Swiss Passport Photo
35×45mm with the head 29-34mm from chin to crown, on a plain single-colour background. Voluminous hair may cross the frame edge; the face must stay within the required size.
- Printed size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Digital size
- 413 × 531 px
- Background
- Plain, uniform, neutral (single colour)
- Head height
- 29-34mm (chin to crown)
Size & specifications
Swiss Passport Photo — requirements
| Printed size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 413 × 531 px |
| Head height | 29-34mm (chin to crown) |
| Background | Plain, uniform, neutral (single colour) |
| Resolution | ≥ 300 DPI |
| Recency | — |
| Glasses / expression | Eyes visible behind frames, no glare, no tinted lenses · Neutral, mouth closed (friendly expression allowed) |
| Digital format | — |
One upload, two deliveries: the pixel-exact digital file and a 300 dpi print-ready sheet.
What each line means
Printed size — print at exactly 35 × 45 mm. A few millimetres off and most offices hand the form back before anything else is checked.
Digital size — the digital file must measure 413 × 531 px. Anything smaller gets refused by many online systems before a person sees it.
Head height — your head, crown to chin, should span 29-34mm (chin to crown). Too small reads distant; too large and the crop will not fit.
Background — a plain Plain, uniform, neutral (single colour) background, with no shadows or gradients. A wall lit unevenly is the fastest route to a refusal.
Resolution — 300 dpi keeps a face sharp in print. Below that, features soften and agencies ask for a retake.
Glasses / expression — glare on lenses hides the eyes, and hidden eyes are an automatic rejection in most systems. If you wear glasses, read this line twice.
Source: fedpol — Federal Office of Police, Switzerland · www.fedpol.admin.ch
Photo examples
What passes — and what gets rejected.
How to take a Swiss Passport Photo with your phone
Swiss passport photo size and margin
The Swiss passport photo is 35×45 mm on a plain, uniform, single-colour background. The head measures 29-34 mm from chin to crown. The space above the head must be at least 5 mm between the crown and the top edge. The rules include two bands and a floor. All three are published.
Crown-to-edge margin
Tight framing that fills the frame breaks the margin rule even when the head band is satisfied. Keep visible wall above the hair so the crop can place both the band and the margin.
Setup and lighting
Use a plain single-colour wall, hold the phone at eye level, and use even frontal light. Neutral expression, no headwear; the tool handles crop, margin and background together.
Page output
The preset fits the 29-34 mm head band while holding the crown-to-edge margin, and checks ratio, background and head position before download.
Why Swiss Passport Photo gets rejected
Head band and margin errors
Photos come back when the head misses the 29-34 mm band, or when the crown-to-edge margin drops under 5 mm. The counter measures these two published numbers first.
Background faults
Multi-colour or textured backgrounds fail the single-colour rule. Gradients and shadows also fail.
Other faults
Tilted faces and heavy retouching are the remaining faults. The page checks ratio and background before download.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Swiss Passport Photo?
The standard size is 35 × 45 mm (413 × 531 px at 300 DPI). The tool crops and scales your photo to exact requirements automatically.
Can I smile in the photo?
Requirements call for: Neutral, mouth closed (friendly expression allowed). When in doubt, keep a neutral face with both eyes open.
How recent must the photo be?
Old photos are a common rejection reason.
Is my photo private?
Yes. Uploaded photos are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted within 24 hours. We never share or resell uploads.
Can I make a Swiss Passport Photo on my phone?
Yes. Upload a selfie taken in even light and the tool does the rest: it checks your photo against the Swiss Passport Photo requirements, replaces the background and crops it to 35 × 45 mm. The preview is free — you pay once, only if you keep the file.
Can I print my Swiss Passport Photo at a photo shop?
Yes. Alongside the digital file you get a 4×6 inch print sheet at 300 DPI, with the photo at the exact 35 × 45 mm. Photo shops and drugstore kiosks print the 4×6 format as a standard option.
How much space belongs above the head?
At least 5 mm between the crown and the top edge; the tool keeps that margin while fitting the 29-34 mm head band.
Can I take it with my phone?
Yes. A plain single-colour wall, even light and an eye-level phone cover it; the tool handles crop, margin and background.