Dutch Identity Card Photo

About an Identity Card Photo in Netherland

A passport picture is intended for the identity verification of the applicant. That’s the reason why you have to submit a photo that reflects your present look. To ensure the acceptance of a passport photo, you have to fulfill the criteria released by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

In the same way, the identity card is also intended to confirm the identity of the applicant. The identity card of the Netherlands is an official document bestowed to a person who lives in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The official authority has also established rigorous rules for a Dutch identity card. To get it done, you must have a proper identity card photo. The photo will accompany you for a certain period of time. Therefore, it is important for you to get a perfect photo.

The next part will explore more details and tips to help you get the 100% acceptable Netherland Identity Card photos!

Netherlands Identity Card Photo Requirements

Let’s first look at some general requirements for an identity card photo in the Netherlands:

• The size (width x height) of Netherlands ID card photo is 35mm x 45 mm or 3.5cm x 4.5cm or 1.38 inches x 1.77 inches or 827 x 1063 (in pixels at 600dpi).
• The minimum head height should be 26 mm, and the maximum head height should be 30 mm. The top of the head should be at a minimum of 6.55 mm from the top. (Our passport photo generator can automatically make adjustments to these biometric requirements, freeing you from worries and anxiety)
• The head must be centered and shown in full. (Also make sure you should look straight into the camera)
• The photo should be in color and taken no more than 6 months at the date of application.
• You ought to take photos against a background with light color. (White and off-white, light blue can be accepted, but you should make sure the background should be all one color).
• Print Netherlands ID card photos on Glossy or Matte type of photo paper. (High-quality, smooth photo paper)

Above are the general rules of a Dutch ID card. However, as the old saying goes, details determine success or failure. Let’s see what you should pay more attention to while taking a Dutch biometric photo.

Can You Wear Glasses While Taking an Identity Card Photo of the Netherlands?

Of course, you can wear your glasses when you are taking your Dutch identity card photo. However, the government has specified the requirements for glasses:

• Your eyes should be fully visible. (It indicates that your spectacle frame shouldn’t cover any part of your eyes)
• Glasses should be fully transparent. (It means that you should get away from sunglasses)
• No distortion due to reflection from the glasses.
• No shadow.

Can You Wear Accessories Like a Hat in the Photos?

Generally speaking, accessories like a hat might cause the risks of shadows or obstruction. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you should put off your accessories like a hat in the biometric photo. You can only wear head coverings for reasons of religious belief. The specific requirements for keeping your head covered for religious reasons are as followed:

• The head covering must be plain and in one color only.
• It must form a contrast with the background.
• Make sure your face should be fully visible without any shadows or covering.
• No reflection caused by accessories.
• Earrings might be another common accessory. You can wear earrings if they neither cover any part of your face nor cause reflection on your face.

What Should I Wear in the Photos?

In fact, there are no specific rules for clothing for Netherlands identity card photos. However, there are indeed some general rules for you to remember: 

• Wear some casual clothes. (Avoid the exaggerated or military uniforms)
• Your garment shouldn’t blend in the background easily.
• Religious clothing is allowed if you have to comply with the religious belief. 

Can You Take ID Photo at Home?

We all know that booking a photo booth service is one of the most ensured and traditional ways. However, things might not go smoothly with your busy schedule. Due to the strict specifications of passport photos, you aren’t allowed to use your selfies as biometric photos.

However, here is still a piece of good news for you: You can take passport photos at home once you have made full preparation. How?

• You can prepare a tripod and take photos on your own. (Just make sure you meet all the requirements of a proper passport photo)
• You can seek help from your family members and friends. (They can help you check whether your photos can meet the specifications of Dutch biometric photos.)

After having finished your photos, you can check the photos by yourself. However, you can’t alter your photos through the computer program, which might result in rejection. Obviously, here are two ways to go for you—Retake your photos. Or you can use an online passport photo tool to check and perfect your passport photos. Taking photos at home can be a money-saving way. As there might be less professional assistance from a photo studio, you should avoid some common mistakes when you are taking photos at home!

However, with the help of AiPassportPhotos, there is no need for you to bear the anxiety of waiting and uncertainty. AiPassportPhotos can scan your photos and ensure 100% compliance of your biometric photos. In addition, it can help you perfect your photos including the elements like background colors.

Common Mistakes You Should Pay Attention to

Taking your Netherlands biometric photos at home can be money and time-saving. However, you should pay more attention to details that you might miss:

• Make sure you find a proper background. The color should be white, light grey or light blue. The background should be in all one color. You should make sure there’s nothing other than you in the photo. If you are worried about an improper background, the powerful background remover and changer like AiPassportPhotos can do you a favor.
• Lighting is also very important. The lighting should be even, not over-or underexposure. There is no shadow on the face or in the background, no reflection on the face caused by accessories.
• The position is something that you might ignore. The head should face forward, with eyes horizontally aligned. The head shouldn’t be tilted. Instead, it should be centered and shown in full.
• You should have a neutral expression, with eyes open and mouth closed.
• The background should contract sufficiently with the head.

The facial appearance should be also emphasized in the photo:

• Head uncovered. (Except for religious reasons)
• The face can be fully visible.
• Eyes can be completely seen in the photos.

Note:

• Ears don’t have to be visible as long as the full width of the face is shown.
• You are allowed to have different hairstyles and long fringe, but you should make sure the fringe can’t be too long lest your eyes and face be covered. 

Can You Use Lipstick and Other Makeup?

Yes, you can have modest makeup like lipstick which helps you show your perfect version and have a pretty-looking biometric photo. However, you should avoid heavy makeup that might result in failure to identify your facial features. (For example, you can’t cover your blemish like moles on your face through make-up)

Should Every Applicant Comply with the Same Requirements?

A passport photo can only be valid if it meets all the requirements, unless the applicant is under 6 years old. Kids who are under the age of six don’t have to follow the requirements including:

• Position: ‘Eye horizontally aligned, ‘head not tilted’ and ‘shoulders straight’.
• Expression: ‘Natural expression’, ‘looking straight at the camera’ and ‘mouth closed’.
• If the child needs to be supported, it should be invisible in the photo.

Also, you might not observe the rules for physical or medical reasons. In this case, you will be required to provide a medical certificate as proof.

How Long Do You Have to Wait for an Identity Card?

It normally takes 5 working days before you fetch your identity card. If you live abroad, you might need to wait a little longer. However, you can get your digital biometric photos with our service instantly.

How Can AiPassportPhotos Help You?

If you assume to print photos in a money-saving way, you have to get a digital version first. AiPassportPhotos is your assistant here. As a powerful online passport photo generator, you can get perfect digital photos through this tool.

• Passport photo cropper. You can resize your photos anywhere and anytime.
• Photo compliance checker. The passport photo tool is supported by both technical staff and AI technology, which can make sure 100% acceptance of your photos.
• Photo background remover and changer. Feel annoyed at the background color? AiPassportPhotos is here to help you remove and change the improper background. You will feel free to take photos at home against any background, for we will change the suitable background for you intelligently.
• Passport photo generator. Just let the tool do everything for you smartly. You can finally get satisfying passport photos in seconds.

Come and grab your photos with AiPassportPhotos before you apply for your Netherlands Identity Card!