Swiss Passport, Visa, and ID Photo Requirements
Get the exact photo sizes and rules you need for your Swiss identity documents before you apply.
Covered Swiss Documents
This page covers seven specific Swiss documents that require passport-style pictures. You can prepare photos for the Swiss passport photo, the Swiss baby passport photo, and the Swiss national identity card photo[1].
The cited pages cover a residence permit, visitor visa, driving licence, and seaman’s book[2][3][4][5]. They do not establish that every photo must measure 35×45 mm.
Taking the Photo at Home
You can easily take your ID photo at home using a digital camera or a smartphone. Find a room with plenty of natural light, such as a large window, and face the light source directly. This helps avoid dark shadows under your nose or chin.
Stand in front of a plain, light-colored wall so nothing distracts from your face. Avoid patterned wallpaper or dark backgrounds. Ask a friend or family member to take the picture instead of using the front camera for a selfie, which can distort your facial features.
Keep the camera at your exact eye level. Ask the person taking the picture to step back about one to one and a half meters from you. Make sure your head and shoulders are fully visible within the frame, leaving a little space around your edges for cropping.
Official Sizes and Head Heights
The Swiss passport and national identity card photo instructions specify a head height of 29–34 mm[1]. The cited driving-licence source does not establish this same measurement for a licence photo[4].
The cited sources do not establish that no head-height rule exists for these documents[1][2][3][5]. Check the photo instructions for the relevant application.
Official Size Versus Common Size Rules
The listed 35×45 mm sizes for Swiss passports, baby passports, national identity cards, and visitor visas are official sizes[1][3].
Other documents use a common size rather than a single official size mandate. These include the Swiss residence permit, the Swiss driving licence, and the Swiss seaman's book[2][4][5].
Digital and Printed Submissions
The listed submission formats are both printed and digital for passports, baby passports, national identity cards, visitor visas, and driving licences[1][3][4]. Residence permit photos are listed as digital, and seaman’s book photos as printed[2][5].
Residence permit photos are listed as digital, while seaman’s book photos are listed as printed[2][5]. Follow the relevant application instructions.
Checking Your Crop and Print Size
Once you have your picture, you can upload it to the tool on this website to crop it to the right dimensions. Check that your eyes are level and your mouth is closed with a neutral expression. If you need printed copies, place your cropped image onto a standard photo sheet before sending it to a printer.
Measure the printed photo with a physical ruler to verify that the final product matches the required dimensions. A small error in scale can cause the office to reject your picture, so taking an extra minute to check the measurements is always a smart step.
Practical Tips for Taking Your Photo
You can use the tool above to crop your picture to the correct proportions right in your browser. Stand facing a bright window to get even lighting on your face without harsh shadows.
Ask a friend to take the picture instead of taking a selfie, and keep the camera at your eye level about one to one and a half meters away from your face.
Frequently asked questions
What size do Swiss passport and ID photos need to be?
Swiss passport and national identity card photos must measure 35x45 mm, with a head height between 29 and 34 mm[1].
Can I use a digital photo for a Swiss residence permit?
The listed photo submission format for a Swiss residence permit is digital[2].
Do baby passport photos have a specific head height rule in Switzerland?
No, for the Swiss baby passport photo, the official head height requirement is not set[1].
Are driving licence photos officially regulated for size in Switzerland?
The Swiss driving licence photo uses a common size of 35x45 mm with a head height of 29 to 34 mm, though it operates under a common size rather than a single official size rule[4].
How do I make my photo ready for printing?
You can upload your photo to the tool above, crop it to the correct dimensions, and arrange it on a standard 4x6-inch sheet to print at any local photo kiosk.