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Switzerland Passport Photo Size

To obtain a Swiss passport, it is important to ensure your passport photo meets the necessary specifications. The photo should be 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters tall (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm), and your head and shoulders must occupy 70-80% of the picture. Additionally, make sure that the top of your head is positioned 3 millimeters from the top edge of the photo. Please refer below for more detailed information on the required specifications for Swiss passport photos.

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Obtaining a Swiss passport is a crucial step for those seeking to explore the beauty and opportunities Switzerland offers. To ensure a smooth application process, meeting the specific requirements for your passport photo is essential.

Here are the complete passport photo requirements for Switzerland:1

Dimensions

  • Size: 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters tall.
    • 3.5 cm wide x 4.5 cm tall
    • 1.38 inches wide x 1.77 inches tall
    • Pixels (px): While no official pixel size is stated, assuming a high-resolution photo of 300 dots per inch (dpi), the approximate size would be 1050 px wide x 1350 px tall.

Face and Pose

  • Full face: Your full face must be clearly visible, centered in the frame, and looking directly at the camera.
  • Head and shoulders: Switzerland requires a head size between 29 and 34mm. Ensure your head and shoulders fill 70-80% of the picture, with the top of your head 3 millimeters from the top edge.
  • Expression: Maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes fully open. Do not smile, grimace, or show any teeth.
  • Headwear: Not permitted except for religious or medical reasons. If worn, the headwear must not obscure any part of your face.

Background

  • Plain white or off-white. No patterns, shadows, or other objects in the background.
Switzerland Passport Photo
Click the photo to view the Switzerland passport photo size infographic.

Technical specifications

  • Recent photo: The photograph must be taken within the last six (6) months.
  • High quality: The photo must be clear, sharp, and free of red-eye, scratches, or blemishes.
  • Color: Color photograph is preferred, but black and white is also acceptable.
  • Printed on photo-quality paper: Not printed on ink-jet or home printers.

Additional Requirements

  • Glasses: Only allowed if they don’t obscure your eyes. Glare or reflections on the lenses are not permitted.
  • Jewelry: Excessive jewelry is discouraged.
  • Makeup: This should be kept to a minimum and not obscure your natural features.
  • Headscarves: Religious headscarves are permitted as long as they do not obscure your face.

Visas for Future Passport Photo Service

Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a Switzerland passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a photo of yourself using our guidelines, send it in and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.


How it works

Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.

How to take your passport photo

Here’s how you can take passport photos at home to ensure that they’ll be high quality:

1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.

2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!

3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.

4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.


Benefits of using an online passport photo service

There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo, but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:

  1. You don’t have to leave your house.
  2. We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
  3. We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
  4. Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.

Why choose us

Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:

  • Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
  • Convenience: You can upload your own photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
  • Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, which will make your process easier.
  • Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
  • Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.

Switzerland passport photo aspect ratio

The Swiss passport photo does not have a specific aspect ratio requirement in the official guidelines. However, based on the dimensions (35mm x 45mm), we can calculate the aspect ratio:

Aspect ratio = Width / Height = 35mm / 45mm = 7/9

Therefore, the aspect ratio of a Swiss passport photo is 7:9. This means the photo should be slightly taller than it is wide.

Acceptable head size for the photo frame for the Switzerland passport photo

For a Swiss passport photo, the acceptable head size, measured from the chin to the top of the head, falls within a specific range:

  • Minimum: 29 millimeters (mm)
  • Maximum: 34 millimeters (mm)

This translates to approximately 70-80% of the total photo height (45mm) being occupied by your head and shoulders.

Additional details:

  • The top of your head should be 3 millimeters from the top of the photo.
  • Your face should be centered in the frame and take up 50-69% of the image.

What are the correct background color, facial expressions, and attire guidelines for the Switzerland passport photo?

Background

  • Color: The background must be plain white or off-white.
  • Pattern: No patterns, shadows, or other objects are allowed in the background.
  • Consistency: The background color must be consistent throughout the entire photo.

Facial Expressions

  • Expression: Maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed and lips together.
  • Smiling and grimacing: Not allowed. Avoid any exaggerated expressions that distort your natural features.
  • Eyes: Keep your eyes open and look directly at the camera.

Attire

  • No specific requirements: There are no specific clothing requirements for your Swiss passport photo.
  • Recommendations: Choose attire that contrasts well with the background color (white or off-white). Avoid wearing clothing with patterns, large logos, or overly revealing clothing.

Swiss Sample Photo Guidelines

Source: diplomatie.gouv.fr


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I smile in my passport photo of Switzerland?

No, smiling is not recommended in a Swiss passport photo. The guidelines state a neutral expression is required, meaning your mouth should be closed and no teeth should be visible.

What are the passport requirements for Switzerland?

1. Completed application form
2. Recent passport-sized photo (meeting specific requirements)
3. Current valid passport (if applicable)
4. Proof of Swiss citizenship (e.g., birth certificate)
5. Additional documents may be required depending on your specific circumstances.

What is the size of the photo for the Swiss visa?

The size of the photo required for a Swiss visa application is the same as the one required for a Swiss passport: 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters tall (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm).

What size are EU passport photos?

EU passport photos, including those for Switzerland, all follow the same size standard: 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters tall (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm). This applies to all member states of the European Union.


  1. Offi ce fédéral de la police. (n.d). Bundesamt für Polizei Office fédéral de la police Ufficio federale di polizia. <https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/dam/fedpol/de/data/pass-id/fotomustertafel.pdf.download.pdf/fotomustertafel.pdf> []

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Rosalie Santos
Written by

Rosalie is a content writer who loves to learn and share knowledge. She has a background in education and teaching, which helps her write clear, accurate, and engaging content. She writes about travel, culture, and education topics. She also handles Turkey and India visa applications, which she learned from Lei Achumbre, the COO of Visas for Future and a visa expert. She fulfills visa orders and answers customer service questions once a quarter.

Glen Vidania
Managed by Glen Vidania

Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.

Glen Vidania
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MLA Style

Santos, Rosalie. "Switzerland Passport Photo Size." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-photo-size-for-switzerland/. Accessed on 21 September 2023.

Chicago Style

Santos, Rosalie. "Switzerland Passport Photo Size." Visas For Future. September 21, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-photo-size-for-switzerland/.

Published: 21 Sep 2023 1:23 UTC

Last modified: 24 Mar 2024 9:00 UTC

Reading time: 7 minutes

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