French passport photo rules from ANTS and the Ministère de l’Intérieur
French passport photographs are governed by the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) under the Ministère de l’Intérieur, with citizen-facing guidance published on Service-Public.fr. The technical foundation is ISO/IEC 19794-5:2005, which ANTS cites directly. The print measures 35 by 45 millimetres and must be less than six months old on the day the application is filed.
The same 35 by 45 mm specification covers the carte nationale d’identité, the permis de conduire, and the titre de séjour, and the visa portal France-Visas uses identical dimensions with a stricter one-month recency window. For domestic applications, ANTS operates an e-photo system in which an approved photographer or photobooth transmits the image directly to ANTS and issues a 22-character code the applicant enters online.
Enforcement is strict at every stage. Mairies routinely pre-reject photos that fail the published rules to avoid downstream ANTS rejection, and the automated biometric checks apply identically to adults and infants. A non-compliant photo means a rejected file, a new appointment, and a delayed passport.
What ANTS requires in a French passport photo
The Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés sets strict rules for how the subject must appear. Meet them all to avoid rejection at the Mairie or by the central ANTS review.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionANTS requires a neutral expression with no smiling. The face must be relaxed and natural, matching the applicant’s everyday appearance.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be closed. Teeth must not be visible.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly into the lens. Squinting is not accepted.
- Frontal head positionThe head must face the camera squarely with no tilt, turn, or angle. Both sides of the face must be equally visible.
- Square shouldersShoulders must be straight and facing the camera. Over the shoulder or portrait style poses are prohibited.
Eyewear & lenses
- Glasses strongly discouragedService-Public.fr states that wearing glasses in the photo is strongly discouraged. Removing them is the safest way to avoid rejection.
- Frame conditionsIf glasses are worn, frames must be thin and must not cover any part of the eyes. Thick frames are prohibited.
- No glare on lensesLenses must be free of reflections and glare. Any reflection that obscures the eyes will cause rejection.
- No tinted lensesTinted, coloured, or sunglass lenses are prohibited. Lenses must be fully clear.
- Contact lensesClear prescription contact lenses are permitted. Coloured or cosmetic contact lenses that alter eye appearance are prohibited.
Hair
- Face must be clearHair must not cover the face. Cheeks, jawline, and eyebrows must remain visible.
- Bangs and fringeBangs are accepted only if they sit above the eyes and do not cover the eyebrows or eyelashes.
- WigsWigs are permitted when they reflect the applicant’s normal appearance and do not obstruct facial features.
- Hair accessoriesVisible hair accessories such as clips, bows, scrunchies, and headbands are not permitted in the photo.
Headwear
- All headwear prohibitedANTS requires the head to be uncovered. Hats, caps, beanies, scarves, and bandanas are forbidden.
- Religious headwearReligious head coverings including hijabs, kippahs, and turbans are not permitted. French laïcité provides the constitutional basis and no administrative exception exists.
- Medical coveringsCoverings worn for documented medical reasons may be accepted at administrative discretion provided the full face oval remains visible.
Jewelry & accessories
- Earrings and necklacesSmall earrings and necklaces are permitted if they do not distort facial features, cast shadows, or create reflections.
- Facial piercingsSubtle facial piercings are accepted. Large or highly reflective piercings risk rejection.
- Headphones and earbudsHeadphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth devices are prohibited. Hearing aids are permitted.
Cosmetics
- Natural makeup onlyLight, natural makeup is acceptable. Heavy makeup that alters facial features or skin tone is not permitted.
- ContouringHeavy contouring that changes the apparent shape of the face is prohibited.
- False eyelashesFalse eyelashes that obscure the eyes or cast shadows on the face are not permitted.
- Facial tattoosPermanent facial tattoos do not need to be covered. They are treated as part of the applicant’s identity.
Clothing
- Everyday civilian clothingWear ordinary civilian clothing. Uniforms are discouraged and may be refused depending on the Mairie.
- Contrast with backgroundClothing must contrast with the light grey or light blue background. Avoid pale or pastel tops that blend in.
- Collars and necklinesHigh collars and turtlenecks are discouraged when they obscure the jawline or neck.
Photo quality
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted and cannot be digitally corrected under ANTS rules. The photo must be retaken if red-eye appears.
- No motion blurThe subject must remain still. Motion blur on the face will cause rejection.
- No shadows on the faceHeavy shadows across the face, including those cast by hair or eyewear, are not accepted.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 25 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- Top margin (from the top of the head to the top edge): 2–3 mm.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
ANTS applies the same rules to every applicant regardless of age. Service-Public.fr states explicitly that the rules are the same as for adults.
All ages, including infants and newborns
France publishes no age-based exceptions. Eyes must be open, the mouth closed, the head straight, and no other person or object may appear in the frame.
- Eyes openEyes must be open and looking toward the lens. Infants under 1 year may be accepted with closed eyes when an awake, eyes-open shot is not realistic; from age 1 onward, eyes must be open.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be closed. Pacifiers, dummies, and bottles are prohibited in the frame.
- No supporting hands or armsParents’ hands, arms, and bodies must not appear in the photo. Toys and blankets with patterns are also prohibited.
- Recommended setup for infantsLay the infant on a plain light grey or light blue blanket and photograph from directly above so the head is straight and the background uniform.
- Neutral expressionA neutral expression is required even for babies. Automated ANTS biometric checks apply identically to all ages.
Country-specific details to know.
A few French-specific points are worth flagging because they cause more rejections than any other rule.
Laïcité and headwear
The headwear prohibition is a constitutional principle of French secularism, not a photo-technical rule. There is no administrative pathway to a religious exception for hijabs, kippahs, turbans, or other religious head coverings on French ID photos.
Mairie pre-screening
French Mairies routinely pre-reject photos for stray hairs, faint glare, or minor shadows to avoid downstream ANTS rejections. The practical bar applied at the counter is stricter than the published bar.
Six-month recency rule
The photo must be less than six months old and must remain an accurate likeness on both the application day and the collection day. Significant appearance changes such as major weight change or facial surgery require a new photo even within that window.
Visa recency exception
Applications submitted through the France-Visas portal use the same 35 by 45 mm spec but require a photo less than one month old rather than six months.
As easy as snap, upload, done.
You take a quick picture. We do the spec work and tell you immediately if anything needs a retake.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- Photographic paper (matte or glossy finish).
- Inkjet printing is not accepted. Use a professional photo lab.
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.
- Do not write on the back of the photo.