Biometric Passport Photo – online & ICAO compliant
Create your biometric passport photo from home. ICAO ISO 19794-5 standard, fedpol compliant for Switzerland, accepted worldwide. Free preview before payment.
What is a biometric passport photo?
A biometric photo is a passport photo that meets ICAO ISO 19794-5 — the global standard for machine-readable travel documents used in 190+ countries.
ICAO Standard
ISO 19794-5 defines the global biometric photo standard, accepted by 190+ countries for passports and travel documents.
Machine-readable
Automated border control (eGates) requires biometric compliance — face geometry and image quality are verified by machine.
Strict requirements
Face geometry, neutral expression, lighting uniformity, and background colour are all machine-verified against ICAO tolerances.
Digital or print
Both digital and printed formats are accepted in Switzerland and Austria. One compliant file covers both use cases.
ICAO requirements by country
Most countries follow the same core ICAO standard. The USA is the main exception.
| Requirement | Switzerland | Germany | Austria | USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm | 51 × 51 mm |
| Background | White | White | White | White |
| Head height | 70–80% | 70–80% | 70–80% | 50–69% |
| Glasses | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Online legal | ✓ All docs | ✓ Most docs* | ✓ All docs | N/A |
* Germany requires a certified PointID photographer for passport and Personalausweis since May 2025. Online photos remain legal for Führerschein, visa, and application photos.
How ID Wizard creates ICAO-compliant photos
Three steps from any photo to a compliant biometric output — no appointment, no studio.
Upload
Any photo or selfie — smartphone, webcam, or DSLR. HEIC/HEIF and JPEG supported.
AI processes
Background removal, biometric crop, ICAO ISO 19794-5 validation — fully automated.
Download
JPEG at 300 DPI plus a ready-to-print template with the correct number of copies.
Free preview · From CHF 4.99 · No subscription
Legal status by country
Online biometric photos are legal in most European countries — with one notable exception introduced in Germany in 2025.
Online-created biometric photos are fully accepted for passport, identity card, driver's licence, and visa. No PointID-style restrictions apply in Switzerland.
Online photos are legal for driver's licence, visa, and application photos. German passport and Personalausweis require a PointID-certified photographer since May 2025.
Online-created biometric photos are fully accepted for all Austrian documents. No restrictions — same ICAO standard as Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
A biometric photo must comply with ICAO ISO 19794-5: 35 × 45 mm (except the USA which uses 51 × 51 mm), plain white background, face covering 70–80% of the image height, eyes open and looking directly at the camera, no glasses, neutral expression, and a minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
Create your biometric passport photo now
ICAO ISO 19794-5 compliant. Free preview. From CHF 4.99. No subscription. Accepted in Switzerland, Austria, and more.
Start free preview →Preview first · Pay after · No subscription