Liechtenstein National ID Card Photo: Official Biometric Requirements

Getting your biometric photo right for the Liechtenstein Identitätskarte (national ID card) means meeting the ICAO facial-image standard as enforced by the Ausländer- und Passamt — the Principality's Office for Foreign Nationals and Passports, which issues all national identity documents. The same specification governs both the ID card and the Liechtenstein passport: a 35 × 45 mm frame, uniform light-grey background, neutral expression, and no eyeglasses.

The most important practical detail that sets this document apart from those of most other countries: according to the official llv.li government portal, the biometric facial image for the Identitätskarte is captured digitally on-site at the Ausländer- und Passamt office during your in-person appointment. You are not required — and not permitted — to bring a printed or downloaded passport photo. The office records the image directly using its own certified equipment, ensuring full compliance with ICAO biometric standards from the point of capture.

• Photo dimensions: 35 × 45 mm (827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: uniform light grey (#E6E6E6); no patterns, gradients, or shadows
• Face coverage: the face must fill 71–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral and natural; mouth closed, eyes fully open, looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted — remove all eyewear, including prescription glasses and sunglasses
• Headwear: not permitted except for documented religious or medical reasons; the full head must be visible
• Recency: the image must reflect your current appearance, taken within the last 6 months
• Lighting: even and shadow-free across both the face and the background

Common reasons photos are rejected in Liechtenstein:

• Attempting to submit a printed or self-made photograph — the Ausländer- und Passamt photographs applicants on-site and does not accept externally supplied images for the Identitätskarte
• Head tilted, rotated, or not properly centred in the frame, violating the ICAO face-alignment requirement
• Eyeglasses visible in the image, including thin-framed or near-invisible prescription lenses
• Background colour deviating from the required light grey — white walls, cream, or beige tones are frequently flagged as non-compliant

Because the Ausländer- und Passamt captures your biometric image directly at the counter, you cannot submit a self-prepared or printed photo for the Liechtenstein Identitätskarte. Our tool works well as a preparation resource: use it to see precisely how a fully standard-compliant biometric photo must look, verify that your appearance meets every requirement — correct expression, no glasses, no headwear — and arrive at your appointment confident and ready. The same 35 × 45 mm ICAO standard also applies to the Liechtenstein passport and other travel documents where you may need to supply your own photograph independently.