Swiss Passport Photo

A photo, which should fulfill specified standards, is one of the documents necessary when submitting for a Swiss passport. The passport photo must follow precise biometric specifications. Otherwise, Swiss authorities would most probably reject your passport photo. 

Read the rest of this post if you would like to understand all there is to note concerning the Swiss passport image, including its specific standards and criteria.

Swiss passport photo requirements

When taking photos for your Swiss passport, it is crucial to follow some standardized norms. 

Why can’t you ignore them? 

Because when Switzerland’s authorities are checking your documents, they have all rights to decline your passport application if it does not meet the necessary standards. Hence, you’ll have to spend more time and gather all the documents again. 

To avoid such issues, check the official Switzerland passport photo requirements outlined below:

• Two fresh passport-size photos (your passport photo should not be copied or scanned);
• You should put on one image the paperwork and submit the other with the application. Photos that are glued or fastened will not be allowed;
• Your passport photo must be made no older than six months;
• Your image must be clear and good-focused. No blurriness is permitted;
• There should be no damages to your picture, including creases or food prints;
• While taking your photo, your face must keep a neutral facial expression, and don’t forget to look directly at the camera – keep your eyes open;
• Take your picture in good lighting, with no shades or flashes projections on the face and no “red eyes.”

Swiss passport photo size & background

When applying for a Swiss passport, a photograph is required. It is essential to keep its dimensions and specifications to the official standards. 

Swiss passport photo has specialized criteria for size and background:

• The measurements of the photograph should be 35 mm x 45 mm (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm). To avoid problems, keep in mind that your photo should be precisely this size;
• Face length (from the ): 34 mm (3.4 cm); proximity from the upper portion of the picture to end of hairstyle: 3mm (0.3 cm);
• Switzerland’s passport photographs ought to have a resolution of at least 600DPI;
• The background of your passport photo must be white or a plain light-colored one. It must contrast with your clothes.

We recommend that you examine the Switzerland passport photo sample with the given characteristics and suggestions of the precise head posture. Note that, as illustrated in the pieces of passport photographs beneath, your face must be in contrast to the backdrop.

Switzerland passport photo guidelines

Clothing

The clothes in your Switzerland passport photo are almost invisible, and yet there are some requirements for them as well. Therefore, before choosing what to wear for your new generation passport photo, read the following recommendations:

• The dress code may be businesslike or casual. It should not create excessive volume at the level of the neck and shoulders. Women should not choose dresses with ruffles and shoulder pads and outfits decorated with many ornaments that make glare.
• It is worth giving preference to monochrome things in light shades, not motley. However, white clothes will not do, as they will blend in with the background.
• It is not allowed to take your passport photos in overalls, sportswear, or uniforms.

Headcovers

A separate clause in the requirements for what clothes to wear for a Switzerland passport photo relates to the presence of headgear: it is only allowed if a citizen is a follower of a religion that prohibits appearing in public with an uncovered head.

People often question whether it is permissible to be photographed with a headdress if their image and style of dress require them to wear one all the time. The answer is unequivocal: if you use hats, berets, caps, scarves, and other headwear as accessories, consider not to wear them during your photoshoot.

Jewelry

The official Swiss passport rules don’t ban you from wearing jewelry. Although you can wear any ornaments, remember that it shouldn’t cover your face and chin. Otherwise, the authorities may reject your photo, as well as your Switzerland passport application.

Beard

If a person wears a beard permanently and has no intention of shaving it soon, they can take the photo with it. In another case: if you take a picture with stubble while shaving all the time, there may be questions at the identification check. Therefore, it is vital to consider the continuity of the beard and not a momentary decision.

Glasses

The Switzerland passport photo should display the eyes without a flashlight projection from the spectacles and no colored optics (If you can, consider not to wear glasses with hefty lenses and instead go for lighter-framed lenses.).

Glasses with clear and dark lenses as decoration should also not be present in the picture. However, if a person has to wear them daily to correct their vision, he can put glasses on in the passport photo.

If you wear sunglasses for sun protection or only during work, it is better to remove them in front of the camera.

Although it is more challenging to take a photograph of a citizen wearing glasses suitable for a passport, it is still possible to meet the requirements:

• You have to see your eyes through the lenses and distinguish the pupils and irises.
• Elements of glasses should not overlap the eyes, and you should avoid thick frames.
• Lenses of glasses should not cause any flashlights.
• Dark, tinted, and colored lenses are not allowed.

Makeup and hairstyle

When taking your Switzerland passport photo, the line connecting the eyes must be horizontal, without a slant. The red-eye effect is unacceptable. Before taking a photograph, make sure to apply no bright makeup, as it distorts facial expression considerably. The maximum you can afford is light daytime makeup.

Long hair must be neatly gathered into a ponytail or plait or left loose without covering the face. The hair on the side should not conceal the facial contours. If your fringes typically cover one eye, you’ll still need to remove them.

Avoid photos of excessive heat, frost, and rain. All these factors can reflect on your face and hair incorrectly.

RELATED READING:

• Digital Camera Passport Photos – Guide
• Passport Photo With an iPhone: How to Do It?
• Do Your Ears Have to Show in a Passport Photo? – All The Details

Posing

We don’t take photos for documents very often. But even on these rare occasions, we would like to look very good. That is why we advise you to follow the following rules while taking your Switzerland passport photos:

• It would be best to look straight at the camera lens in your Swiss passport photo. Grinning, grimacing, or any movement is not allowed;
• Keep practicing. Try to master how you keep your head, eyes, and overall facial expression in front of a mirror. Of course, you won’t be able to replicate it perfectly in front of a camera, but at the very least, you’ll avoid the wrong-positioned face that comes with not being used to it;
• A petrified look is a typical result of our tension when taking pictures. Relax your muscles, and don’t try to round your eyes to make them as expressive as possible. It will have the opposite effect.  

Swiss passport photo child requirements

Irrespective of age, every kid and newborn will need their individual Switzerland passport or visa. 

The requirements, as mentioned earlier, particularly the technological ones, continue to apply to children and newborns. We know that photographing your children in a specific pose may need numerous pictures to get it perfect, but you can accomplish it. 

Here are some rules and pointers to ensure appropriate passport or visa photo quality:

• Ensure your shoulders aren’t in the photo if you’re holding your youngster;
• You might also put a youngster down or place them in a baby carrier. Regardless of the option you pick, the backdrop should be a simple white or light-colored sheet;
• Toys and other things are not permitted to be in the photo;
• A head length of 23mm x 34mm (2.3 cm x 3.4 cm) is essential for a passport photo of a kid under the age of 11;
• In the shot, your kid must be with open eyes, closed lips, straight head;
• Examine the light and ensure that the child’s face is evident even with illumination.

Swiss passport photo – FAQs

Swiss passport photo – final thoughts

When taking a Swiss passport photo, always remember that black & white pictures are not approved. Keep in mind that a photo should be of good quality. The background of a photo must be in plain color. 

As long as you follow all of Switzerland’s passport photo rules and requirements, you can be sure that your image will be good enough to be accepted by the Swiss authorities. Hence, the passport office will assure your Swiss passport application of approval.