Belgian Passport Photo (passeport belge, colour, 35 x 45 mm): size and requirements
The Belgian Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). IBZ matrix: fonds clairs et unis (exclusion des fonds bleus ou rouges prononcés); Foreign Affairs: scarf and heavy coat must not clutter the arrière-plan; head 69 to 80 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against SPF Affaires étrangères (diplomatie.belgium.be) with the SPF Intérieur matrice photo (IG eID).
For the colour identity photo you bring to the commune or Belgian embassy for an ordinary Belgian passport when that office does not photograph you itself. Not for the eID or Kids-ID (same matrix, different counter and page), and not for a visa for Belgium, which is filed by foreigners abroad.
Check whether your commune or embassy photographs you; only if it does not, print our 35 x 45 mm colour photo on photo paper and bring it. See the Belgium documents we can prepare.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 69 to 80 percent of the photo height (Foreign Affairs refers to the ICAO norms and the commune's matrice photo; IBZ matrix via IG eID: hauteur de la tête entre 31 mm au minimum et 36 mm au maximum on 35 x 45 mm)
- Background
- IBZ matrix: fonds clairs et unis (exclusion des fonds bleus ou rouges prononcés); Foreign Affairs: scarf and heavy coat must not clutter the arrière-plan
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Prints needed
- 1
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckMost people need no photo: 'beaucoup d’ambassades, consulats et communes se chargent elles-mêmes de la prise de votre photo d'identité'. Ask your commune or embassy before buying; the exception Foreign Affairs itself names is a small child who will not pose for the counter camera.
- CheckIf you do bring one it is judged against the ICAO norms via the commune's matrice photo, and 'Si votre photo n’est pas conforme, votre commune devra la refuser.' The matrix numbers (31 to 36 mm head on 35 x 45 mm, light plain background, six months) are the same as for the eID.
- CheckColour is required for the passport ('votre photo d'identité en couleur: très ressemblante et récente'), whereas the eID matrix also admits black and white.
- CheckForeign Affairs' four reflexes: neutral expression with the mouth closed and no smile; head and shoulders straight and facing the lens; forehead, chin and the base of the ears visible; eyes clearly visible with no reflection in the glasses, no tinted lenses and no wide frames. You may simply take your glasses off.
- CheckWinter warning from the ministry: take off scarf and heavy coat, because if they rise above the shoulders they clutter the background and the commune must refuse the photo.
- CheckThe photo, fingerprints and signature are the passport's biometric data; fingerprints (from age 12, two fingers, usually the index fingers) and signature (possible from age 6, once the child can write its name) are captured at the counter, so a visit in person is needed even when you bring a photo.
Source and verification
Read from the official page and translated by us. Last checked 2026-10-07 at SPF Affaires étrangères (diplomatie.belgium.be) with the SPF Intérieur matrice photo (IG eID).
votre photo d'identité en couleur: très ressemblante et récente;
A noter, beaucoup d’ambassades, consulats et communes se chargent elles-mêmes de la prise de votre photo d'identité, de sorte qu'il n'est pas nécessaire d'apporter une photo.
Pour les jeunes enfants qui ne peuvent pas rester assis et poser devant l'appareil photo, il est préférable d'apporter une photo.
La photo, les empreintes digitales et la signature sont les données biométriques figurant sur un passeport.
vos empreintes digitales: à partir de 12 ans, 2 empreintes digitales, généralement les index;
votre signature: possible à partir de 6 ans, dès que l'enfant sait écrire son nom
Si votre photo n’est pas conforme, votre commune devra la refuser.
Pour éviter toute difficulté si vous portez des lunettes, vous pouvez les enlever pour faire votre photo, même si vous les portez au quotidien.
Enlevez écharpe et gros manteau lorsque vous faites vos photos de passeport en hiver.
Les dimensions des photographies, de forme rectangulaire, sont de 35 mm x 45 mm, sans bords blancs.
La hauteur de la tête du titulaire doit être comprise entre 31 mm au minimum et 36 mm au maximum.
La photo peut dater de maximum 6 mois.
Quotes are in French. Quotes 1-6 are from the Foreign Affairs page 'Passeport ordinaire' at source.url (quote 6 stops before the dash that opens the page's explanatory clause) and quotes 7-9 from its linked page 'Qualité exigée pour votre photo' https://diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/pour-les-belges-letranger/le-passeport-belge/qualite-exigee-pour-votre-photo, both read via the r.jina.ai text proxy (sources/be/diplomatie-passeport-ordinaire-fr.txt, sources/be/diplomatie-qualite-exigee-photo-fr.txt). Quotes 10-12 are from the IBZ IG eID (sources/be/ibz-instructions-generales-eid-2026-04-30-pdf.txt, section 5.6.3). Foreign Affairs publishes no millimetres of its own ('normes techniques internationales' / ICAO); applying the IBZ matrix numbers to the passport is our inference from the ministry's statement that the commune judges the photo and from the matrix title 'critères d'acceptation pour la photo des documents d'identité belges'. maxPhotoAgeMonths 6 is the matrix value; the ministry says only 'récente'. Head fractions 31-36 mm / 45 mm. child.underAge 12 is a placeholder required by the type: no Belgian source states a child age threshold for the passport (see child.note). headCovering, glasses, editing and dpi as for be/id-card. diplomatie.belgium.be and ibz.rrn.fgov.be are not matched by the validator host rule; see the file header.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
