How should a Netherlands visa photo look?
The Netherlands uses the 35×45 mm frame but specifies a head height of 26-30 mm: the smallest head definition in Europe. Face width ear-to-ear must be 16-20 mm. Municipal counters scan the print against the Fotomatrix 2020 transparency overlay during the appointment, so any geometric drift is visible at once.
The bodies that set the spec
The standard is published by Rijksoverheid and RvIG (Fotomatrix 2020). The photo must be submitted within six months of the capture date. Municipalities apply the same Fotomatrix check to passports and ID cards alike.
Workflow after the shoot
Open the frame in PhotoID Studio and pick the Nederland preset; the app aligns the face, places head height inside the 26-30 mm window and exports 35×45 mm at 300 DPI. When the municipality lays the Fotomatrix overlay across the print the geometry sits exactly inside the lines.
Capture setup and direction
Seat the customer 1.5-2 m in front of a light backdrop (grey, light blue or white) with shoulders parallel to the camera. Camera on a tripod, lens at eye level. Standard setup: a 50-85 mm portrait lens, f/8, a softbox at 45° with a reflector opposite. Cue: "chin slightly back, mouth closed, eyes fully open, neutral expression". Glasses frames must not cross the eyes.
What the municipal Fotomatrix check returns
• Head height outside the 26-30 mm window. • Face width outside 16-20 mm; off-balance frame. • Backdrop fails to contrast with hair or skin tone. • A frame older than six months from the capture date. • Glasses glare; frame cutting across the eyes. • A smile, visible teeth, an open mouth. • Hair covering the eyes; head tilted in the frame.
Municipal appointment traffic
In the Netherlands passport, ID card and residence applications run through municipal appointments, and customers leave the studio with a print that has to clear the Fotomatrix overlay. The PhotoID Studio Nederland preset locks head height into the 26-30 mm window so the check sits exactly inside the lines.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the head not 32-36 mm in the Netherlands?
The RvIG Fotomatrix 2020 spec defines head height as 26-30 mm; this differs from ICAO and is the Dutch biometric standard's defining trait.
Does the backdrop have to be white?
Light grey, light blue or white are all accepted, provided the backdrop contrasts sufficiently with the hair and skin tone.
How does the municipality run the Fotomatrix check?
A transparent template is laid over the print; head height, face width and alignment must sit inside the printed lines.
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