Switzerland · State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)
Swiss passport photos follow strict biometric standards set by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The required size is 35×45mm — portrait format — with a plain white background, uniform lighting, and a head height between 27mm and 35mm. Photos that fail these measurements, show shadows, include glasses, or were taken more than six months ago are routinely rejected at cantonal offices. Passport Photo Maker automatically applies the correct crop, resizes to the exact SEM dimensions, and removes the background — so your photo arrives ready to submit, not ready to be sent back.
Upload a selfie or portrait photo — we handle the rest in seconds.
Your image opens directly in Passport Photo Maker with the Switzerland 35×45mm template pre-selected. No account required.
The tool crops to exactly 35×45mm and positions your face to the required head height — no guesswork.
Face detection centres your head between 27mm and 35mm in the frame, matching Swiss biometric standards.
Any background in your original photo is replaced with compliant plain white in one step.
Download a 4×6 inch print sheet with multiple photos arranged for standard photo lab printing.
Output files are generated at 600 dpi — suitable for both digital submissions and physical prints.
Everything happens in the browser. No software installation, no design skills needed.
The following specifications are based on the official guidelines published by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and align with ICAO Document 9303 biometric standards.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo Size | 35 × 45 mm (width × height) |
| Width | 35 mm |
| Height | 45 mm |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey; uniform with no patterns or gradients |
| Head Height | 27–35 mm (approx. 70–80% of photo height) |
| Head Position | Centred; face looking directly at camera; chin-to-crown measurement applies |
| Print Resolution | 600 dpi minimum |
| File Format | JPEG (for digital submissions); colour print for physical submissions |
| Glasses | Not permitted (ICAO biometric rule) |
| Expression | Neutral; mouth closed; eyes open and clearly visible |
| Photo Age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Digital Submission | Accepted at some cantonal offices; file must meet SEM digital format requirements |
| Head Coverings | Not permitted except for documented religious reasons |
| Lighting | Even; no shadows on face or background; no red-eye |
Applying for a Swiss passport involves several steps across cantonal and federal levels. Understanding the process helps you prepare the right documentation — including a compliant passport photo — before your appointment.
Swiss citizens living in Switzerland apply at their registered municipality (Einwohnergemeinde). You will need to bring valid identification, completed application forms, payment, and two identical passport photos meeting SEM specifications. Biometric data (fingerprints and a digital facial scan) will be captured at the office. The finished passport is typically mailed to your registered address within 10 working days for standard processing.
Swiss nationals residing outside Switzerland apply through the nearest Swiss embassy or consulate general. These offices accept both physical passport photos and, in many locations, digital photo files submitted via Switzerland's online application portal. Photo requirements remain identical regardless of where the application is submitted.
Standard passport processing takes approximately 10 business days from the date of application. Express processing is available at an additional fee and reduces the turnaround to around 3–5 business days. Emergency travel documents can sometimes be issued within 24 hours in exceptional circumstances at cantonal offices.
Switzerland's photo rules combine federal ICAO compliance requirements with a few country-specific practices worth knowing before you submit.
Unlike US or Canadian passport photos which use a square format, Swiss passport photos use a portrait rectangle (35×45mm). This is the same format used across most of Europe and aligns with the standard shared by Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Submitting a square-cropped photo will result in automatic rejection.
SEM guidelines explicitly prohibit retouching, filtering, or digitally altering passport photos. This includes beauty filters, skin smoothing, eye brightening, and contrast adjustments. The photo must accurately represent the applicant's current appearance. Automated tools like Passport Photo Maker only perform compliant operations — background removal and sizing — and do not alter facial features.
For applications processed in Switzerland, the cantonal office will typically take its own biometric digital capture at the counter, which is stored in the passport chip. The physical photo you provide is used for the printed page of the passport booklet. Both must accurately represent your current appearance.
Children of any age — including newborns — require their own Swiss passport or travel document if travelling internationally. The photo dimensions and background requirements are identical to adult photos (35×45mm, white background), but there are a few practical considerations for photographing young children.
