French ID Card Photo (Carte d'Identité) 35x45mm Requirements

Read This First: Who May Take the Photo

For a French identity card or passport, the photo must be taken by an approved professional or in a booth using a system approved by the Ministry of the Interior. A photo taken at home on a phone is not accepted, which is why we do not make this photo. The agency ANTS publishes a search tool for approved photographers and booths.

Official French CNI Photo Requirements

These are the requirements published on service-public.fr. They are the same for the identity card and the passport.

• Size: 35mm wide × 45mm high (413×531px at 300 DPI).
• Face: 32–36mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the skull, about 70–80% of the photo.
• Background: plain and light, for example light blue or light grey. A white background is not allowed.
• Head bare: no hat, scarf or headband. Head straight, face to the camera.
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and fully visible.
• Glasses: you do not have to wear them. If you do, the frame must be thin and must not hide the eyes, and the lenses must not be tinted or reflective.
• Hair must not cover the face and the ears should be visible.
• Taken less than 6 months ago. One photo is required.

Why French ID Photos Are Refused

The points that most often differ from other countries' rules.

• White background. Most countries ask for white; France forbids it.
• Thick frames, tinted lenses or reflections on glasses.
• A hat, scarf or headband.
• Shadows on the face or behind the head, over- or under-exposure.