Quick spec
| Size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height | 29–34 mm, chin to top of head |
| Background | Light grey or light blue, not white |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
The Swiss passport is consistently ranked among the most powerful travel documents in the world, and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) applies photo standards that are noticeably stricter than the shared Schengen default. Switzerland is a Schengen member but not an EU member, and its photo requirements have small but important differences from its neighbours.
The 5 mm margin rule
This is the detail most likely to catch someone reusing a standard Schengen or EU passport photo: Swiss requirements specify a 5 mm gap between the top of the head (or hair) and the top edge of the photo itself. Most other Schengen countries don't specify this margin explicitly, so a photo cropped tight to the hairline — technically fine elsewhere — can fail this specific Swiss check.
A narrower head-height range
Head height, from the bottom of the chin to the crown, needs to fall between 29 and 34 mm — slightly lower than the 32–36 mm range used by several neighbouring countries. Combined with the 5 mm top margin, this means the face sits a little smaller within the frame than in a typical German or Irish passport photo, even though the overall 35 × 45 mm size is identical.
Background: light grey or light blue, not white
Switzerland specifies a plain, light grey or light blue background — explicitly not white, in line with the broader Schengen biometric standard. The background needs to be free of shadows, patterns, and texture, with even lighting across the face and the backdrop alike.
Align to the 35 × 45 mm frame with the correct 29–34 mm head height and top margin built in.
Open the photo toolGlasses, headphones, and accessories
Glasses are generally permitted if the lenses are completely clear with no tint, there's no glare or reflection, and the eyes remain fully visible. Headphones and other wireless devices are explicitly not allowed in the photo. Jewellery and visible piercings are fine as long as they don't obscure the face, and a head covering is only permitted for religious or medical reasons with a signed declaration.
No selfies
Guidance is explicit that the photo shouldn't be a selfie — have someone else take it, or use a tripod, with the camera roughly a metre away and level with the face. This avoids the mild wide-angle distortion that a close self-taken photo introduces, which becomes more noticeable given how precisely the head needs to be measured for this specific format.
Digital and print specs
Digital submissions typically need a minimum resolution around 600 DPI and a maximum file size around 240 KB, in JPEG format. Printed applications generally require two identical photos on glossy or matte photo paper, in full colour — black and white isn't accepted since the photo needs to reflect natural skin tone. Note that even with an online application, a personal appointment is still required to capture biometric data such as fingerprints.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Swiss passport photo?
35 × 45 mm, with head height between 29 and 34 mm from chin to crown, plus a required 5 mm margin of space between the top of the head and the top edge of the photo.
Is a standard Schengen photo acceptable for a Swiss passport?
Close, but not automatically — Switzerland's specific 5 mm top margin and slightly narrower 29–34 mm head-height range are stricter than some other Schengen countries. A generic Schengen photo isn't guaranteed to pass.
Can you wear glasses in a Swiss passport photo?
Yes, glasses are generally permitted as long as the lenses are clear with no tint, there's no glare or reflection, and the eyes are fully visible.
Requirements are set by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and can change — this page is a practical summary rather than an official source. Confirm current detail before your appointment.