Cantonal offices understand the difficulty of photographing infants and will sometimes allow slightly less neutral expressions for children under 6 months. However, having multiple compliant attempts prepared improves the chances of acceptance on first submission.
Swiss passports are valid for 10 years for adults (18 and over) and 5 years for minors. When renewing, a new compliant passport photo must always be provided — even if your appearance has not changed significantly since the previous application.
The renewal process follows the same route as a new application: you attend your local civil registry office, provide a new photo and identification, and have biometric data re-captured. There is no postal or fully digital renewal pathway in Switzerland; attendance in person is required. The expiring passport must also be presented and will be cancelled at the counter.
A photo taken for the previous passport cannot be reused, regardless of how recent it looks. The SEM requires photos to have been taken within six months of the application date, making any photo from a prior application automatically ineligible.
Yes — and with the right setup, a home photo can be just as compliant as one taken at a professional studio. Swiss applicants frequently prepare their own photos and upload them for biometric processing. Here is what you need to get it right:
A modern smartphone camera (12 megapixels or higher) is sufficient. Use the rear camera where possible, as it typically produces sharper results than the front-facing camera. Ask someone else to take the photo rather than using a selfie — this keeps the camera at the correct distance and avoids lens distortion.
Stand or sit in front of a plain white wall, a white door, or a piece of white card hung on a wall. The background must be completely uniform — no visible textures, patterns, or furniture. If your wall has a slight off-white or light grey tone, that is generally acceptable; deep cream, beige, or yellow tones are not.
Use natural daylight from a window facing you, or set up two light sources on either side of your face to eliminate shadows. Avoid shooting with a window behind you (backlighting) or with a single overhead light source, which creates deep shadows under the chin and nose. No flash directly in the face.
Position the camera approximately 1.5 to 2 metres (5–6 feet) from your face. Your head and the tops of your shoulders should appear in the frame. Do not crop tightly — the framing adjustment happens inside Passport Photo Maker after upload.
If you plan to print at home, use a photo-quality printer and glossy or semi-gloss photo paper. The finished print must be sharp with true-to-life colour. For best results, use a local pharmacy or photo lab print service — these typically produce prints at the 600 dpi resolution SEM expects.
Follow these five steps to produce a fully compliant Swiss passport photo using Passport Photo Maker:
Click the upload button on this page. You can use a photo taken on your phone or upload an existing portrait. JPG, PNG, and WebP formats are all supported.
Passport Photo Maker automatically selects the Switzerland 35×45mm template. Confirm or adjust the country selection in the tool if needed.
The tool detects your face and crops the image so your head height falls within the 27–35mm range required by SEM. Fine-tune the crop manually if required.
The background is automatically replaced with compliant plain white. Run the built-in compliance checker to verify dimensions, head position, and background colour.
Download the individual 35×45mm photo file for digital submission, or download a 4×6 inch print sheet with multiple photos arranged for standard lab printing.
Both countries require biometric passport photos, but the format, size, and some rules differ. If you are applying for passports from both countries, make sure you generate the correct photo for each — a US-format photo will be rejected by Swiss authorities and vice versa.
| Specification | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 🇺🇸 United States |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| Aspect Ratio | Portrait (7:9) | Square (1:1) |
| Head Height | 27–35 mm | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey | Plain white or off-white |
| Glasses | Not permitted | Not permitted (since 2016) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed | Neutral, natural expression |
| Submission | Physical prints; digital at some offices | Physical prints or online digital |
| Authority | SEM (federal) / cantonal offices | U.S. Department of State |
| Photo Age | Within 6 months | Within 6 months |
Swiss cantonal offices process a high volume of applications and reject photos that do not precisely meet SEM biometric requirements. These are the most frequently cited rejection reasons:
Skip the studio visit. Upload any portrait photo and get a fully compliant Swiss 35×45mm passport photo in seconds — correct dimensions, white background, biometric framing included.
Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, WebP. Processing happens entirely in your browser.
The Switzerland 35×45mm template is pre-selected. No sign-up required.
