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French Passport Photo—Specifications

Size

35x45 mm

Digital dimensions

min. 414x532 px

Head size

Must fill 70–80% of the frame

Resolution

400-600 DPI

Background color

White or light-colored

Recency

≤ 6 months

Acceptable French Passport Photo Examples

Background

Make sure the background is plain and light-colored.

Glasses

Prescription glasses are allowed as long as they don’t cover the eyes.

Hair

Your hair mustn’t obstruct any part of your face.

Last update: 11/27/23

Written by

Riccardo Ollmert

French Passport Photos—All You Need to Know

Are you living in the United States and need to get a French passport photo? Find out all you need to know about French passport pictures, from the basic requirements to finer details, and where to source them in person and online.

Understanding French passport photo requirements

French passport photos need to follow a strict list of requirements set by the country’s authorities.

These government guidelines need to be followed to the letter. Otherwise, the picture will be rejected.

Here at Passport Photo Online, we’ve put together this guide to walk you through all the French passport photo requirements so that you can be positive that your picture complies with all the official guidelines.

You need a photo right now? Get a French passport picture with 100% guarantee of compliance with the rules (or double your money back) by downloading our Passport Photo Booth App for iOS or Passport Photo Maker App for Android and get a perfect photo back in 3 minutes!

Acceptable French passport photo examples

Here are two examples of how French passport photos should look like. For further details, keep on reading.

Table summarizing the requirements

Requirement	Prints & Digital
Color	Must be in color
Recency	Taken in the last 6 months
Image clarity	Clear image of your face, not blurry, grainy, or pixelated
Filters	Do not use filters commonly used on social media
Background	White or off-white background without shadows, texture, or lines
Size	35 mm in width, 45 mm in height
Print Quality	Printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper
Resolution	600 DPI
Digital Alterations	Do not digitally change the photo

Note: Digital images must be at least 552x709 px.

The fine details: specifics of French passport photos

Now that the technical specifications are out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the other French passport photo requirements.

Face the camera directly, looking straight into the lens
Maintain a neutral facial expression—no smiling or frowning allowed
Prescription glasses are allowed, but they must not obscure the eyes
Head covering is allowed only for religious reasons
No accessories on the head
Move your hair away from your face
Avoid clothing the same color as the background

French passport photo sizing details

The size of the passport picture is probably the most important aspect. All over the world, incorrect sizing is a very common cause for rejection.

So, make sure to follow all these measurements:

Height: 45 mm
Width: 35 mm
Head size: 3.2 to 3.6 cm (70–80% of the whole frame)

Wondering if you also need to apply for a visa? Check out this list of visa free countries for French citizens.

Online services for French passport photos

Want to take a French passport picture right now? There are many online services that can help you prepare a digital photo at home.

Here is a table comparing 5 of the most popular passport photo applications in all their main features.

Provider	User- friendliness	Essential features	Large country database	Compliance guarantee & refund	Printing service	Price
Passport Photo Online	5/5	✅	✅	✅	✅	$16.95
Passport Photo & ID Maker	5/5	❌	✅	❌	❌	$6.99
ID Photo For Passports And IDs	4/5	✅	✅	❌	❌	Free
iVisa Passport Photo	3/5	✅	✅	❌	✅	Unclear
Passport Photo-ID Photo	4/5	❌	✅	❌	❌	$6.99

Want to take a deeper dive into the topic?

Here is a closer look at the top 10 passport photo apps to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Passport Photo Online will help you get two French passport photos with a 100% guarantee of fitting government requirements—or double your money back.

Our top-rated app can get you perfect French passport pictures right away.