head 64–76 %
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14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceSwiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) — Swiss representations
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Switzerland visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Uniform neutral background without shadows or foreign objects. Head occupies 64–76% of photo height (29–34 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 64–76% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 29–34 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Uniform neutral background without shadows or foreign objects. |
| Pose | Full face, shoulders level, face directed directly into the camera. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Glasses permitted only if eyes are fully visible and there are no reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No shadows on face and background, no overexposure or print artefacts. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | No uniform; head covering permitted only for officially recognised exceptions. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
Switzerland does not publish one photograph sheet for visas: each Swiss embassy or consulate (and the service provider that works for it) writes its own line in the Schengen visa checklist of that country. The size most often written is 35 × 45 mm — the Embassy in Dhaka gives «35 mm x 45 mm (standard ICAO dimensions)» — but the checklists for South Africa and India say 35–40 mm in width, the one for the UAE says 3.5 × 4.5 cm, and Tanzania asks for 36 mm wide and 47 mm high.
The photo is in colour, taken within the last six months, on a white or light plain background with even light and no shadows; Dhaka says «white or light», South Africa «monochromatic, light», India and Tanzania «white». South Africa adds the shape of the picture: a close-up of head and shoulders with the face filling 70–80 % of it, eyes open and clear, the applicant looking straight into the camera with a neutral expression and a closed mouth.
It is a real print, glued on the application form — India says stapled or pinned pictures, copies and scans are not accepted.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Switzerland visa applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) — Swiss representations publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Size or proportions different from the checklist of your Swiss representation | Print 35 × 45 mm with the face at 70–80 % of the picture unless your checklist gives another width. |
| Background dark, patterned or with shadows | Use a plain white or light background lit evenly, with no shadow on the face or behind the head. |
| Photo older than six months | Take a new photo within six months of applying. |
| Reflections on glasses, tinted lenses, frames covering the eyes, or hair across the eyes | Show both eyes clearly: no glare or tint on the lenses, frames clear of the eyes, hair pinned back. |
| Head turned or leaning, expression not neutral, or mouth open | Look straight into the camera with the head level, a neutral face and the mouth closed; both edges of the face must show. |
| Print stapled or pinned to the form, a photocopy or scan, or a low-quality print with spots or creases | Print on quality photo paper and glue the picture on the application form. |
How to take it
Background: plain neutral
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 64–76 % of the photo height (29–34 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Swiss Schengen visa is applied for at the Swiss embassy or consulate that covers your country of residence, or at the external service provider it names. The online Schengen form is filled in first and the appointment booked, then the printed form with the glued photo is handed in with the documents.
The checklist of the representation that covers your country of residence on eda.admin.ch
Dhaka: one ICAO photo, 35 × 45 mm, white or light background, within 6 months; the online Schengen form is filled in and the appointment booked on swiss-visa.ch.
Authority pageThe one-page checklist of the Swiss embassy, published on the VFS Global site of your country
India: one passport-size picture, white background, not older than 6 months, 35–40 mm in width, not copied or scanned, pasted on the application form.
Authority page| Authority | Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) — Swiss representations |
|---|---|
| Source | Schengen visa checklist, photograph (Swiss Embassy in Dhaka) |
| Verified |
Questions
A recent colour photo (not older than six months) on a plain white or light background, 35 × 45 mm at most representations, with even light and no shadows. The face fills about 70–80 % of the picture, the eyes are open and clear, you look straight into the camera with a neutral expression and a closed mouth, and nobody else is in the frame. It is printed on quality paper and glued on the application form.
35 × 45 mm is the size the Embassy in Dhaka writes («standard ICAO dimensions»), and it sits inside the 35–40 mm width that the South Africa and India checklists give. The UAE checklist says 3.5 × 4.5 cm, which is the same, and Tanzania asks for 36 × 47 mm. Check the line of the representation that covers your country and print exactly that.
White or light. Dhaka writes «white or light», South Africa «monochromatic, light», the UAE «light», and India and Tanzania ask for a white background. A plain white background fits every one of these lines; it must be even, with no pattern and no shadows on the face or behind the head.
Glasses are allowed only if the eyes are clearly seen: no flash reflections on the lenses, no tinted lenses, frames not covering the eyes, and heavy frames best avoided (South Africa checklist). Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, and then the face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face must stay visible (South Africa and UAE).
Most of the lines we read ask for one photograph (Dhaka, India, Kosovo, the UAE); the Dakar/Senegal checklist asks for two identical ones for the archive. India and the UAE say the picture is glued on the application form — stapled or pinned pictures cannot be accepted, and copies or scans are not allowed. Take a spare print in case.
The recommended size for the Switzerland visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 64–76% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Uniform neutral background without shadows or foreign objects. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Follow the requirements for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Switzerland visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Glasses permitted only if eyes are fully visible and there are no reflections. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: driver's license, national visa (Type D), passport, Schengen visa.