Swiss Residence Permit Photo (biometrischer Ausländerausweis, canton takes it): size and requirements
The Swiss Residence Permit Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Not stated by SEM; the cantonal capture station uses its own backdrop. Light grey is our rendering choice; neither SEM nor the saved ICAO excerpt names a colour; head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against Staatssekretariat für Migration SEM (State Secretariat for Migration), with ICAO Doc 9303.
For the biometric Ausländerausweis (permits L, B and C) issued to third-country nationals living in Switzerland, where the cantonal migration office records the face image and fingerprints itself. Not for a Swiss passport or Identitätskarte, and not for a Schengen visa.
The cantonal migration office photographs you for the residence permit when it records your biometrics. See all Switzerland documents.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height (No Swiss photo geometry is published for the Ausländerausweis (the canton captures the image); ICAO Doc 9303: crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent of the image height)
- Background
- not stated by SEM; the cantonal capture station uses its own backdrop. Light grey is our rendering choice; neither SEM nor the saved ICAO excerpt names a colour
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckYou do not bring a photo: 'Die biometrischen Daten werden durch die im Wohnkanton zuständige Stelle erfasst.' The chip stores two fingerprints and the face image captured there.
- CheckThe application and issuing procedure follow your canton of residence's rules ('gemäss den Vorgaben des Wohnkantons'); the fee has three components (permit procedure, card production and recording of the biometric data); the card itself is produced centrally and posted or handed over as before.
- CheckThe captured data are kept for five years so that a renewal can be issued 'ohne zusätzlichen Erfassungsaufwand'; a first-generation card without chip stays valid until it expires and is replaced only when it expires or when your data change ('wegen Ablaufs der Gültigkeit oder aufgrund von Datenänderungen').
- CheckDress for the capture station rather than for a photo file: a plain top that contrasts with a light backdrop, no scarf or hat unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
Source and verification
No national rule published; ICAO 9303 standard applies. Last checked 2026-10-07 (archived copy dated 2024-09-12) at Staatssekretariat für Migration SEM (State Secretariat for Migration), with ICAO Doc 9303.
Die biometrischen Daten werden durch die im Wohnkanton zuständige Stelle erfasst.
Auf dem Chip sind zwei digitale Fingerabdrücke sowie das Gesichtsbild gespeichert.
Der Antrag für den biometrischen Ausländerausweis und das Ausstellungsverfahren erfolgen gemäss den Vorgaben des Wohnkantons.
Die Daten werden während fünf Jahren aufbewahrt.
Die Gebühren für den biometrischen Ausländerausweis sind aufgeteilt in Gebühren für das Bewilligungsverfahren, die Kartenproduktion und die Erfassung der biometrischen Daten.
Der biometrische Ausländerausweis wird erst dann ausgestellt, wenn der alte Ausweis wegen Ablaufs der Gültigkeit oder aufgrund von Datenänderungen erneuert werden muss.
Submitted portraits should be 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) in dimension.
The crown-to-chin portion of the facial image shall be 70 to 80 per cent of the longest dimension defined for Zone V, maintaining the aspect ratio between the crown-to-chin and ear-to-ear details of the face of the holder.
A submitted portrait shall have been captured within the last six months before application, as outlined in [ISO/IEC 39794-5].
Quotes 1-6 are German from the SEM page 'Der biometrische Ausländerausweis' (Letzte Änderung 01.08.2026) at source.url, read directly (sources/ch/sem-biometrischer-auslaenderausweis.txt). SEM publishes no photo geometry because the canton captures the image; the 'no' verdict rests on the biometric-capture sentence (no Swiss page says 'you may not bring a photo' verbatim). SEM says only that the fee is split into three parts; it does not say who sets the biometrics fee. Quotes 7-9 are ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/, Wayback 2024-09-12) and supply the reference size, head fraction and six-month age only. physical 35 x 45 mm / 600 dpi, background 'light-grey', glasses and head-covering values are ICAO-style defaults and our rendering choices, not SEM rules. printsRequired is left undefined (nothing is handed in).
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
