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French National ID (Carte d'Identité)

French National ID Photo Requirements (Carte d'Identité) – Free Checker

Verify your French Carte Nationale d'Identité (CNI) photo against ANTS biometric requirements. 35×45mm, white background, head 70–80% of frame. Free AI check.

Last updated Apr 26, 2026

Verified against the official source · May 11, 2026
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Official French CNI Photo Requirements

French national identity card photos are processed by the ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) and must meet the same biometric standard as French passports.

  • Size: 35×45mm (413×531px at 300 DPI).
  • Background: plain white or very light grey.
  • Head height: 70–80% of total image height (crown to chin).
  • Expression: neutral, mouth closed, direct gaze.
  • No glasses, no tinted lenses.
  • No headwear except for documented religious or medical reasons.
  • Recent photo taken within the past six months.

Where to Submit Your CNI Photo

French CNI applications are submitted at the mairie (town hall) or via the France Connect portal for online pre-registration. The photo file must be uploaded digitally or presented as a printed 35×45mm photo at the counter.

  • Online pre-registration via ANTS: upload a JPEG under 240 KB.
  • In-person at the mairie: bring one printed 35×45mm photo.
  • French consulates abroad: follow the same specification.

Photo Examples

Correct photo

Pass example

Correct photo

Incorrect photo

Common rejection risk

Incorrect photo

How French National ID Photo compares to similar documents

Every figure below is read from the same rule profiles this checker validates against, so it says what actually differs rather than what sounds different.

The same specification

A photo that passes for French National ID Photo meets the same measurable requirements as UAE Emirates ID, Russia Visa, South Africa Passport, Pakistan Visa, Mexico Passport, Qatar Visa, Nepal Visa and Cambodia eVisa. Size, head height and background are identical; check each portal's own file-size limit before uploading.

What changes for nearby documents

  • Schengen Visa wants head fills 50–70% of the frame, not 70–80%; file limit 200 KB, not 240 KB; an off-white or light grey background, not pure white.
  • Schengen Generic wants head fills 55–75% of the frame, not 70–80%; file limit 200 KB, not 240 KB; an off-white or light grey background, not pure white.
  • UK Passport wants head fills 64–76% of the frame, not 70–80%; file limit 10000 KB, not 240 KB; an off-white or light grey background, not pure white.
  • UK Visa wants head fills 64–76% of the frame, not 70–80%; file limit 10000 KB, not 240 KB; an off-white or light grey background, not pure white.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Document Requirements