Belgium Passport Photo Maker — Sized and Formatted for FPS Foreign Affairs
A Belgian passport photo must measure 35 × 45 mm, with the head 31–36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain uniform light background, printed at a minimum of 400 dpi.
Belgium's municipal counters and the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs check these details by hand, so a photo that's a millimetre off, or has a stray shadow behind the head, gets sent back. Most rejections come down to head size, background colour, or a photo older than six months. Passport Photo Maker reads your upload, applies the correct 35×45mm frame, removes the background, and checks head position automatically — so the photo you bring to the gemeentehuis or send with your renewal is built to spec the first time.
Belgium Passport Photo Size (Quick Answer)
The Belgium passport photo size is 35 mm × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), the shared European biometric format. The head must measure 31–36 mm from chin to crown — roughly 69–80% of the frame height — on a plain uniform light background, taken within the last 6 months, printed at a minimum of 400 dpi.
| Photo Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Aspect Ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Pixels @ 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels @ 400 dpi | 551 × 709 px (recommended) |
| Pixels @ 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
| Head Height | 31 – 36 mm (69–80% of frame) |
| Eye Line | 30 – 36 mm from bottom edge |
| Background | Plain light: white, cream, light grey, very light blue |
| Photo Age | Within the last 6 months |
| Copies Required | 1 original print (some communes ask for 2) |
| Issuing Authority | FPS Foreign Affairs, via your commune / gemeente |
Belgium shares this format with most of Europe — see the 35×45 photo size reference, or browse every national standard in the requirements by country hub. Each individual rule is explained in the passport photo rules library.
Why Upload Here Instead of Editing the Photo Yourself
Hitting 35×45mm with the right head height by hand in a photo editor is fiddly — Passport Photo Maker handles the measurement and the background in one pass.
Automatic crop
Your photo is cropped to the exact 35×45mm Belgian frame, not an approximation.
Biometric framing
Head height is measured and adjusted to fall inside the 31–36mm range FPS Foreign Affairs requires.
Correct dimensions
Output is locked to the millimetre and pixel specification, so resizing later doesn't drift off-spec.
Correct background
Your background is replaced with a uniform, shadow-free light tone accepted in Belgium.
Printable photo sheet
Get a ready-to-print sheet sized for a standard photo printer or pharmacy kiosk.
No Photoshop required
Everything happens in the browser — no software to install, no manual ruler measurements.
Belgium Passport Photo Visual Reference
Belgium uses the shared European 35 × 45 mm portrait frame. The diagram below marks the dimensions and the head proportion the counter checks.
Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs: Who Sets the Rules
Belgian passports are issued through your local commune or gemeente, but the photo standard itself is set centrally by the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (FPS Foreign Affairs), in line with ICAO facial-image standards used across the EU. The municipal employee who takes your application checks the photo against this standard before it's accepted — there's no separate online pre-check most applicants can use, which is why getting it right before you go matters more in Belgium than in countries with a fully digital portal.
Belgium has tightened enforcement of these rules in recent years, moving closer to strict ICAO compliance than in the past. That means photos that might have passed a decade ago — slightly off-colour backgrounds, a faint smile, glasses with thick frames — are now more likely to be turned away at the counter.
Because the standard is ICAO-derived rather than uniquely Belgian, the same 35 × 45 mm photo generally satisfies neighbouring applications too. Compare the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany specifications, or the shared EU biometric standard. For travel outside the Schengen area you may also need a Schengen visa photo.
Belgium Passport Photo Requirements
| Photo Size | 35 mm × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 35 mm (551 px @ 400 dpi) |
| Height | 45 mm (709 px @ 400 dpi) |
| Aspect Ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Background | Plain, uniform light tone — white, cream, light grey, or very light blue; no shadows or patterns. Background rules |
| Lighting | Even and diffuse; no shadow on the face or the wall. Shadow rules |
| Head Size | 31 mm – 36 mm (chin to crown). Head size rules |
| Face Coverage | Approximately 69–80% of frame height. Face size requirements |
| Eye Line | 30 – 36 mm from the bottom edge, both eyes open. Eyes requirements |
| Hair | Must not cover the eyes or obscure the face outline. Hair rules |
| Ears | Not mandatory, but the full oval of the face must be clear. Ears visibility |
| Resolution | Minimum 400 dpi when printed from a digital file |
| Colour | Full colour, sRGB, natural skin tones, no filters or retouching |
| File Format | Original colour print; digital files typically JPEG or PNG where accepted by the commune |
| Copies Required | One original print; some communes request a second identical copy |
| Glasses Rules | Discouraged; if worn, no glare, no tinted lenses, frames must not cover the eyes. Glasses rules |
| Head Coverings | Religious or medical only, full face visible. Head covering rules |
| Expression Rules | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing camera directly |
| Photo Age | No older than 6 months at submission |
| Digital Submission Rules | Most communes require one original printed photo; digital upload acceptance varies by municipality |
Every rule above is applied automatically when you upload.
