Swiss ID Photo

Choosing the Right Photo Route for a Swiss Identity Card

An identity card from Switzerland serves as everyday identification and can also be used for travel where accepted. Its portrait therefore needs to be useful in both familiar and unfamiliar settings. When requesting the card, check which office handles your application and which version of the card you are requesting; these choices affect how the image is provided.

For a conventional card requested through the commune of residence, fedpol describes a paper photograph, with some communes also accepting a digital photograph or taking the picture themselves. Ask the commune which option it supports before preparing prints. The photo requirements below explain the image checks, while our background, framing and photo quality guides help you assess a proposed portrait.

Switzerland is also introducing an optional biometric identity card, with launch scheduled for 2 November 2026. Fedpol describes a chip containing the facial image and two fingerprints. This physical card is distinct from the separate digital e-ID project; a phone-based identity service is not the same application as a travel-capable identity card.

Prepare a current likeness and keep the identity documents requested by the issuing office together for the appointment. Families and other applicants abroad can use our embassy and consulate directory to locate the Swiss representation responsible for their residence. If the card is intended for travel, consult our visa finder and the destination’s document rules as part of the preparation, rather than assuming every journey can be made with an identity card alone.