Photo requirements guide
Switzerland National Visa (D) photo requirements
A guide to the photo size and conditions you need for the application.
Checked: 2026-08-30
Photo requirements at a glance
- The purpose-specific checklists (Student / Work / Family Reunion) linked from the Swiss FDFA Japan national visa documents page each require "colored passport photos (good quality, white background)".
- The required count differs by purpose (Student: 2 / Work: 1 / Family Reunion: 2). Follow the count in the checklist for your purpose.
- The authority publishes no photo dimensions in millimetres. None of the three checklists, the documents page, or the SEM national visa application form states a numeric size, and the Photograph quality section of the documents page only refers to the ICAO MRTD Photo Guidelines. 35×45 mm is the value used for the separate Schengen C (short-stay) visa, not a National Visa requirement.
Face photo requirements
The Switzerland National Visa (type D, stays over 90 days) is filed with the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan (sole jurisdiction for Japan). The documents page (Last update 30.03.2026) links three purpose-specific checklists (Student / Work / Family Reunion). All three list a printed photo as a mandatory document, but the count differs by purpose.
No official digital photo upload rule exists (all three checklists ask for printed photos); printing and bringing or mailing them remain the applicant's own actions (the tool prepares the print photo only). The post-arrival residence permit (canton level) uses on-site biometric capture and is out of scope for this page.
What to check before you submit
The phrase “passport-size” alone does not set a fixed value such as 35×45 mm. In the Tool, enter the dimensions shown by the current application guidance.
From creation to submission
- Keep the application guidance available and enter the output type and dimensions you have confirmed.
- No face guide is shown for values the official guidance does not specify.
- After editing and review, confirm the accepted format and conditions in the application portal before submitting.
Create your photo in the browser
Prepare the photo for Switzerland National Visa Photo directly in your smartphone or computer browser. Creating and reviewing are free.
Open the web toolWhat this tool creates
- the required face photo (size and format specified by you, following your application’s requirements)
Official information
The photo conditions on this page are based on the official guidance.
Check the latest official portal guidance before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos are required for a Switzerland national visa (type D) application?
The required count differs by purpose. The purpose-specific checklists of the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan state verbatim: Student Visa — "2 colored passport photos (good quality, white background)"; Work Visa — "1 colored passport photo (good quality, white background)"; Family Reunion — "2 colored passport photos (good quality, white background)". Colour, a white background, and good quality are official requirements common to all three checklists. Follow the count for your purpose and enter the required number of copies in the Tool.
Can I use a 35×45 mm photo as is?
None of the three national (type D) checklists, the embassy documents page, or the SEM application form publishes a photo dimension in millimetres; the Photograph quality section of the documents page only delegates to the ICAO MRTD Photo Guidelines. 35×45 mm is the adopted value of the separate Schengen C (short-stay) procedure and is not an official National Visa requirement. Enter the dimensions given in your application guidance in the Tool.
Official sources
- Swiss FDFA (eda.admin.ch) - Japan national visa documents and purpose checklists Checked: 2026-08-30