French Passport Photo
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French Passport Photo- size, requirements and common mistakes
Height: 45 mm
- Head height: 34.5 mm
- Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
How to take a photo?
French passport photo requirements
The same format as the one required for a passport photo is commonly used in many official French documents. The photograph for a French passport must be 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height and must show your head from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin. The head should cover 70-80% of the whole surface of the photo- between 32 mm and 36 mm.
Validity
Remember that the photo used for your French passport application must be recent - taken within the last 6 months. If your appearance has undergone a major change (if you underwent a sex change, gained or lost a significant amount of weight, had plastic surgery or were in an accident that left marks or scars on your face), you might want to retake your photo, as providing a valid photo that is representative of the current appearance of the applicant is one of the most important requirements.
Background
Your French passport photo’s background needs to be plain, uniform and in a light color. A good choice would be light grey or light blue, but not white, as this color is not permitted.
Quality
The photo must be taken in color and:
- in high-quality resolution (not pixelated),
- have good contrast, to show the natural colors of the skin, hair and eyes,
- not overexposed or underexposed,
- clear, not blurry,
- in the event that you wish to use a scanned photo, it has to be free of scratches or creases.
Shadows and lighting
Shadows in the background, or on your face and neck can result in your French passport picture being rejected, so be careful to take your photo in a well-lit area. Natural light is ideal, so take your picture during daylight hours, preferably where you will be able to stand in the natural light.
Facial expression
The photo should show your entire face, with open eyes and a closed mouth. You should be facing the camera directly and your head must not be tilted in any direction. Smiling or frowning is also forbidden- you should maintain a neutral facial expression during the photoshoot.
Glasses
You cannot wear sunglasses or other glasses with tinted or colored lenses, but everyday prescription glasses are allowed. Your eyes, including the pupil and the iris, have to be fully visible, so be careful about wearing glasses with thick frames. While taking a picture, don't let the light reflect in the lenses.
Head covering
You are not allowed to wear:
- a hat,
- a cap,
- a scarf,
- headphones,
- facial piercings that obscure any part of your face,
- any other accessory that would cover your forehead or eyes.
French passport picture - common mistakes
A passport photo cannot be a selfie. If you want to take your picture at home, you need to have someone to help you or a tripod and a camera with a timer. Enlisting the help of a professional photographer is both expensive and time consuming, so try us instead!
You are forbidden from submitting a damaged photo, a photo taken over 6 months ago or one that has a white background. A photo that is either underexposed or overexposed, pixelated or blurry also cannot be used when applying for your French passport. Keep in mind the appropriate size of the photo, which is 35 x 45 mm. Take a look at your outfit: don't wear any items that cover your head or face, remember to close your mouth, open your eyes and maintain a neutral facial expression.
Taking a photo for your French passport at home
- choose the right location, with a natural, bright light - in front of a window in daytime is the best choice,
- prepare the correct background (light, but not white),
- ask someone to take a picture of you or place your tripod at about 1.2m away from the place where you are standing,
- remember to keep your eyes open, your mouth shut and your facial expression neutral,
- take as many shots as you like, choose the image that you like most, and let us do the rest of the work!
If you followed the guidelines described above and managed to avoid the most common mistakes, all that is left for you to do is to upload your photo to our PhotoAiD website. Artificial Intelligence will carefully analyse your photo, and then our tools will take care of:
- deleting the existing background from the photo and replacing it with a more suitable one, if necessary,
- resizing your photo by preparing a template, which you’ll then be able to use as when cutting your printout,
- verifying your facial expression, as well as your head’s position , the colors, lighting, and other elements,
- finally- letting you know if you need to take an additional photo.
Last update: 11/29/22
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the size of the French passport photo?
The size of a photo for a French passport is 35 x 45 mm (13,7 x 17,7 inches).
❓ Can I take a selfie as a French passport photo?
No, you can't. You can either ask someone for help or use a tripod and a camera with a timer.
❓ Can I smile while taking a French passport photo?
No, you can't. Remember to maintain a neutral facial expression and look directly into the camera. Your eyes should stay open and your mouth shut.
❓ What kind of background is required for the French passport photo?
The background for the French passport photo has to be in a light color and must be plain, without patterns or shadows. White color is not allowed, so light blue or light gray is a good choice.
❓ Can the French passport photo be in black and white?
No, it can't. Only a color photo is accepted.
❓ Can I wear a hat in a French passport photo?
No, you can't. Wearing a hat, a cap, a scarf, headphones or any type of head covering, even for religious reasons, is not allowed.
❓ Can I wear glasses in French passport photo?
You can't wear sunglasses or glasses with tinted or colored lenses, but you can wear prescription glasses. Make sure your eyes, including the iris and pupil, are fully visible and not covered by the glasses frame.
About the document
French passport
The French passport is a crucial identity document, which gives French citizens the right to travel internationally as well as serving as proof of French citizenship which, should anything happen, facilitates the process of securing assistance from French consular officials abroad. Together with the national identity card, having a French passport allows its owner unrestricted residence in any of the European Union and European Economic Area countries, United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
How to obtain a French passport?
If you are a French foreign resident or a citizen of France, you can apply to get a French passport, which will allow you to travel around the world and enter many countries without a visa. There is no need to surrender your existing foreign passport, as France allows dual citizenship. Having a French passport does prove French citizenship. However it gives you many benefits, as well as the possibility of unrestricted access to 186 countries and territories of the world.
To obtain a French passport, you need to file a French passport application with all the required documentation. Passport applications can be rejected, so to avoid that situation, we want to help you by listing the official requirements you need to meet in order to obtain a French passport, as well as detailed guidelines for taking the perfect French passport photo.
Types of French passports
Depending on the length of their validity:
-
passports valid for 5 years (when the applicant is less than 18 years old),
-
passports valid for 10 years (when the applicant is over 18 years old).
Depending on the version:
-
optical passports having no sign under the word "Passeport" on the front page,
-
biometric passports (where the word “Passeport” is underlined and decorated),
-
electronic passports with an embedded chip (the chip logo is under the word "Passeport").
What information does the French passport include?
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concerning the document: type, code, number, date of issue, date of expiry, issuing authority,
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personal information of the owner: name of the holder, nationality, date and place of birth, sex, signature, height, eye color and a passport photo.
If you want to obtain French citizenship, you must have lived in France for 5 continuous years and be able to prove that you have integrated into French society, especially through knowledge of the French language, culture, and fulfilling responsibilities that come with the citizenship. If you are married to a French citizen, or are the child of a French citizen, then the residency period is shorter. The French passport is the 5th strongest in the world ranked by travel freedom, which means that it grants French citizens access to 186 countries and territories (visa-free or with a visa).
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