What you need to know about passport photos for the most important documents.
Passport photo for the Swiss passport
The biometric Swiss passport is valid for ten years and requires a current passport photo no older than twelve months. Format: 35 × 45 mm with 70-80% face height per ICAO 9303. Background neutral and bright. You must look directly into the camera, mouth closed, neutral expression. Our tool automatically crops your photo to the Swiss standard, removes the background and shows you in real time whether all criteria are met.
Since 15 April 2023, the Swiss driving licence in credit card format has been issued with a new high-security design and QR code. The passport photo is submitted digitally by the cantonal road traffic offices during the application. The same biometric standard as the passport applies: 35 × 45 mm, face 70-80% of image height, neutral expression, eyes open and directly facing the camera. Background light gray or white. Our generator delivers you a print-ready photo at the correct resolution that you can submit directly at the road traffic office.
The ID card (IDK) is the slim alternative to the passport, valid within Europe and in many other countries. The requirements for the passport photo are identical to the Swiss passport: 35 × 45 mm, ICAO-compliant, neutral background. You apply for the ID card at your municipality of residence or combine it with the passport application. Our tool creates a photo that covers both documents.
For a Schengen visa you need a biometric passport photo following the same ICAO requirements as for Swiss IDs. 35 × 45 mm, bright background, neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed. Most consulates require two identical prints, so we deliver a photo in print quality that you can print as many times as you want. The photo is accepted by all 27 Schengen countries.
For babies under one year, relaxed rules apply: eyes do not have to be open, the mouth may be slightly open, the head does not have to be perfectly straight. Still, the face must be fully visible and fill the frame properly. Tip: lay the child on a white blanket and photograph from above in daylight. Our system reliably detects children's eyes as well and automatically positions the face in the correct crop.
We guarantee that your photo meets the ICAO 9303 standard. If your photo is nonetheless rejected by an authority, you get your money back. Our validation checks eight criteria in real time: face size, eye position, head tilt, expression, mouth position, background, lighting and resolution. This way you see immediately whether your photo is correct before you pay.
What does a biometric passport photo cost at selfie-passfoto.ch?
A biometric passport photo costs CHF 1.00. The download is available instantly after payment. For comparison: a passport photo at a photo studio in Switzerland costs between CHF 15 and CHF 30, a photo booth at the train station around CHF 8 to CHF 12. With us you pay via TWINT, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PostFinance.
Will my passport photo be accepted by the authorities?
The app automatically checks all biometric requirements according to the ICAO 9303 standard: face size (70-80% of image height), eye position (approx. 60% from bottom), head posture (max. 5 degree tilt) and neutral facial expression. The validation shows you immediately whether your photo meets the requirements. These requirements apply to the Swiss passport, identity card and Schengen visa. Please note: we cannot give an absolute guarantee that every passport office will accept the photo, as individual offices may have their own interpretations.
Which documents can I create passport photos for?
You can create passport photos in the following formats:
Swiss passport / identity card (35 × 45 mm)
German ID card / passport (35 × 45 mm)
Austrian passport (35 × 45 mm)
French passport (35 × 45 mm)
Schengen visa (35 × 45 mm)
US visa / passport (51 × 51 mm)
How does the automatic background removal work?
The app uses AI-based image processing directly in your browser. You upload your photo, face detection (MediaPipe) positions your face according to the standard, and background removal (ImgLy) replaces the background with the required color. The special thing: your photo only leaves your browser after payment. Before that, everything is processed locally.
Do I need a special camera or app?
No. You only need a smartphone or a webcam. The app runs entirely in the browser, no installation required. For the best result: stand in front of a bright, single-colored wall, look straight into the camera, and make sure the lighting is even without harsh shadows. Daylight from the front is ideal.
How long does it take to get my passport photo?
Processing takes a few seconds. After uploading, the app automatically detects your face, positions it according to the standard and removes the background. You see a preview immediately with all validation results. After payment (CHF 1.00), your photo is available for download right away. The whole process typically takes under 2 minutes.
What happens to my data and photos?
Data protection is our priority. Face detection and background removal run entirely in your browser. Only after payment is the finished photo transferred to our server. All photos are automatically deleted after 7 days. We do not use tracking cookies and do not store biometric data. Payment runs via zahls.ch, a Swiss payment provider. We never see your credit card details.
Passport photos for children and babies: is that possible?
In principle, yes. The app detects faces of any age. However, relaxed requirements apply to babies and small children: the eyes do not necessarily have to be open, and the head posture does not have to be perfectly straight. Tip: lay the child on a white blanket and photograph from above. The app detects the face and positions it automatically.
What does a passport photo normally cost in Switzerland?
Prices vary widely:
Photo studio: CHF 15 to CHF 30 (sometimes by appointment)
Photo booth (SBB, post office): CHF 8 to CHF 12
Online services: CHF 4.90 to CHF 12
selfie-passfoto.ch: CHF 1.00
With us you get a biometric, ICAO-compliant passport photo with automatic background removal at the lowest price on the market.
In which languages is the app available?
The app is available in 5 languages: German, English, French, Italian and Portuguese. The language is automatically detected based on your browser settings. You can switch it at any time via the dropdown in the header.
