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A visa application filed with a Switzerland mission uses the common Schengen visa photo: 35 x 45 mm, head 32–36 mm from chin to crown, plain light grey background, neutral expression with the mouth closed, taken within the last 6 months. The standard is shared by all 29 Schengen states, so one compliant photo works at any of their consulates.
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Not sure whether your photo will pass? See Why ID photos get rejected.
Swiss Visa Photo requirements
| Photo size | 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels (print) | 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI · 827 x 1063 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height | 32–36 mm from chin to crown — official published figure. |
| Background | Any plain light color or light gray or gray. |
| Glasses | Allowed if there is no glare, no tint, and the frames do not cover the eyes. |
| Editing | Keep edits minimal; most authorities reject retouched photos even where no explicit rule is published. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on. |
| Official source | Official photo requirements ↗ |
Good to know
Switzerland is in the Schengen area, so short-stay visas follow the common standard at a 32–36 mm head height. Swiss domestic documents use a tighter 29–34 mm band, so a photo made for a Swiss passport or ID card is not the right crop for a Schengen visa.
Because the standard is common to the whole Schengen area, the photo you make here for one member state's consulate is equally valid at another's — useful if your itinerary changes and the main destination, and therefore the responsible consulate, changes with it.
Most Schengen missions now outsource visa intake to a commercial visa centre, which will often offer to take the photo for a fee. Bringing a compliant print avoids that charge; the specification they work to is the published one linked above.
How to make it in 3 steps
- Take or choose a photo. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even light with no shadows, camera at eye level about 2 m away, head and shoulders in frame with space around your head.
- Crop with the head guides. The maker opens preset to the 35 x 45 mm standard with the official 32–36 mm head range marked. Drag and zoom until the crown of your head and your chin sit on the guides, then run the built-in photo check.
- Download. Save the single photo (for online uploads) or the 4 x 6 in print sheet, and print it at any photo shop, pharmacy photo kiosk or at home for the price of a regular photo print.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Swiss Visa Photo?
35 x 45 mm — 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI. The head must measure 32–36 mm from chin to the top of the head.
What background color does a Swiss Visa Photo need?
Any plain light color or light gray or gray.
Can I take a Swiss Visa Photo at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight, have someone take a sharp, front-facing photo from about 2 m away, then crop it to the exact 35 x 45 mm standard with the free maker — the head guides show you the official head-height range.
Is this Swiss Visa Photo maker really free and private?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no watermark and no signup. Unlike photo-booth apps and paid services, your photo is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
Where can I print my Swiss Visa Photo?
Download the 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) sheet and print it as an ordinary borderless 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) photo at actual size (100%, no scaling) at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo kiosk, an online print service or on a home printer, then cut along the guide lines. You pay only for an ordinary photo print, not a photo-booth service fee. More detail: Printing passport photos in Switzerland.
Is a Swiss visa photo the same as a Swiss passport photo?
No. Swiss passports and ID cards specify a 29–34 mm head height, while a Schengen visa uses 32–36 mm on the same 35 x 45 mm photo. Use the Schengen figure for the visa.
How many photos do I need for a Schengen visa application?
Usually one or two identical prints depending on the mission and the visa centre. One 4 x 6 inch sheet from this tool holds six 35 x 45 mm photos, so spares cost nothing.