Create Belgium Photo →Child Passport Photo Requirements in Belgium
Children's passport photos follow the same 35×45mm size and head-height rules as adults, with no relaxation for size or background. The practical differences are about posing rather than dimensions:
Same size, same head height
35 × 45 mm frame with the head at 31–36 mm chin to crown. No age exemption applies to dimensions or framing.
Child alone in the frame
No other person — including a supporting parent's hand or arm — may be visible. Toys and pacifiers must be out of the shot and the background entirely.
Eyes: one exception
Infants are allowed to have their eyes not fully open. Toddlers and older children must have both eyes open and forward-facing.
Expression
Belgium applies the neutral-expression rule to children too. Older children need a closed mouth; infants are given leeway.
Photographing a baby
Lay the child on a plain light sheet and photograph from directly above, avoiding shadows across the face or behind the head.
Crop from a wide source
Shoot wide and crop down. Cropping tightly in-camera on a small face leaves too few pixels once the 7:9 frame is applied.
Positioning, lighting and timing technique for infants and toddlers is covered in the baby passport photo at home guide. The eyes requirements and shadow rules pages cover the two checks that fail most often on child photos.
Photographing a child? Upload the shot and let the tool apply the 35×45 crop.
Create Child Photo →Can I Take My Belgium Passport Photo at Home?
Yes — a phone photo works well for Belgium's requirements as long as you control a few variables a photo booth normally controls for you:
Phone camera
Use the rear camera rather than a wide-angle front camera, which can distort facial proportions. Keep the phone at eye height, roughly 50 cm (about 20 inches) away, and ask someone else to hold it if possible for a straighter angle. Switch off portrait blur and skin smoothing, which alter facial geometry.
Lighting
Face a window with diffuse daylight rather than direct sun. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadows under the eyes or chin — this is one of the most common reasons Belgian photos get sent back.
Background
Stand about a metre in front of a plain wall in white, cream, or light grey. Avoid textured wallpaper, doors with visible panel lines, or anything with a pattern.
Distance from camera
Frame your head and the top of your shoulders, leaving a small, even gap above the head — Passport Photo Maker measures this automatically once you upload. The crop guide explains how the 7:9 ratio and head-height band are applied together.
Shooting mistakes to avoid
- Photo taken too close, cutting off shoulders
- Selfie-mode distortion from a front-facing wide lens
- Mixed lighting (window plus overhead bulb) creating a colour cast on the background
- iPhone HEIC files that the commune's system cannot open — see the HEIC to JPEG guide
Printing Your Belgian Passport Photo
Because most communes want a physical original, printing is part of the specification rather than an afterthought. Belgium's 400 dpi guidance is higher than the 300 dpi used by many countries, so set the resolution deliberately rather than accepting a printer default.
| Print Resolution | 400 dpi minimum — export at 551 × 709 px |
|---|---|
| Paper | Glossy or matte photo paper, 200–250 gsm. Plain paper is refused |
| Copies per 10 × 15 cm | 6 copies of 35 × 45 mm with cutting margins |
| Copies per A4 | Around 20 copies of 35 × 45 mm |
| Scaling | Disable fit-to-page and auto-scaling — they silently change the physical size |
| Colour Management | sRGB. Turn off printer auto-enhance and colour correction |
| Cutting | Guillotine or steel rule for square edges. Do not cut inside the printed border |
| Handling | Let ink dry fully. Do not fold or glue the photo face before the appointment |
Printer settings, paper choice and cutting technique are covered in full in the print passport photo at home guide, and multi-copy sheet layout in the print sheet guide. If your file is too large for a commune that does accept uploads, see the reduce file size guide or the digital passport photo requirements guide.
Belgium Passport Photo Compared to Other Standards
If you're applying from the US or splitting time between countries, the standards differ enough that one photo won't serve every application. Belgium's neighbours share the size but not always the background shade.
| Specification | Belgium | Netherlands / Germany | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| Aspect Ratio | 7 : 9 | 7 : 9 | 1 : 1 |
| Head Size | 31–36 mm chin to crown | 32–36 mm chin to crown | 25–35 mm (1–1⅜ in) |
| Background | White, cream, light grey, or very light blue | Plain light grey | Plain white or off-white only |
| Resolution | 400 dpi minimum | 300 dpi minimum | 300 dpi / 600 × 600 px minimum |
| Submission Format | Mostly original printed photo at the commune | Print or municipal capture | Digital upload or print, depending on application type |
| Compliance Check | ICAO-aligned, manually checked at municipal counter | ICAO-aligned, counter check | State Dept. standard, automated check on renewal site |
| Guide | This page | Netherlands · Germany | US passport photo |
For the full worldwide reference see passport size photo dimensions, or compare the square US format on the 2×2 photo size page. Outside Europe the sizes diverge sharply — China uses 33 × 48 mm, and its visa photo uses the same unusual 33 × 48 mm frame.
How to Create a Belgium Passport Photo Maker Result
Upload
Add a recent photo taken against any background — the tool isolates your face automatically.
Crop
Passport Photo Maker frames the shot to 35×45mm and checks your head height against the 31–36mm rule.
Background
The background is replaced with a plain, shadow-free light tone accepted by Belgian communes.
Verify
A compliance check flags issues like glare, head position, or expression before you download.
