France Biometric Photo Size
35×45 mm, ICAO 9303 / ANTS
Author: Gözde Ural
Content editor at PhotoID Studio: visa and passport specifications
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How should a France passport photo look?
France uses the 35×45 mm format with a head height of 32-36 mm. It diverges from most Schengen members on two points. Service-Public.fr states "le fond blanc est interdit": a pure white background is forbidden. A flat light grey or pale blue background is required. The ANTS e-Photo numérique system issues a 22-character single-use alphanumeric digital code; that code is used only for passport, CNI, permis de conduire, titre de séjour and DCEM applications. Carte Vitale, permis de chasse and carte de presse use the same physical 35×45 mm size but are not tied to the ANTS digital code.
Photo Size
35×45 mm
Head Ratio
70%
Eye Position
56% from bottom
Top Margin
3-5 mm
Background Color
Light Gray / Light Blue
Standard
ICAO 9303 / ANTS
Requirements & Notes
French photos require a light gray or light blue background. Pure white is not accepted. Must comply with ANTS standards.
Regulatory authorities and the recency rule
The standard is set by the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS). Passport and CNI processes are handled by the Ministère de l'Intérieur with the mairie/préfecture offices; the Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères is competent for titre de séjour and visas. Applications abroad run through VFS Global and TLScontact. Service-Public.fr requires the photo to have been taken within the last six months; the ANTS system checks the date.
Workflow after the shoot
The captured frame is sent to PhotoID Studio. The France preset is selected; the app detects the face, places the head height into the 32-36 mm range and produces a 35×45 mm output at 300 DPI. The background is held in the light grey/blue range and prevented from drifting to pure white. For a mairie or préfecture application a multi-print layout for 10×15 cm paper is prepared. For online passport/CNI applications a high-resolution digital file ready to be uploaded to ants.gouv.fr is produced from the same frame. ANTS-certified studios upload that file to the portal under their own ANTS account; the 22-character e-Photo numérique code returned by the system is then written by the photographer below the print.
Capture setup and customer direction
Seat the customer 1.5-2 m in front of a light grey or pale blue backdrop with the shoulders parallel to the camera. The camera is on a tripod with the lens at eye level. Standard setup: a 50-85 mm portrait lens, f/8, a softbox at 45°, a reflector on the opposite side. For a French-speaking customer, "Bouche fermée, expression neutre, regard droit" is enough as a three-word cue. Glasses: the 5 February 2009 Arrêté is still in force and does not impose an outright ban, but tinted/sunglasses lenses, thick frames, frames covering the eyes and glare are rejected. Studios recommend taking glasses off because of the rejection risk. Hair must not cover the forehead or eyebrows.
Rejection reasons at ANTS, mairie and French consulates
• A pure white background: explicitly forbidden by Service-Public.fr. • A gradient or a tone darkening towards the chest in the background. • Glasses glare, tinted/sunglasses lenses, thick frames or frames covering the eyes. • A smile or open mouth. • Head height outside the 32-36 mm range. • Hair across the forehead or eyebrows. • A tilted head pose: the ANTS facial recognition system rejects it. • A frame older than six months. • An expired or already-used e-Photo numérique code: the code is single-use and is consumed if the application is cancelled.
For studios serving French ID, passport and titre de séjour applicants
Studios in France see a steady flow of customers for passport, CNI, permis de conduire, titre de séjour and Carte Vitale renewals. The most common mistake abroad is to bring a pure white print made from a generic Schengen or US preset to a French consulate. The PhotoID Studio France preset locks the light grey/blue background and the head ratio; it delivers a digital file ready for the ANTS upload. The certified studio operator uploads that file to the portal under their own ANTS account and writes the e-Photo numérique code returned by the system below the print.
Used For
- Passport
- National ID card (CNI)
- Visa
- Driver's license
- Residence permit (Carte de séjour)
- Health card (Carte Vitale)
- Press card
- Hunting license
Official Sources
Official websites where France biometric photo size and requirements are verified:
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the size of the French photo d'identité?
35×45 mm with a head height of 32-36 mm. The same physical size is valid for passport, CNI, permis de conduire, titre de séjour, DCEM, Carte Vitale, permis de chasse and carte de presse.
- Is a white background really forbidden?
Yes. Service-Public.fr explicitly states "le fond blanc est interdit". A flat light grey or pale blue background is required. A white-background frame produced from a US or generic Schengen preset is rejected by ANTS.
- What is the e-Photo numérique code, and which documents use it?
It is a 22-character single-use alphanumeric code generated by a certified booth or studio. It is used only for passport, CNI, permis de conduire, titre de séjour and DCEM applications. Carte Vitale, permis de chasse and carte de presse use the same 35×45 mm physical print but are outside the ANTS digital code. The code is valid for six months and is consumed if the application is cancelled.
- Is a photo with glasses accepted?
The 5 February 2009 Arrêté does not ban glasses outright, but tinted/sunglasses lenses, thick frames, frames covering the eyes and glare are rejected. The studio practice is to take them off; if there is a medical reason, the lenses must be clear and non-reflective.
- Does a Carte Vitale photo also need an e-Photo code?
No. Carte Vitale uses the same 35×45 mm physical size but is outside the ANTS digital code; a printed copy is enough. The same applies to permis de chasse and carte de presse.
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