France Passport Photo
35×45mm photo for France passport applications.
- Printed size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Digital size
- 413 × 531 px
- Background
- Light grey
- Head height
- 32-36mm
Size & specifications
France Passport Photo — requirements
| Printed size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 413 × 531 px |
| Head height | 32-36mm |
| Background | Light grey |
| Resolution | ≥ 300 DPI |
| Recency | — |
| Glasses / expression | — · — |
| Digital format | — |
One upload, two deliveries: the pixel-exact digital file and a 300 dpi print-ready sheet.
What each line means
Printed size — print at exactly 35 × 45 mm. A few millimetres off and most offices hand the form back before anything else is checked.
Digital size — the digital file must measure 413 × 531 px. Anything smaller gets refused by many online systems before a person sees it.
Head height — your head, crown to chin, should span 32-36mm. Too small reads distant; too large and the crop will not fit.
Background — a plain Light grey background, with no shadows or gradients. A wall lit unevenly is the fastest route to a refusal.
Resolution — 300 dpi keeps a face sharp in print. Below that, features soften and agencies ask for a retake.
Photo examples
What passes — and what gets rejected.
How to take a France Passport Photo with your phone
Photo size and head height
The French passport photo is 35×45 mm. The head, from the chin to the top of the skull, must be between 32-36 mm. In France, hair is excluded from the measurement. The line runs to the skull itself, and the crown of the hairstyle is ignored. Most of Europe includes the hair in the measurement.
Background colour requirements
The background must be plain and light. Light grey and light blue are named as examples; white is explicitly forbidden. The preset here replaces your wall with an even light grey, which is within the rule.
Photo sources in France and abroad
For a passport or ID card application filed in France, the photo must come from a photographer habilité by the interior ministry or from an agréé booth. The ANTS site has a locator for both. A self-shot photo, however correct its format, does not replace them on that channel. Consulates abroad and visa applications use the same 35×45 mm standard, and a file prepared to it is ready for those.
Age, resemblance and retouching rules
The photo must be under 6 months old and resemble you now. Glasses are optional even if you wear them daily. If they stay on, the frames must be thin and the lenses free of tint and reflection. Head bare, face forward, neutral expression, mouth closed. This page checks ratio, head position and background tone before download.
Why France Passport Photo gets rejected
White backgrounds
The rule states light and plain, then forbids white outright, so a white wall cannot pass. A shadowed or gradient wall also fails the plain requirement. The preset produces grey output, which satisfies both conditions.
Incorrect measurements
Outside 35×45 mm, or a head outside 32-36 mm measured chin to skull with hair excluded. Thick hair increases the visual frame but does not change the official number; the reviewer measures under the hair. Framing should follow the ruler, with the hairstyle excluded from the measurement.
Common rejection reasons
Photos older than 6 months, obvious retouching, tinted glasses, hair casting shadow across the face. In France, there is also a procedural reason: on a passport application, a photo from a non-habilité source is refused even if the pixel quality is correct.
How it works
Photo tips
Frequently asked questions
What size is a France Passport Photo?
The standard size is 35 × 45 mm (413 × 531 px at 300 DPI). The tool crops and scales your photo to exact requirements automatically.
Can I smile in the photo?
Requirements call for: a natural expression. When in doubt, keep a neutral face with both eyes open.
How recent must the photo be?
Old photos are a common rejection reason.
Is my photo private?
Yes. Uploaded photos are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted within 24 hours. We never share or resell uploads.
Can I take the photo with my phone?
Yes for visa applications and any file where self-photos are accepted; the visa preset on this site sets its own background. This page crops to 35×45 mm on light grey and checks the result. For a passport or ID card application in France, the photo must come from a habilité photographer or an agréé booth; use the page to rehearse the format before that appointment.
Is it the same format as other EU passports?
The 35×45 mm rectangle is the common European format; each country adds its own background and detail rules, and the preset follows the French ones.