Liechtenstein Work Permit Photo — Exact Requirements & Compliant Image

A compliant photo is one of the most scrutinised parts of any Liechtenstein work authorisation application. Because the Principality's work permit is legally bound to the residence and registration permit — the Aufenthaltsbewilligung — both are administered by the same authority, the Ausländer- und Passamt (Office for Foreigners and Passports). Where a biometric foreigner credential is issued, the facial image must meet the international ICAO 9303 biometric standard, expressed locally as a 35 × 45 mm portrait at 827 × 1063 pixels.

One practical detail sets Liechtenstein apart from many other countries: because the foreigner credential is a biometric document, the definitive photo is typically captured digitally on-site at the Ausländer- und Passamt or by a certified photographer with a secure upload facility. You do not hand in a printed photograph from home for the credential itself. Understanding this is important so you can focus your preparation correctly — arriving at your appointment knowing exactly what a compliant image looks like gives you full confidence that the capture will proceed smoothly and without costly repeat visits.

• Size: 35 × 45 mm (827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain light grey — hex #E6E6E6; no patterns, shadows or gradients
• Face coverage: the face must fill 71–80 % of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible, gaze directed straight at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted — remove all eyewear including tinted, prescription or fashion glasses
• Head coverings: only permitted for documented religious reasons; the full face from chin to crown must remain visible
• Recency: the photo must reflect your current appearance — taken within the last six months
• Lighting: uniform, no harsh shadows on the face or background
• Pose: head straight, no tilt or rotation; shoulders square to the camera

Common reasons photos are rejected at the Ausländer- und Passamt:

• Glasses present: even thin wire-frame or anti-glare lenses cause automatic rejection under ICAO biometric rules — remove all eyewear without exception
• Incorrect background tone: a pure white background (#FFFFFF) or any off-white that differs from the specified light grey (#E6E6E6) is a frequent mismatch; the authority checks colour values precisely for biometric documents
• Face proportion outside the 71–80 % window: a photo taken too far back (face too small) or a tight crop (face too large) both fail the biometric facial-mapping check
• Shadows or uneven lighting: shadows falling on the background or across the face distort the biometric scan and are rejected during the digital verification step

Our tool automatically crops and adjusts your photo to the exact 35 × 45 mm / 827 × 1063 px specification, sets the correct #E6E6E6 background, and verifies face coverage falls within the required 71–80 % range — producing a reference image that matches what the Ausländer- und Passamt captures on-site. You can preview the result free of charge with a watermark before deciding to download the full file. Walk into your appointment with a clear picture of how your compliant photo must look, and keep the ready image on hand for any other documents or visa applications that accept submitted photos.