Requirements on how to take the perfect Switzerland visa photo
When you apply for a Schengen Switzerland visa, you have to prepare two identity photographs that are no older than six months and meet the requirements in terms of the following:
- Photo size and formatting.
- Lighting and background.
- Photo quality.
- Facial expression and head position.
- Accessories and clothing.
You can get your high-quality photograph that complies with all the Switzerland visa photo requirements at MyBiometricPhotos. You simply need to choose “Switzerland Visa Photo” under ‘What type of photo do you need?” and upload your photo. The photo is then processed digitally to ensure it meets the requirements of Swiss authorities. Since the entire process is completed online, you can print the photos yourself to a place of your choosing.
Photo Size and Formatting
The size of your Switzerland visa photo must be 35 mm (width) and 45 mm (height), and the distance from the top edge of the photograph to the top of the head must be 3mm. You also need to make sure that your head and shoulders cover at least 705 or 80% of the photo.
Lighting and Background
Your Switzerland visa photo must have good lighting with no contrast and have appropriate brightness— it mustn’t be too bright where your facial expression is unclear or too dark. The lighting must also reflect your natural skin tone and not create discoloration. Additionally, the photo should not contain any shadows or flash reflections on your face or red eyes.
The photo’s background needs to be a neutral gray color and not create a contrast with you, and there should be no other objects in the background, patterns, or bright, strong colors.
Photo Quality
The quality of your photo for a Switzerland visa must be excellent, and if you print it out, it must be printed on high-quality paper, either matted or glossed. There shouldn’t be any scratches, creases, or damage to your photo. It must also be in high resolution with sharp focus and a clear view of your face— not blurry, not washed out, but clear and visible.
Facial Expression and Head Position
You must keep a neutral expression on your face for your Switzerland visa photo without smiling, frowning, and with open eyes and a closed mouth. You must keep your head straight, not leaning forward, and looking straight ahead at the camera. Additionally, you must be centered in the middle of the picture, not leaning sideways or looking sideways.
Accessories and Clothing
You should keep in mind to wear plain colored clothing when you take your Switzerland Schengen visa photo and that your clothes do not contrast with the photo’s background.
You should also keep in mind the following rules for accessories:
- Eyeglasses. You can wear prescription glasses only if necessary and in cases when the lenses do not reflect in the photo, nor do the frames obstruct your eyes.
- Head coverings. You’re allowed to wear head coverings only for religious purposes as long as your face is seen in the photo.
You are not allowed to wear the following things in any circumstances:
- Hats (all kinds of hats that are not for religious reasons).
- Sunglasses.
- Bandanas.
- Face piercings that alter your facial features.
How to Submit the Switzerland Visa Photo?
You must attach the photos to your visa application form and submit them with the rest of your documents and application. Some embassies have strict guidelines on whether you can glue or not the pictures on the form, so make sure you contact a Swiss foreign mission in your country and find out their requirements.
Am I Allowed to Take My Switzerland Visa Photo at Home?
You may take your Switzerland visa photo at home, provided you can find someone to help you take a qualitative photograph or find a good camera to produce high-quality pictures.
Tips When Taking a Switzerland Visa Photo at Home
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you decide to take your photo for your Swiss visa at home:
- Make a clean space for the photo to set up the background in your home.
- Use a sheet and put it behind you as the background, or even a large piece of paper with a neutral color you can temporarily stick to the wall.
- You can also use the wall as the background if it is painted in neutral colors.
- Use online tools to adjust the size of the picture. Usually, you can upload the pictures you took, and the tools will automatically fix the size for you as required, and then you can print out the photo in the correct format.
- If you can, ask someone to help you take the pictures and pose for the photo.
- Take several photos and compare them with sample pictures to see if they meet the required guidelines.
Switzerland Visa Photo Requirements for Infants
Minor children and babies are also required to have their picture taken for a Switzerland visa. You need to try and take a photo of your baby with their mouth closed and eyes open. You can usually schedule your photo session at times when you know your baby is less tired and more likely to be sitting still. Also, you can distract your baby with toys and play as long as you or the objects are not visible in the photo.
Switzerland National Visa Photo Requirements
If you’re applying for a National Switzerland Visa, you still need to follow the guidelines for your identification photo. You can check with an embassy or consulate before applying to make sure you have the correct photo guidelines.