Dutch Passport Photo (paspoort, Fotomatrix 2020, 35 x 45 mm): size and requirements
The Dutch Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Lichtgrijs, lichtblauw of wit; egaal; éénkleurig; geen kleurverloop; head 58 to 67 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against Rijksoverheid / Rijksdienst voor Identiteitsgegevens (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties), Fotomatrix Model 2020.
For the single printed pasfoto handed in at the gemeente (or a Dutch mission abroad) with a Nederlands paspoort application. Not for the rijbewijs renewed online, which only accepts a photo sent by an RDW photographer, and not for a verblijfsdocument, which the IND photographs itself.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 58 to 67 percent of the photo height (Vanaf 11 jaar: van kin tot kruin minimaal 26 mm en maximaal 30 mm; tot en met 10 jaar minimaal 19 mm en maximaal 30 mm; breedte gezicht van ooraanzet tot ooraanzet 16-20 mm)
- Background
- lichtgrijs, lichtblauw of wit; egaal; éénkleurig; geen kleurverloop
- 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
- CheckThe Dutch head is smaller than most countries': 26 to 30 mm chin to crown on a 45 mm photo (58 to 67 percent). An ICAO-style 70 to 80 percent head would be 31.5 to 36 mm and exceed the 'maximaal 30 mm' rule. We frame to the Fotomatrix, not to ICAO.
- CheckFace width is also measured: 16 to 20 mm from ear-root to ear-root. The ears themselves do not have to be visible, but the sides of the face must be.
- CheckThe background may be light grey, light blue or white; it must be one flat colour with no gradient and show 'voldoende contrast tussen hoofd en achtergrond' (enough contrast between head and background). Our advice: avoid a white top against a white wall.
- CheckThe photo must be 'niet bewerkt' (not edited) and printed on smooth, high-quality photo paper at a minimum of 400 dpi; the Fotomatrix says the 400 dpi requirement is addressed to whoever prints the photo, so have it printed at a lab or photo counter rather than on plain paper at home.
- CheckHead coverings are allowed only for religious or philosophical (levensbeschouwelijke) reasons, or for hair loss from a medical condition, and must be plain, one colour and contrast with the background. Caps and hats are refused.
- CheckGlasses are fine if the eyes are fully visible through clear lenses with no disturbing reflection and no shadow; if a reflection cannot be avoided, take them off.
Source and verification
Read from the official page and translated by us. Last checked 2026-10-07 at Rijksoverheid / Rijksdienst voor Identiteitsgegevens (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties), Fotomatrix Model 2020.
Vast formaat: 35 mm x 45 mm (breedte x hoogte).
Van ooraanzet tot ooraanzet tussen de 16 mm en 20 mm.
Vanaf 11 jaar: van kin tot kruin minimaal 26 mm en maximaal 30 mm.
Tot en met 10 jaar: van kin tot kruin minimaal 19 mm en maximaal 30 mm.
lichtgrijs, lichtblauw of wit;
pasfoto is maximaal 6 maanden oud op het moment van het aanvragen van een paspoort, identiteitskaart of rijbewijs.
niet bewerkt;
afgedrukt op hoogwaardig, glad fotopapier;
Kinderen jonger dan 6 jaar hoeven niet te voldoen aan de volgende eisen:
Hoofdbedekking is alleen toegestaan op grond van godsdienstige, levenbeschouwelijke of medische redenen
Alleen als de foto aan alle onderstaande acceptatiecriteria voldoet wordt de foto goedgekeurd
Quotes are in Dutch. Quotes 1-9 are from the Rijksoverheid page 'Eisen aan de pasfoto voor paspoort of ID-kaart' at source.url (saved as sources/nl/rijksoverheid-eisen-pasfoto.txt; the old /onderwerpen/.../vraag-en-antwoord URL now 404s). Quotes 10-11 are from the Fotomatrix 2020 brochure PDF (RvIG, January 2020) linked from https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/2020/03/23/fotomatrix-2020 and hosted at https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/0a2b6c4a-b51d-4ef5-9740-c927250e5903/file (saved as sources/nl/rijksoverheid-fotomatrix-2020-pdf.txt; the PDF spells 'levenbeschouwelijke'). Head fractions are 26-30 mm / 45 mm; the child minimum 19 mm applies up to and including age 10 while the expression and posture waivers apply under 6, so child.underAge is 6 and the 19 mm minimum is explained in child.note. No eye-line figure is published (the Fotomatrix shows an 'ooggebied' graphically only). headCovering: the rule names religious, philosophical and medical (hair-loss) reasons. rijksoverheid.nl and open.overheid.nl are official but not matched by the data validator's 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
