Make a Dutch passport photo at home (no upload)

An official Dutch passport photo is 35 by 45 mm, with your head facing straight ahead, centred and fully in view, and 26 to 30 mm from chin to crown (for anyone aged 11 and up). The background must be plain and light, and the photo at least 400 dpi. With a good photo and the right guide lines, you can crop it to size at home, entirely in your browser and without uploading a single image.

A passport photo at the chemist or photographer quickly costs ten to fifteen euros, and you often only need a couple. If you already have a tidy photo with a calm background, it is a waste to leave the house for it. Below you will read exactly what a passport photo has to meet and how to bring it to size yourself.

The official requirements at a glance

The Dutch government sets out the requirements in its so-called photo matrix. The most important ones:

• Size: 35 mm wide, 45 mm tall.
• Head: facing straight ahead, not tilted, centred and fully in view.
• Face length: chin to crown between 26 and 30 mm (from age 11; for children up to 10 it is 19 to 30 mm).
• Face width: ear to ear between 16 and 20 mm.
• Background: plain and single-colour, light grey, light blue or white, with enough contrast against your head.
• Expression: neutral look, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera.
• Lighting: even, without shadows or reflections.
• Quality: sharp, in colour, at least 400 dpi, and no older than six months.

The full list is on the Dutch government page Eisen aan de pasfoto.

Taking a good photo (before you crop)

Cropping is the easy part. The photo itself decides whether your passport photo gets approved. A few tips:

• Use a wall in a plain, light colour. Stand half a metre away so you do not cast a shadow on it.
• Use soft daylight from the front, near a window for example, so there are no shadows or highlights on your face.
• Look straight into the lens, keep your head and shoulders straight, with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.
• Have someone take the photo at eye level, or use a tripod. A selfie from up close distorts your face.

If your background is busy after all, you can remove it first with Remove background and place a plain light colour behind you.

Cropping to the right size

Once your photo is good, bring it to size with Passport photo maker. You drag your photo in and see a frame with the right ratio (35 by 45 mm) plus guide lines for the crown and the chin. You move and zoom your photo until the crown sits on the top line and your chin on the bottom one, with your head neatly centred. Those guide lines sit at the official distance of about 28 mm, within the 26 to 30 mm range.

Then you pick the resolution (400 dpi is the minimum, 600 dpi is sharper) and download the photo. Want to print at home? Choose the print sheet: several photos lined up neatly on a 10 by 15 cm sheet, with cut lines.

Print at home or apply online

If you print yourself, use smooth photo paper and print at actual size, so without "fit to page" or scaling in the print dialog. Then cut along the lines. If you apply for your document digitally, you can upload the single file instead of a printed photo.

Why you do not want to upload this

Your face is biometric data. Many free online passport photo makers send your photo to a server, keep it, or add a watermark you then have to "buy off". None of that is necessary. With Passport photo maker the cropping and scaling happen entirely on your own device. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is stored. Close the tab and your photo is gone.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make my own passport photo for my passport? Yes. There is no obligation to go to a photographer, as long as the photo meets the official requirements. The official at the counter assesses the photo with your application.

What is the correct size of a Dutch passport photo? 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall, with 26 to 30 mm from chin to crown for anyone aged 11 and up.

Which background is allowed? A plain, single-colour background in light grey, light blue or white, with enough contrast against your head.

Is my photo uploaded or stored? No. The cropping happens in your browser. Nothing goes to a server and nothing is stored.

Does it work with a photo from my phone? Yes. HEIC photos from an iPhone are converted automatically, so you can crop them straight away.

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Got a tidy photo ready? Crop your passport photo to size. In your browser, without upload, and your photo stays yours.