Liechtenstein visa photos run on the Swiss SEM standard
Liechtenstein does not operate its own visa system. Every short-stay and long-stay visa for the principality is processed as a Swiss Schengen visa by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), under the photo standard published by fedpol. The Liechtenstein Migration and Passport Office co-decides certain long-stay cases, but the paperwork, the photo template, and the rejection criteria are all Swiss.
Applications are lodged in person at a VFS Global or TLScontact visa application centre, or at a Swiss embassy or consulate where no VAC exists. There is no DIY e-visa upload channel for foreign visa applicants: the applicant submits two identical printed photos with the form, and a live biometric capture is taken on site for anyone aged 12 or over whose biometrics are not already in the Schengen VIS. The prints must be glued to the application form, never stapled or clipped.
Counter staff check each print against the fedpol Fotomustertafel overlay. A photo that fails on expression, gaze, eyewear, hair, headwear, or print quality is rejected at intake, which delays the appointment and forces a return visit before the visa file can move forward.
Liechtenstein visa photo requirements at a glance
The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and fedpol set the standard. These are the subject-side rules your photo must satisfy before VFS Global or the Swiss consulate will accept it.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionAdopt a relaxed, neutral expression. Smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows are not accepted by fedpol or Swiss consular staff.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be closed with no visible teeth.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly into the lens. Hair must not fall across the eyes.
- Head straightHold the head level and squarely facing the camera. Both edges of the face and both sides of the jawline should be roughly equally visible.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses are permitted only under strict conditions: thin frames that do not cover any part of the eye, clear lenses with no tint, and no glare or reflection on the lenses. fedpol guidance is that removing glasses is the easiest way to avoid rejection.
- Tinted and sunglassesTinted lenses, sunglasses, and transition lenses that have darkened are not accepted.
- Coloured contact lensesDecorative or colour-changing contact lenses that alter the natural eye colour should not be worn.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, the eyebrows, or the outline of the face, and must not cast a shadow across the features.
- EarsEars do not have to be visible, but fedpol recommends showing them where the hairstyle permits.
- BeardsBeards and moustaches are permitted provided they reflect your everyday appearance and do not obscure the line of the jaw or mouth.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other head coverings are not permitted.
- Religious or medical exceptionHead coverings worn daily for religious or documented medical reasons are accepted, provided the full face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face remain clearly visible with no shadow.
Jewelry & accessories
- Minimal jewelleryDiscreet jewellery is acceptable so long as it does not reflect light into the lens or obscure any facial feature.
- Piercings and large itemsLarge or reflective piercings, ear cuffs, and decorative items that interfere with the outline of the face should be removed for the photo.
Cosmetics
- Natural lookEveryday makeup is fine. Heavy contouring, theatrical makeup, or anything that alters the natural shape and proportion of facial features is not accepted.
Clothing
- Contrast with backgroundWear clothing that contrasts with the light grey or white background. Very pale, white, or cream tops blend in and should be avoided.
- No uniformsUniforms, including military and work uniforms, are not permitted in the photo.
Photo quality
- Recent photoThe photograph must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect your current appearance.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is grounds for rejection.
- Pristine print conditionEach of the two prints submitted must be free of creases, smudges, staple holes, and paperclip indentations.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 25 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
fedpol relaxes several rules for younger applicants. The exemptions apply when the child is photographed alone, against the same plain light background.
Infants (under 1 year)
The strict adult rules on expression and gaze are waived for babies under one. The isolation and background rules are not.
- EyesInfants do not need to have their eyes open.
- Expression and centringNeutral expression and exact head centring are not required.
- Subject must be aloneNo hands, arms, parents, toys, or pacifiers may appear anywhere in the frame.
- Background still appliesThe plain light background requirement is not waived for infants.
- Digital home submission does not applyThe Liechtenstein process introduced on 2 June 2025 that allows digital home photos for children under 2 covers identity documents only. Short-stay Schengen visa applications still require the standard physical print.
Children (1 to 10 years)
fedpol relaxes the geometric and behavioural rules for younger children, recognising that they cannot always hold a perfect pose.
- Smaller head size allowedThe chin-to-crown head height can drop as low as roughly 25 mm rather than the adult 32 to 36 mm range.
- Expression and gazeNeutral expression, exact eye position, and direct line of sight to the lens are relaxed for children under 10.
- Fingerprinting exemptionChildren under 12 are exempt from fingerprint capture at the visa application centre, although the photo is still required.
Other things to know.
A few things about Liechtenstein visa photos catch applicants off guard.
Applications are Swiss-branded
Liechtenstein has no independent visa system. Applications are filed and decided as Swiss/Schengen visas through the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration. Every form, sticker, and instruction sheet carries Swiss federal branding, which is correct and expected.
VFS Global or TLScontact intake
There is no DIY e-visa upload portal. Applicants 12 and over attend a VFS Global or TLScontact visa application centre in person for biometric capture, unless their fingerprints are already in the Schengen VIS from within the past 59 months.
Two prints, glued to the form
Two identical 35 by 45 mm prints are required per application. They are glued to the application form, not stapled or paperclipped, since staple holes and clip marks are grounds for rejection.
Light grey preferred over white
fedpol explicitly recommends a light grey background for the best contrast against face and hair. Plain white is also accepted, but light grey is the preferred Swiss and Liechtenstein standard.
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Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.