Visa photo by country
Published
Every country sets its own rules for visa photos. The 35 × 45 mm Swiss passport photo only works for some of them: the USA and India require a square photo, China a narrower portrait format, and almost everywhere the head is larger than on a Swiss passport.
Then there is the submission. Some countries want a file with tight pixel and size limits, others a print on photo paper, and some both.
| Country | Format | Head height | Background | Submission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 51 × 51 mm | 25–35 mm | White | Upload in the DS-160, prints only in certain cases |
| EU / Schengen | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Light, Swiss representations: white | Print on the form, biometrics captured on site |
| India | 51 × 51 mm | 25–35 mm | White or light | Upload for the e-Visa, prints for VFS and for OCI |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | 28–33 mm | White | Upload in the online form and one print |
| Japan | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | White recommended | Print on photo paper attached to the form |
The pages below cover the requirements, the upload limits, the procedure from Switzerland and the fees country by country.
Photo Express supplies the photo, not the visa. You submit the application yourself to the embassy, the consulate or on the official portal, and you pay the visa fees there.
Photo for a Chinese visa
China visa photo: 33 × 48 mm, white background, head 28 to 33 mm. Upload limits of the online form, the centres in Bern and Zurich and who still needs a visa.
Photo for a Schengen visa
Schengen visa photo: 35 × 45 mm, face 32 to 36 mm, light plain background. What Swiss representations ask for and why EES and ETIAS need no photo.
Photo for an Indian visa and OCI card
India visa and OCI photo: square 2 × 2 inches, never the Swiss 35 × 45 mm. Upload limits for e-Visa and OCI, VFS Global in Bern and the common rejections.
Photo for a Japanese visa
Japan visa photo: 35 × 45 mm on photo paper, face 32 to 36 mm, white background. Who still needs a visa, Bern or Geneva, fees and the Japanese passport photo.
Photo for a US visa
US visa photo from Switzerland: 2 × 2 inches, white background, no glasses. DS-160 upload limits, the interview in Bern and the most common rejections.