French Passport Photo Requirements — Complete Guide 2026

Country guide · 🇫🇷 France · Last verified: February 2026

French passport photos use a 35×45 mm format with a plain light grey or white background. France's requirements are among the most precisely defined in Europe — the French Ministry of Interior publishes exact pixel measurements and millimetre specifications. This guide covers all of them, plus the digital submission process and what French nationals abroad need to know.

Quick facts


Size	35×45 mm
Background	Plain light grey or plain white
Head height	32–36 mm (chin to top of hair)
Top margin	3–5 mm above hair
Photos required	2 identical
Recency	Within 6 months
Glasses	Not permitted
Source	service-public.fr

Background — grey or white?

France officially accepts both plain light grey and plain white. The official ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) guidance specifies "fond clair uni" (plain light background). In practice:

In France, many photo studios use a neutral light grey that gives better contrast for all hair colours
Outside France, white is most commonly used and is accepted
Both are correct — but the background must be completely uniform with no shadows

If you have very light or white hair, a slightly darker grey background is recommended for contrast.

Passport photo specifications

Size and dimensions

Photo size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall
Head height: 32–36 mm from chin to top of hair (not crown of skull)
Top margin: 3–5 mm between top of hair and top edge of photo
Face coverage: 70–80% of the photo area
Eye position: both eyes level, centred horizontally in the frame, positioned in the upper half of the photo
Shoulders: visible in the lower portion of the frame

Expression and appearance

Expression: strictly neutral, mouth closed. No smiling — France's automated passport system (CNI électronique) is particularly strict about neutral expression.
Eyes: both open, looking directly at camera. No red-eye.
Head position: straight, facing camera directly, no tilt or rotation. Maximum allowed deviation: ±10° horizontal, ±5° vertical.
Glasses: not permitted as of 2022. France aligned with the EU biometric passport standard which bans glasses. No exceptions without medical documentation from an ophthalmologist.
Head coverings: not permitted except for documented religious reasons. Full face visible from chin to forehead with no shadows from the covering.
Clothing: everyday attire. No uniforms. Avoid white or very light clothing which blends into the background.

Quality

Colour only — black and white not accepted
Sharp, in focus, no blur or pixelation
Even lighting across entire face — no shadows, no reflections, no overexposure
Resolution: minimum 300 DPI for print (600 DPI recommended)
No digital retouching, beauty filters, or any AI-generated alterations
No border, frame, or watermark

Digital photo requirements (ANTS portal)

For online passport and national ID card (carte nationale d'identité) applications via the ANTS portal (ants.gouv.fr):

Accepted via photo code — a certified French photo studio provides a code you enter on the ANTS portal
Direct upload — alternatively, upload a JPEG file meeting the following specs:
JPEG format
Minimum 640×800 pixels (at 35×45 mm proportions)
File size: maximum 10 MB
Same face and background requirements apply
Not a scanned print — must be an original digital file

Photo code system: Many French photo booths (Photo-Me, Photomaton, ArianePhoto) generate a digital code alongside printed photos. This code links your photo directly to the ANTS system. If applying online, this is the easiest submission method.

French national ID card (CNI) — same format

The French carte nationale d'identité uses the same 35×45 mm format with identical specifications. Since 2021, the new CNI électronique (electronic national ID card) is a biometric document with a chip — photo requirements are the same but biometric standards are applied more strictly.

For French nationals abroad

French nationals abroad can apply for passport renewal at French embassies and consulates.

Same 35×45 mm, 2-photo specifications apply
Applications typically require appointment booking through the consulate's online system
Processing takes 4–8 weeks
Some consulates accept applications by mail — check with your specific mission

French consulates in the US:

Embassy in Washington DC
Consulate General in New York
Consulate General in Los Angeles
Consulate General in San Francisco
Consulate General in Miami
Consulate General in Boston
Consulate General in Atlanta
Consulate General in Chicago
Consulate General in Houston

For French nationals living in the US, photo labs are familiar with 35×45 mm format. Specify "European passport photo" or "35×45 mm" — most US labs know this format.

French Schengen visa photos — same specifications

For non-French nationals applying for a French Schengen visa, the photo specifications are the same: 35×45 mm, light background, neutral expression, head 32–36 mm. The EU Visa Code unifies Schengen visa photo requirements across all 27 member states.

See our France Schengen visa photo guide for details.

Child and baby passport photos

Same 35×45 mm size, 2 photos required.

Child must be alone in the photo — no hands, toys, or other people visible
Children under 6: relaxed expression acceptable
Infants: photograph lying on a plain light background
Babies: eyes do not need to be fully open
Same background and quality requirements apply

Common rejection reasons

Glasses — not permitted since 2022
Background shadows — very common in home photos
Non-neutral expression — France's automated ANTS system is particularly strict
Head size outside 32–36 mm range
Photo not recent — older than 6 months
Digital retouching detected — France explicitly prohibits any alteration
Wrong background colour — must be plain, uniform light grey or white
Top margin too small — must have 3–5 mm above hair
Scanned photo submitted — must be an original digital file for online applications

Frequently asked questions

What size is a French passport photo?

35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. Head height 32–36 mm from chin to top of hair. Two identical photos required.

What background colour for French passport photos?

Plain light grey or plain white — both are accepted. No patterns, shadows, or textures. For applicants with light or white hair, light grey provides better contrast.

Can I wear glasses in a French passport photo?

No. France banned glasses for passport and ID photos in 2022, aligned with EU biometric standards. No exceptions without an ophthalmologist's documentation.

What is the ANTS portal?

The Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés portal (ants.gouv.fr) handles online French passport and national ID applications. You can submit a digital photo directly or use a photo code from a certified French photo studio.

How do French nationals abroad renew their passport?

In person at a French consulate — there is no mail or fully online renewal for French nationals abroad. Book an appointment through the consulate's website. Processing takes 4–8 weeks.

Is a French passport photo the same as a Schengen visa photo?

Yes — both use 35×45 mm with a plain light background, neutral expression, and head 32–36 mm. The EU Visa Code unifies Schengen photo requirements.

How many photos do I need for a French passport?

Two identical printed photos. One code or digital upload if applying via the ANTS portal online.