France passport photo size & requirements
French passport photos are 35 x 45 mm with a plain light-grey background and a face height of 32–36 mm.
France follows the standard EU biometric photo format — 35 x 45 mm with the face filling 70–80% of the frame — but with one important difference from its neighbours: the required background is light grey, not white. This is specified in the official guidance from the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS), the body that handles French identity documents. A white background, while common in other countries, is not preferred and can sometimes cause contrast problems with the ANTS biometric matching system.
French passport applications can be submitted at your local mairie (town hall) or at certain government service points. The photo must comply with ISO/IEC 19794-5 biometric standards, and the authorities use automated verification software before human review. The light-grey background requirement is one of the clearest differences from the rest of Europe and is worth getting right first time — the mairie will reject non-compliant photos on the spot.
- Photo size
- 35 x 45 mm
- Resolution
- 300 DPI
- Head height
- Face from chin to crown should be 32–36 mm
- Background
- Plain light grey
France passport photo requirements
- Photo must be 35 x 45 mm.
- Face length (chin to crown) should be 32–36 mm, filling 70–80% of the photo.
- Plain light-grey background with no patterns or objects.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera.
- Recent photo taken within the last 6 months.
- No head coverings except for religious or medical reasons; no glare on glasses.
Common reasons France passport photos get rejected
Even a technically correct photo can be turned away for these issues. They come up repeatedly in official rejection notices.
- White background instead of light grey — this is the most distinctly French rejection reason and is frequently misunderstood by people using generic photo services.
- Face not squarely centred — the ANTS system specifically checks for slight head rotation and tilt, which the human eye might not notice.
- Photo not printed on glossy photographic paper — standard printer paper is not accepted.
- Shadows cast by hair or clothing on the background, which are common with side lighting.
- Head height outside the 32–36 mm range — too much space above the head is just as problematic as a face that is too large.
- Glasses with any visible glare — even slight reflections are flagged.
Make your France passport photo
Use our free passport size photo maker — select France from the country list and it will automatically apply the correct size (35 x 45 mm) and background settings for you.
Crop, remove background, and download a compliant France passport photo — free, no signup, no watermark.
Select France in the tool to get the exact 35 x 45 mm preset.
Other countries
United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) 
Albania 35 x 45 mm 
Australia 35 x 45 mm 
Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in 
Canada 50 x 70 mm 
China 33 x 48 mm 
Germany 35 x 45 mm 
Iceland 35 x 45 mm 
India 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in) 
Ireland 35 x 45 mm 
Italy 35 x 45 mm 
Japan 35 x 45 mm 
Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm 
Malaysia 35 x 50 mm 
Netherlands 35 x 45 mm 
New Zealand 35 x 45 mm 
Nigeria 35 x 45 mm 
Norway 35 x 45 mm 
Pakistan 35 x 45 mm 
Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) 
Russia 35 x 45 mm 
Saudi Arabia 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) 
Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm 
Singapore 35 x 45 mm 
South Africa 35 x 45 mm 
South Korea 35 x 45 mm 
Spain 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm 
Switzerland 35 x 45 mm 
Thailand 35 x 45 mm 
Turkey 50 x 60 mm 
United Arab Emirates 43 x 55 mm 
United Kingdom 35 x 45 mm 
Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)