a trip to the photographer: if you apply through an external service provider, you do not need to submit a photo — a digital photo is taken at your appointment.

Do you need to bring a photo?

The checklist of the Dutch visa application centre in the USA puts it this way: “A passport photo that meets Dutch passport requirements. This photo cannot have been taken more than 6 months ago and must bear a clear resemblance.”

Size and face: the Dutch passport standard

• Format: 35 mm x 45 mm (width x height).
• Width of the face: 16–20 mm from ear to ear.
• Length of the face from chin to crown: 26–30 mm for ages 11 and above; 19–30 mm for ages 10 and under.
• Colour only — black-and-white photos are not allowed.
• Sharp, with enough contrast, undamaged, not a copy and not altered by computer software; printed on high-quality smooth photo paper at a minimum of 400 dpi.

Light, pose and background

• Even lighting, no shadows on the face or in the background, no reflections.
• Head facing forward, eyes level, head not tilted, shoulders straight.
• Background light grey, light blue or white — plain, one uniform colour with no fade, contrasting with the head. (The visa checklist itself says “white or light-coloured”.)
• Neutral expression, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed.

Glasses, hair and head coverings

• Glasses are allowed if the eyes are fully visible, the lenses fully transparent and there is no glare or shadow.
• The ears do not have to be visible, as long as the width of the face is visible.
• A beard, a wig, make-up, piercings, tattoos and earrings are permitted; a hat is not.
• A head covering worn for religion or belief must be plain, one colour and contrast with the background.
• Babies and children under 6 are exempt from the position and expression requirements.

The Dutch rules are set out in the government’s “Photo specification guidelines 2020”: a photo is accepted only if it meets all the criteria, unless an exception applies.

Need the size? See our Netherlands Schengen visa photo page.