Switzerland Passport Photo Maker

Switzerland passport photo at a glance

What the rules actually say

Switzerland's passport photo specification is strict but matches the wider Schengen + ICAO standards in physical size. The 29-34 mm head-height range is narrower than most EU countries (where 32-36 mm is standard), so Swiss-spec photos are also valid in Schengen but the reverse isn't always true.

The federal passport office (fedpol) maintains a centralised Ausweiszentrum in each canton where applications are lodged in person. Biometric data (face photo, signature, fingerprints) is captured on-site — you can bring your own compliant photo OR use the on-site biometric station for CHF 10-15.

Background colour matters: Swiss biometric scanners prefer a slightly warm light tone like cream (#F4F1E8) over pure white. Pure white technically passes but flags more often for manual review, adding 2-5 days to processing.

Same-day urgent passport service exists at major canton centres (Zurich, Geneva, Bern) for genuine emergencies — bring documentation of the emergency (medical certificate, death certificate of family member abroad) and CHF 100 surcharge over standard processing.

Top reasons Switzerland passport photos get rejected

• Background coloured, dark, or non-uniform
• Head height outside 29-34 mm — narrower than Schengen
• Glasses with reflections or thick frames
• Smile or raised eyebrows
• Photo older than six months

Where to apply for your Switzerland passport

Apply at your canton's passport office. https://www.schweizerpass.admin.ch/ →

Studio alternative: CHF 15 to CHF 25 at a photographer. The photo from this tool meets the same published spec — print on photo paper at home or at a drugstore for the same compliance result.

Related countries

If you also need a passport photo for a neighbouring or related country, the spec usually differs slightly. Here are the closest matches:

• Germany passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, uniform light grey
• France passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, fond uni clair
• Italy passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, sfondo chiaro
• Schengen / EU passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, light-coloured

Privacy: what we do with your photo

The Switzerland passport photo maker runs entirely in your browser. Cropping, scaling, and background colour replacement happen on your device using the Canvas API. The background-removal step uses our private worker server, processes the image in memory only, and deletes it immediately after returning the cutout — no logs, no storage, no training data.

Page URL: https://freeheadshot.org/tools/passport-photo/switzerland. Spec verified against schweizerpass.admin.ch on 2026-05-22.