Need a Netherlands visa photo (sometimes searched as a Dutch visa photo or a Holland visa photo — Holland and the Netherlands are the same country here)? Upload a recent portrait and IDPhotoBy resizes and crops it to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa photo standard — 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm) on a plain white background — with the Netherlands Visa document already selected. It is free — no payment required.
A Netherlands (Schengen) visa photo is normally a printed photo you bring to your appointment at a Dutch embassy or consulate. But if you apply through VFS Global, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs' contracted visa service provider, you don't submit a photo in advance at all — a digital photo is taken for you on site. IDPhotoBy prepares the printed photo for the direct-consulate route; it never touches your face — only the size and crop are adjusted, and the background is checked against the requirement.
The Netherlands visa photo standard comes from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide), the same authority the visa checklist itself points to. IDPhotoBy checks your photo against that specification:
- Size 35×45 mm — 35 mm wide by 45 mm high (3.5×4.5 cm).
- Face length 26–30 mm — chin to crown, for applicants aged 11 and older (19–30 mm for age 10 and under).
- Face width 16–20 mm — ear to ear.
- Plain background — white, light grey or light blue, uniform, with sufficient contrast to your head. IDPhotoBy checks your background against this.
- Neutral expression — mouth closed, looking straight at the camera.
- Colour photo — no more than 6 months old.
- Eyes fully visible — not covered by hair or glasses.
- Print quality — high-quality, smooth photo paper, minimum 400 dpi resolution.
Head coverings are permitted only for religious or belief reasons, and must be plain, one colour, and contrast with the background.
The Netherlands visa photo size is 35×45 mm — that is 3.5×4.5 cm, or about 1.38×1.77 inches.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes its own face-length figure for this size: 26–30 mm chin to crown for applicants aged 11 and older. IDPhotoBy uses this Dutch-specific figure for a Netherlands visa photo.
How you submit your photo depends on where you apply:
- Applying directly at a Dutch embassy or consulate — you bring a printed 35×45 mm photo with your application documents, meeting the requirements above.
- Applying through VFS Global — the international company under contract with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to process Netherlands visa applications — you do not need to bring a photo. A digital photo is taken for you at your appointment.
IDPhotoBy prepares the printed photo for the direct-consulate route: a 35×45 mm file, plus a printable sheet, ready for photo paper. If you are unsure which route your mission uses, check with your specific Dutch embassy, consulate or VFS Global application centre before your appointment — this can vary by location.
- Upload a recent, well-lit portrait — the Netherlands Visa document is already selected.
- IDPhotoBy resizes and crops your photo to 35×45 mm with the correct face length, and checks the background against the plain white requirement.
- Preview the result — check the size, the background and that your eyes are clearly visible.
- Download the finished photo, free, and use the printable sheet to print your 35×45 mm photo on photo paper for a direct-consulate appointment.
This free Netherlands visa photo maker also works as a size checker and resizer for a photo you already have.
IDPhotoBy sizes and crops your uploaded photo to the 35×45 mm Dutch visa standard and checks the background against the white-background requirement. It does not retouch, beautify or otherwise edit your face — a visa photo needs a true, current likeness of you.
We also make no acceptance promise — no online tool honestly can. Your file is prepared to the published Dutch requirements; the consulate or VFS Global centre where you apply makes the final decision. It stays free: no paid plan, no per-photo charge.
The Netherlands is a Schengen member, and this page follows the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs' own published figures for a Netherlands visa photo — including its face-length figure (26–30 mm chin to crown) and background rule, from the visa-specific checklist. If you're applying to a different Schengen country, that country sets its own photo requirements — check that country's own figures rather than assuming they match. If your destination is the Netherlands, use this page.
Requirements and submission channels can change — check the official Netherlands visa portal (netherlandsworldwide.nl) or your VFS Global application centre before you submit; the consulate makes the final decision on your photo.
