Switzerland visa photo requirements for Indians
Indian passport holders applying for Schengen short-stay tourist visa (Embassy of Switzerland in India, applied via VFS Global India) need a photo that meets Switzerland's rules. Below are the exact size, background and file rules from the official source, with a worked example and a checklist.
VERIFIED · OFFICIAL SOURCE · 17 OCT 2026Switzerland photo rules at a glance
What the photo should look like
Drawn to the official measurements where they are published.
The authority does not publish an exact size for this route.
Full Switzerland visa photo requirements
| Route for Indians | Schengen short-stay tourist visa (Embassy of Switzerland in India, applied via VFS Global India) |
|---|---|
| Printed photo size (mm) | 35-40 mm wide (height not stated) |
| Digital size (pixels) | Not stated by the official source |
| File format | Not stated by the official source |
| File size | Not stated by the official source |
| Background | White |
| Head / face size | Not stated by the official source |
| How recent | Not older than 6 months |
| Glasses | Not stated by the official source |
| Head covering | Not stated by the official source |
| Expression and pose | Not stated by the official source |
| Copies | 1 |
Other official rules
- Passport-size picture; must not be a copied or scanned picture
- Paste the picture on the application form; stapled or pinned pictures are not accepted
- Follow the ICAO photograph guidelines linked by the embassy
Do and avoid
Built from the official rules and the rejection reasons the source lists.
Do
- Use a white background
- Use a photo not older than 6 months
- Passport-size picture; must not be a copied or scanned picture
- Paste the picture on the application form; stapled or pinned pictures are not accepted
- Follow the ICAO photograph guidelines linked by the embassy
Avoid
- Stapled or pinned pictures cannot be accepted
Worked example: getting the photo right first time
Order at least 1 copies, plus one spare in case the centre asks for a retake.
How to make your photo in 5 steps
- Stand against a plain wall with even light, or visit a photo studio
- Crop to the required size
- Check the background is white
- Print on photo paper
- Run the Krosz photo checker before you submit
Free tools: passport photo maker · photo checker · photo resizer
Frequently asked questions
What is the Switzerland visa photo size for Indians?
The official source gives 35-40 mm wide (height not stated) mm for a printed photo.
What background colour is needed for a Switzerland visa photo?
White.
How old can the photo be?
Not older than 6 months.
How many photos do I need?
1.
Where do these rules come from?
From Embassy of Switzerland in India - Checklist Tourist (EN), checked by the Krosz visa desk on 17 Oct 2026. Requirements can change, so the official page always has the final word.
Source and verification
Official source: Embassy of Switzerland in India - Checklist Tourist (EN)
Also checked: https://www.schweiz-indien.eda.admin.ch/en/application-schengen-visa-procedure
Checked by the Krosz visa desk on 17 Oct 2026 · confidence: high.
Krosz is a private visa service and is not affiliated with any government. Rules change; the authority's own page always has the final word.
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