Photo requirements guide
Belgium National Visa (D) photo requirements
A guide to the photo size and conditions you need for the application.
Checked: 2026-08-29
Photo requirements at a glance
- 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.
Face photo requirements
The Belgium National Visa (Visa D, single permit approval holder with Annex 46) is applied for at the Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo. Two printed Visa on Web (VOW) forms dated and signed are required, and an e-appointment is mandatory — but unlike Schengen C, personal appearance is not required.
Creating the photos, writing the name on the back, and submitting the documents remain the applicant's own actions (the tool does not print the photo back). The Schengen C route (1 photo, in-person biometrics) is a different workflow with a different photo count, and checklists for other D categories (study / family) are out of scope for this page.
What to check before you submit
The phrase “passport-size” alone does not set a fixed value such as 35×45 mm. In the Tool, enter the dimensions shown by the current application guidance.
From creation to submission
- Keep the application guidance available and enter the output type and dimensions you have confirmed.
- No face guide is shown for values the official guidance does not specify.
- After editing and review, confirm the accepted format and conditions in the application portal before submitting.
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 toolWhat this tool creates
- the required face photo (for printing)
Official information
The photo conditions on this page are based on the official guidance.
Check the latest official portal guidance before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the photo automatically converted to 35×45 mm?
No. The tool does not substitute 35×45 mm or any other value when the official requirement is unspecified.
What if the application portal shows updated conditions?
Check the current application screen or official guidance and enter those conditions in the Tool.