Belgian Passport Photo in Ireland

35 × 45 mm · light grey background · FPS Foreign Affairs / municipality

€7.99 digital file · prints in Dublin

Wrong size, background or crop? We fix it free or refund you in full. Refund policy

Rules last checked against FPS Foreign Affairs / municipality on 12 October 2026.

About this photo

A Belgian Passport photo for the FPS Foreign Affairs / municipality is 35 by 45 mm when printed. Your head, chin to crown, should measure 31 to 36 mm on the print. Use a plain light grey or plain light colour background with nothing behind you and no shadow on the wall. You can take it at home on a phone: have someone stand a couple of metres away at eye level rather than holding the phone yourself. At most 6 months old; colour (black-and-white not accepted for passports); natural, sharp, unretouched; not a copy. Applications are made with printed photos, so you need a physical copy rather than an upload. The Belgian Passport photo comes back sized, with a clean background and a head-size check, before you are asked to pay.

Photo requirements

Belgian Passport photo requirements
Photo size	35 × 45 mm
Background	light grey, also accepted: plain light colour
Head size	70–80% of the photo height (31–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed. No reflecting or tinted lenses; frames not too big and not close to the eye line; you may remove glasses for the photo.
Head coverings	Allowed for religious or medical reasons. Face totally uncovered: forehead, chin and the area towards the ears visible.
Head position	Facing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rules	35 x 45 mm; face 31-36 mm from chin to crown (70-80%); head whole and centred; At most 6 months old; colour (black-and-white not accepted for passports); natural, sharp, unretouched; not a copy; Printed on smooth, high-quality photo paper at a resolution of at least 400 dpi; Light, even, plain background without gradient; neutral expression, mouth shut, no smiling; Municipalities must refuse non-compliant photos (ICAO standards)

Do

Illustration of an accepted photo: neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera on a plain background — Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera

Don't

Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is smiling with teeth showing — No smiling with teeth showing

Illustration of a rejected photo: light reflects off the glasses and hides the eyes — No glare on glasses

Illustration of a rejected photo: a shadow falls across the face and background — No shadows on the face or background

Illustration of a rejected photo: the head is tilted to one side — Do not tilt your head

How it works

1. Take or upload a photo
Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.
2. We size and check it
We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.
3. Download and use it
Pay once, then download the digital file and the print sheet straight away.

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Questions about Belgian Passport photos

What size is a Belgian Passport photo?

Belgian Passport photos are 35 × 45 mm. The head should fill 70–80% of the photo height (31–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does a Belgian Passport photo need?

A plain light grey background (plain light colour is also accepted), with no shadows, patterns or objects. We replace the background for you, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.

Can I wear glasses in a Belgian Passport photo?

Yes. No reflecting or tinted lenses; frames not too big and not close to the eye line; you may remove glasses for the photo.

Can I smile in a Belgian Passport photo?

No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious or medical reasons. Face totally uncovered: forehead, chin and the area towards the ears visible.

Can I take a Belgian Passport photo at home?

Usually, yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Check the instructions for your application route, because final acceptance is always decided by FPS Foreign Affairs / municipality. PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

How much does a Belgian Passport photo cost in Ireland?

€7.99 for the digital file, paid once. Prints with pharmacy pickup or delivery in Dublin are also available at selected times.

What if something is wrong with my photo?

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Official source: FPS Foreign Affairs / municipality

Read the rules on the authority's website: FPS Foreign Affairs / municipality (diplomatie.belgium.be).