Who needs a Netherlands visa photo
A Netherlands visa lets a foreign national enter, stay in or travel through the Netherlands for a set period. Citizens of countries outside the European Union and the European Economic Area usually need one for tourism, business, study or family visits, although citizens of some countries are exempt for short stays, so check the list of visa-exempt countries before you start. If you do need a Dutch visa, the photo is one of the first documents to prepare, because every application form asks for it and a rejected photo slows the whole application down.
The Netherlands issues two main visa types. The Schengen visa (Type C) covers short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, for tourism, business or family visits. The national visa (Type D) covers long stays of more than 90 days, usually for work, study or family reunification. Both types use the same Netherlands visa photo format described on this page, so one set of photos works for whichever Dutch visa you apply for.
Netherlands visa photo size explained
The Netherlands visa photo is a portrait photo of 35×45 mm, or 3.5×4.5 cm. In our template the head is about 29 mm tall from the chin to the crown, and there is about 6.5 mm of space between the top edge of the photo and the top of the hair. The face sits in the centre of the frame, with the shoulders visible at the bottom.
The photo must be in colour and taken recently, so it shows how you look today. A plain light grey background works well for a Netherlands visa photo: it gives a clear contrast with your face and hair, and it has no shadows or patterns. If you print the photo yourself, use 600 DPI so the fine details stay sharp at this small size. The same 35×45 mm photo is also suitable for a digital upload when you apply online and the form asks for a photo file.
How many photos you need
For a Schengen visa to the Netherlands, applicants submit two recent passport-sized photos that meet the Schengen visa photo requirements. Print both from the same file so they match. A spare print costs little and saves a trip if you need another photo later. Our online tool gives you a digital visa photo that you can print as many times as you need.
Visa photo requirements for your face
Our check looks at the points that usually decide whether a photo is accepted. Look straight at the camera with your head upright and centred. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open and clearly visible. Your full face must be inside the frame, from the chin to the top of the head, with no hair covering the eyes or the edges of the face.
- Plain light background with even colour and no shadows behind you.
- Even light on the face, with no shadows under the eyes or on one cheek.
- No glare on glasses; taking them off is the safest way to avoid reflections over the eyes.
- Nothing that covers part of the face; the face from chin to forehead must be fully visible.
- Natural skin colour, no filters, no retouching that changes your appearance.
- A sharp, recent colour photo with good contrast.
How to take a good photo at home
You do not need a studio to get a good visa photo. Stand about an arm's length from the camera, or ask someone to take the photo from about one to two metres away, with the lens at the height of your eyes. A photo taken from below or above changes the shape of the face and makes the head look tilted. Stand a little away from the wall, so your body does not cast a shadow behind you.
Wear clothes that differ from the background colour; a light top against a light background makes the shoulders fade into it. Pull your hair back from your face so both eyes and the outline of the face are visible. Remove earphones and anything that covers part of the face. Take several photos in a row and choose the one where your eyes are fully open and your expression is calm. Our tool then crops the best photo to the visa photo size and replaces the background, so you only need to care about your face and the light.
Printing your visa photos
If the embassy or visa application centre asks for paper photos, print your visa photo at 600 DPI on good photo paper, either glossy or matte. Print at the real size, with no scaling in the printer settings, so the photo comes out exactly 35×45 mm. Check the print: the colours should look natural, the face should be sharp, and there should be no lines, spots or ink marks on the photo. Cut along the edges carefully and keep the photos flat, without folds, scratches or fingerprints on the face. A damaged print is a poor copy of a correct photo, so print a new one instead.
Using the photo for an online application
Some applications ask for a photo file rather than a printed photo. The visa photo you make with our tool is suitable for online submission: it is a sharp colour photo with the correct crop and a plain background. Always upload the original photo file, not a scan or a photo of a printed photo, which loses sharpness and colour. Do not edit the photo after you download it; filters, beauty effects or a new crop can break the requirements that the check confirmed.
When to take your photo
The photo must be recent, so take it close to the date you apply rather than reusing a photo from an old application. If your appearance has changed, for example after a new haircut, a beard or a big change in weight, take a new photo so the officer can match your face with the person at the counter. Plan the photo together with the rest of your documents: once your passport, insurance and bookings are ready, make the photo, print two copies and keep the file in case you need more prints later.
Why visa photos get rejected
Photos often fail for simple reasons: the photo has the wrong size, the head is too small or too large in the frame, shadows fall on the background, or the expression is not neutral. Other common problems are glasses with reflections, hair over the eyes, a blurry photo or an old photo that no longer looks like you. A rejected visa photo means new photos and sometimes a new appointment, so it is worth checking every photo before you apply.
Visa photos for children
A child who applies needs a Netherlands visa photo too, in the same 35×45 mm size and with the same plain background. The child should be alone in the photo, with no toys, hands or a parent visible. For a baby, a neutral face and open eyes can be hard, so take several shots and pick the best one. When you travel with minors, the Dutch visa application may also ask for extra documents, such as a consent letter from a parent who does not travel.
Where the photo fits in the Dutch visa application
The photo is only one part of a Netherlands visa application. An application for a short-stay Schengen visa usually includes:
- A valid passport, not older than ten years, with at least two blank pages and valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area.
- A completed and signed visa application form, which you can download from the official website and fill in with accurate, complete information.
- Two recent photos that meet the Schengen visa photo requirements.
- Travel medical insurance with coverage of at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen countries.
- Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking or an invitation letter from a host.
- Proof of sufficient financial means, such as bank statements.
- A travel itinerary with flight reservations.
Depending on the purpose of the trip, the embassy may ask for more, such as an employment letter or a letter of enrolment for students. Check the current list on Netherlands Worldwide, the official Dutch government site for visa information. For long stays and residence, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) publishes its own rules.
Steps to apply for a Netherlands visa
First, decide which visa type you need, short stay or long stay. Next, gather your documents, including the two Dutch visa photos, and complete the application form. Then book an appointment at the nearest Dutch embassy or consulate, or at a visa application centre where that applies; this can often be done online. At the appointment you submit the application, and you may also need to give biometric data: fingerprints and a photograph. You also pay the visa fee, which depends on the visa type and your age.
Processing a Netherlands visa can take from 15 to 30 days, depending on the visa type and your nationality, so apply well before your travel date. When the application has been processed, you are told when to collect your visa. If the visa is approved, it is placed in your passport. If it is refused, the rejection notice explains how to appeal. A correct photo from the start removes one common reason for delays.
Visa photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm, head about 29 mm tall.
- Plain light grey background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred in the photo.
- No glare over the eyes; your full face stays inside the frame.
- Recent, sharp colour photo with no filters, printed at 600 DPI.
Other Dutch document photos
If you also need a Dutch document for yourself or a family member, each one has its own photo page: the Netherlands passport photo, the Dutch ID card photo and the Dutch driving license photo. Each page uses the photo size and rules of that document.
