📸VisaPicPro
🛂Schengen

Netherlands Visa Photo Requirements

Create photos for Dutch Schengen visa, MVV (long-stay visa), or work permit applications. Size: 35×45mm with white background.

Create Dutch Visa Photo →
👤
35 × 45 mm

Visa Types

Schengen Visa

Short-stay visa for tourism, business, or family visits up to 90 days.

2 photos required

MVV (Long-Stay)

Authorization for temporary stay (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf).

2 photos required

Work Permit

Highly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant) or other work permits.

2 photos required

💡

Schengen Standard

For visa applications, you can use a white background. The gray background requirement only applies to Dutch passport and ID cards. Schengen visa photos follow the standard EU format.

Common Visa Photo Mistakes to Avoid

Light Gray Background

Dutch passport/ID photos use a light gray background, but visa photos require white. This is a common confusion — make sure your background is pure white for any Schengen visa application to the Netherlands.

Head Tilted or Turned

Dutch embassies follow strict Schengen biometric standards. Your face must be perfectly straight, centered, with both eyes at the same horizontal level. Even a slight tilt gets rejected.

Glasses on

As of recent Schengen guidelines, it's recommended to remove glasses entirely. Glare, reflections, or thick frames blocking the eyes are grounds for immediate rejection.

Unnatural Expression

No smiling, no frowning, no raised eyebrows. The Schengen standard requires a neutral expression with mouth closed. Your natural resting face is exactly what they want.

Shadows Anywhere

No shadows on the face, behind the head, or anywhere in the photo. Stand about 50cm from the wall and use front-facing light. Our AI removes any background imperfections automatically.

Editing or Retouching

No Photoshop, no beauty filters, no skin smoothing. The photo must show your real, unaltered face. Digital manipulation of any kind leads to rejection at the Dutch embassy or VFS centre.

How to Take a Perfect Netherlands Visa Photo

📸

1. Take Your Photo

Stand against a plain white wall — not gray (which is for Dutch passports only). Use bright, even lighting. Look directly at the camera, keep your mouth closed, and remove glasses.

⬆️

2. Upload & Process

Upload your photo and the AI instantly removes the background, detects your face, and crops to the exact 35×45mm Schengen format used by Dutch embassies and VFS Global centres.

3. Download & Print

Download the finished file and print 2 copies on glossy photo paper. Attach them to your Dutch visa application at VFS Global or the Netherlands embassy in your country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a Netherlands visa photo?
The Netherlands uses the standard Schengen visa photo format: 35mm × 45mm. White background (not the light gray used for Dutch passports/ID). Face should occupy 70-80% of the frame height.
Is the visa photo different from the Dutch passport photo?
Yes — Dutch passports and ID cards use a light gray background, while Schengen visa photos require a white background. The dimensions (35×45mm) are the same, but the background color is different. Our Schengen visa preset gives you the correct white background.
What visa types require photos for the Netherlands?
Short-stay Schengen visas, MVV (long-stay), work permits, student visas, family reunification, and the orientation year visa (zoekjaar) all require photos. The same 35×45mm white background photo works for every type.
Can I take the photo with my phone?
Yes — any modern smartphone camera works. Use the rear camera for sharper results, hold at eye level, and make sure you have even lighting. Upload the photo here and we'll handle background removal, cropping, and sizing automatically.
Is this free?
100% free — no registration, no watermarks, no hidden fees. Photo studios in the Netherlands charge €10-15, or €7-8 at an automaat booth. Save that money and create your Schengen-compliant photo at home in seconds.

Create Your Dutch Visa Photo

Get embassy-compliant photos in 60 seconds. Free, no registration.

Create Visa Photo →