Photo requirements guide
Belgium National Visa (D) photo guide
The photo conditions you need for the application, in one place.
✓ Checked against official sources Last checked: August 29, 2026
Photo requirements
The photo size, format, and background conditions for the application.
- 3 photos are required (originals): 1 attached to each application form and 1 submitted separately. The full name must be written on the back of each photo.
- The size is 35 x 45 mm (width x height). It comes from the FPS Foreign Affairs photo matrix PDF (issued by the Office des Etrangers, "35 mm x 45 mm (lxh)"), which the checklist page links to directly as the definition of "Conform to ICAO standards".
- The same matrix PDF requires the photo to be no more than 6 months old, with a light-coloured, even and plain background.
- The face length (chin to top of the skull) must be 31-36 mm (70-80% of the photo height), as officially stated.
- A colour photo is the base rule, and black-and-white is accepted (except for passports).
- The matrix PDF requires a minimum optical print resolution of 400 dpi. This is a requirement for the printed medium (print quality verified by the photographer), not for the digital file.
Create your photo in the browser
Prepare the photo for Belgium National Visa Photo (D) directly in your smartphone or computer browser. Creating and reviewing are free.
Open the web tool