Netherlands ID Card Photo — at home in 60 seconds
Nederlandse identiteitskaart
Take it with your phone against a plain, light wall. We crop it to the exact size (35×45 mm) and check the head size, position and background against the published rules.
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo. Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
Quick answer
A Netherlands ID Card Photo must be 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in), with the head 26–30 mm from chin to top of head, on a light grey, light blue, or white background, taken within the last 6 months. A photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets these rules.
- Printed photo
- 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)
Verified October 3, 2026 from rijksoverheid.nl.
Photo requirements
Summarised from the official sources below.
- Printed photo
- 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in)
- Head size (chin to top of head)
- 26–30 mm (57.8–66.7 % of the photo height)
- Background
- Light grey, light blue, white. Even, single colour, no gradient, sufficient contrast between head and background.
- Expression
- Neutral look, looking straight into the camera, mouth closed.
- Glasses
- Allowed (applicant's choice): eyes fully visible, fully transparent lenses, no disturbing reflection, no shadow.
- Head covering
- Head uncovered, except for religious/philosophical reasons or medical hair loss; covering must be plain, single-coloured and contrast with the background.
- Babies and children
- Children under 6 are exempt from: eyes on a horizontal line, head not tilted, shoulders straight, neutral look, looking straight into the camera, mouth closed. Any support must not be visible (hand under clothing). Child with eyes closed: not allowed. Age <=10: chin-to-crown 19-30 mm.
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
More rules (10)
- colour, representative/recognisable, natural rendering
- sharp, sufficient contrast, detailed
- undamaged, not a copy, not edited
- printed on high-quality smooth photo paper
- minimum 400 dpi resolution
- head fully shown and centred
- even lighting, no shadows or reflections
- head straight, eyes level, shoulders straight
- ears need not be visible if face width is visible
- same photo as previous document: preferably not
Print at home or at a kiosk
Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size), never “Fit to page”, on photo paper. Each sheet has a 50 mm ruler so you can check the size.
How to take it at home
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain, light wall, facing a window.
- Hold the phone at arm’s length or ask someone to help. The live guide checks distance, light and head position.
- Get your digital file and print sheet. Print at 100% or upload the file.
Price
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo.
Photo Acceptance Guarantee — rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
Why people choose Ovalight
Made for the moment you need a photo that just works.
- Money back if it’s rejected Rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
- Free to try Take and check your photo for free. You pay once, only when you like the result.
- Your photo stays on your phone Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
- Checked against the official rules Every rule comes from the issuing authority’s own website, last verified on October 3, 2026.
- Free retakes for 24 hours Not happy with it? Retake the same document up to 3 times within 24 hours.
- Secure payment, no subscription Pay once through Stripe. We never see your card details.
Official sources
Verified on October 3, 2026
- Eisen aan de pasfoto voor paspoort of ID-kaart — rijksoverheid.nl
- Fotomatrix model 2020 (PDF) — RvIG
- Introductie digitale pasfoto (live enrolment plan) — RvIG
- Hoe kan ik een paspoort of identiteitskaart aanvragen? — rijksoverheid.nl
Questions
What size is a Netherlands ID Card Photo?
Printed: 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in).
Can I take my Netherlands ID Card Photo at home?
Yes. The photo is not taken at the office and no registered photographer is required, so a photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets the rules on this page.
What background is required?
Light grey, light blue, white. Even, single colour, no gradient, sufficient contrast between head and background.
Can I smile?
Neutral look, looking straight into the camera, mouth closed.
Can I wear glasses?
Allowed (applicant's choice): eyes fully visible, fully transparent lenses, no disturbing reflection, no shadow.
Can I wear a head covering?
Head uncovered, except for religious/philosophical reasons or medical hair loss; covering must be plain, single-coloured and contrast with the background.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last 6 months.
What about babies and children?
Children under 6 are exempt from: eyes on a horizontal line, head not tilted, shoulders straight, neutral look, looking straight into the camera, mouth closed. Any support must not be visible (hand under clothing). Child with eyes closed: not allowed. Age <=10: chin-to-crown 19-30 mm.
Can I print the photo at home?
Yes. Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size) on photo paper, at home or at a pharmacy or kiosk, and check the size with the 50 mm ruler.
More Netherlands documents
Other documents that use 35×45 mm
Ovalight is an independent service. Only the authority that issues your document decides whether to accept a photo.