Download
Get a print-ready file at 400 dpi, sized exactly to spec for your commune or renewal application.
Common Reasons Belgian Passport Photos Get Rejected
These are the failures municipal staff catch at the counter. The full cross-country breakdown is in passport photo rejection reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size & Measurements
What is the Belgium passport photo size?
A Belgian passport photo measures 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, the shared European biometric format. The head must measure 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown, which fills roughly 69 to 80 percent of the frame height, on a plain uniform light background with no shadow.
What size should a passport photo be in pixels rather than millimeters?
For digital files printed at 400 dpi, a 35×45mm Belgian passport photo works out to roughly 551 by 709 pixels. At the more common 300 dpi it is 413 by 531 pixels, and at 600 dpi it is 827 by 1063 pixels. If you are uploading rather than printing, follow the pixel guidance given by the specific portal, since some systems resample the image themselves. See passport photo size in pixels.
Where should my eyes sit in a Belgian passport photo?
The eye line should sit roughly 30 to 36 mm up from the bottom edge of the 45 mm frame, placing the eyes in the upper portion of the photo with a small even margin above the crown. Head height alone is not enough: a photo with a correct 31 to 36 mm head but a low eye line is still refused.
What resolution does a digital Belgian passport photo need?
When a photo is printed from a digital file rather than taken at a professional photo counter, Belgian guidance asks for a minimum of 400 dpi at the final 35×45mm print size, so the image holds up under close inspection at the counter.
Submission & Validity
How many photos do I need for a Belgian passport application?
One original printed 35×45mm photo is normally required, attached to the application form at your commune or gemeente. Some municipalities ask for a spare copy, so printing two identical photos from the same session avoids a second trip. Confirm with your local counter before the appointment.
Can I use a digital passport photo for Belgium, or does it have to be printed?
Most Belgian municipalities still ask for one original printed photo glued or clipped to the application form, even though the application itself is processed digitally on the eID card system. Always check with your specific gemeente, commune, or consulate, since a small number now accept a digital file uploaded directly at the counter.
How long is a Belgian passport photo valid for?
A Belgian passport photo should be no older than six months at the time you submit your application. Municipal staff compare the photo to your current appearance, so a photo that no longer resembles you can be refused even within that window.
Does Belgium accept the same photo for a passport and a Belgian ID card?
The dimensions and ICAO-based rules are the same 35×45mm format, so a photo that passes for a passport will generally pass for an eID renewal too. Submit a freshly taken photo for each application rather than reusing a printed copy, since municipalities prefer a current original.
Appearance & Compliance
Is a light blue background accepted for a Belgian passport photo?
A very light, uniform blue is generally tolerated alongside white, cream, and light grey, as long as there is no gradient, shadow, or texture. When in doubt, a plain white or light grey background is the safest choice and avoids any back-and-forth at the counter. See the background colour rules.
Do glasses have to be removed for a Belgian passport photo?
Glasses are discouraged but not strictly banned. If you keep them on, the frames must not cover any part of your eyes, there can be no glare or reflection on the lenses, and tinted or photochromic lenses are not accepted. Most applicants find it faster to simply remove glasses for the photo.
Can I wear a head covering in a Belgian passport photo?
Religious head coverings are permitted as long as the full oval of the face, from hairline to chin, stays visible and no shadow falls across the features. Head coverings worn for non-religious, non-medical reasons are not accepted under the current ICAO-aligned rules. See the head covering rules.
Why was my Belgian passport photo rejected at the gemeentehuis?
The most common reasons are a head size outside the 31–36mm range, a shadow or colour cast on the background, glare on glasses lenses, or a photo older than six months. Municipal staff in Belgium tend to check these manually, so even small deviations can trigger a second visit.
Children & Printing
Can my child's passport photo show a slight smile?
No. Belgium applies the same neutral-expression rule to children as adults, with one exception: infants who cannot yet hold their eyes consistently open are given some leeway. Toddlers and older children are expected to have a closed mouth and an open, forward-facing gaze. See the child photo requirements section.
How do I print a 35x45 mm Belgian passport photo at home?
Print at 400 dpi on glossy or matte photo paper and disable any fit-to-page scaling, which silently changes the physical size. A 10 × 15 cm sheet holds six 35×45mm copies and an A4 sheet holds around twenty. Cut with a guillotine for square edges and do not trim inside the printed border. See the print at home guide.
Official Sources & References
- Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (Belgium) — passport and consular services: diplomatie.belgium.be
- FPS Home Affairs, Institutions and Population (IBZ) — eID and identity documents: ibz.rrn.fgov.be
- European Commission — Schengen borders and visa policy: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents biometric photograph standard: icao.int
- Your local commune or gemeente — final approval and any additional local checks
Related Belgium Passport Photo Guides
Create Your Belgium Passport Photo Maker Result Now
Don't risk a second trip to the gemeentehuis over a background shadow or a head that's 2mm out of range. Upload a photo now and get a 35×45mm Belgian passport photo built to the FPS Foreign Affairs specification, ready to print or submit.
Applying for a Belgium visa?
Visa photos follow a separate specification from Belgium passport photos. See the full Belgium visa photo requirements.