Here are the full specifications of the Netherlands passport photo:
- Dimensions
- Standard format: 35mm x 45mm (width x height)
- Face Size
- Children six and above: 16mm – 20mm (ear to ear), 26mm – 30mm (chin to crown)
- Children 0-5: No strict requirements, ensure full-face visibility
- Color
- Must be in full color
- Background
- Plain white, light grey, or light blue
- Must be uniform and contrast with your face
- Quality
- Sharp, clear, good contrast and detail
- Undamaged, printed on high-quality photo paper
- Minimum resolution of 400 dpi
- General Requirements
- Recent photo, no more than six months old
- Neutral expression, looking straight ahead, mouth closed
- Head not tilted, shoulders straight, eyes horizontally aligned
- Face unobstructed by hair, clothing, or objects
- Glasses are only allowed for medical reasons, as thin frames and eyes are visible.
- Headwear allowed only for religious reasons or medical necessity (plain, single-colored)
- No hats, headphones, scarves, or other accessories
- Clothing: Solid colors, preferably darker shades (avoid white, patterns, busy designs)
- No jewelry other than small earrings and studs
- No uniforms (except daily religious attire)
- No digitally altered photos (no retouching or edits)
- Babies: Can be held by a parent to ensure proper positioning
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a photo of yourself using our guidelines, send it in, and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home, to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits of using an online passport photo service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why choose us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your own photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Allowed and not allowed on the Netherlands passport photo
Allowed
- Neutral expression: Slightly smiling is okay, but no open mouth, frowning, or squinting.
- Eyes open and clearly visible: Looking directly at the camera.
- Head uncovered: Unless for religious reasons or medically necessary hair loss. Headwear must be plain and single-colored.
- Glasses: Only if medically necessary. Frames must be thin and not cover your eyes.
- Jewelry: Small earrings and studs are okay. Avoid large necklaces, scarves, or headbands that cover your face.
- Solid-colored clothing: Darker colors generally photograph best, but avoid blending with the background.
Not Allowed
- Smiling with teeth: Keep a neutral expression.
- Head tilted or turned: Face the camera directly.
- Eyes closed or covered: Ensure eyes are fully visible.
- Hats, headphones, or other accessories: Except for religious reasons or medical necessity.
- Busy patterns or white clothing: Can blend in with the background.
- Sunglasses or tinted glasses: Must show your eyes clearly.
- Uniforms: Unless it’s your daily religious attire.
- Digitally altered photos: No retouching or edits.
- Blurry, grainy, or damaged photos: Ensure a clear and sharp image.
Additional Notes
- For children and babies, relaxed positions and expressions are allowed due to age.
- Ensure your face is fully visible without any coverings.
- The photo background must be plain white or light-colored.
Netherlands Passport photo for kids and babies
Getting a passport photo for your child or baby can be tricky, but with the right information, it’s definitely doable! Here’s a breakdown of the requirements and tips for capturing an acceptable photo:
General Requirements
- Size: Standard format: 35 mm x 45 mm (width x height).
- Color: Must be in color.
- Age: Even babies need their own passport photo.
- Validity: The photo must be no more than six months old at the date of application.
- Quality: Sharp, clear, with good contrast and detail, undamaged, and printed on high-quality photo paper.
Specific Requirements for Children
- Ages six (6) and above
- Neutral expression, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed.
- Head not tilted, shoulders straight, eyes horizontally aligned.
- Face width between 16 mm and 20 mm from ear to ear.
- Face length between 26 mm and 30 mm from chin to crown.
- Ages 0-5
- More relaxed requirements on position and expression due to their age.
- Ensure the child’s face is fully visible and unobstructed.
- A parent or guardian may gently hold the baby’s head in position if needed.
Tips for Capturing a Great Photo
- Lighting: Use natural light or a well-lit room without shadows.
- Background: Plain white or light-colored background.
- Clothing: Darker solid colors are best (avoid white, patterns, busy designs).
- Timing: Take photos when the child is calm and alert.
- Multiple Shots: Take several photos to increase the chance of getting a good one.
Examples of Approved and Non-compliant Netherlands Passport Photos
Steps to get a Netherlands passport photo Online
Here’s the step-by-step process for obtaining your passport photo through Visas for Future.
Step 1: Visit Visas for Future.
Step 2: Click on “Get Passport Photo now“
Step 3: Fill out the order form: Provide your name, email, country of residence, and what country you are applying to.
Step 4: Pay the application fee.
Step 5: Upload your photo: Ensure that you choose clear photos, not blurry ones.
Step 6: Receive your photo in 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I wear to a visa photo?
Visa photo attire prioritizes clarity and adherence to specific requirements. Aim for solid colors, preferably darker (navy, black, brown) to contrast the white background. Avoid busy patterns, bright colors, and uniforms, except religious attire worn daily.
Keep it simple: remove hats, headphones, big jewelry, and glasses (unless medically necessary). Remember, a neutral expression (slight smile okay) and clear facial visibility are key.
What is the best color to wear for passport photos?
While there’s no strict rule, darker solid colors generally photograph best for passport photos due to the white background. Black, dark blue, and brown are safe bets. However, you can also wear brighter colors like red or pink if they don’t blend in or distract from your face. Avoid white altogether to prevent disappearing into the background. Ultimately, choose a color that makes you feel confident and ensures your features are clearly visible.
Can passport photos be rejected?
Yes, passport photos can definitely be rejected for various reasons.
Common reasons include:
1. Not meeting specifications: Incorrect size, pose, expression, background, or attire.
2. Poor quality: Blurry, grainy, low resolution, red-eye, shadows, glare.
3. Accessories: Wear eyeglasses, hats, headphones, and jewelry (depending on the country).
4. Expression: Smiling with teeth, frowning, squinting, closed eyes.
Rejected photos lead to application delays, so ensure yours meets all requirements before submitting.
Ask a question
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Written by
Apple Gajes 
Apple is a skilled content writer of Visas For Future who had a bachelor's degree in Education. She does well at producing high-quality visa articles and continuously upgrading her skills by actively engaging herself to various courses and training opportunities. She also contributes to travel forms and visa fulfillment in Turkey and India. Committed to writing exceptional visa articles, she performs real visa orders and provides customer support quarterly to stay abreast of the visa processing process.
Managed by Glen Vidania
Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
Published by Visas for Future
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Cite this article
MLA Style
Gajes, Apple. "Netherlands Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-photo-netherlands-requirements/. Accessed on 20 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Gajes, Apple. "Netherlands Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 20, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-photo-netherlands-requirements/.